Social stress contagion in rats: Behavioural, autonomic and neuroendocrine correlates

Carnevali, Luca; Montano, Nicola; Statello, Rosario; Coudé, Gino; Vacondio, Federica; Rivara, Silvia; Ferrari, Pier Francesco; Sgoifo, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.05.017

Cited by 40 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…A respective link has previously been suggested based on our findings in epilepsy models, in which increased [ 18 F]MPPF binding correlated with behavioral comorbidities, but did not correlate with seizure frequency or parameters [19,20]. Theoretically, stress contagion, which has been reported for rats [32], might have contributed as the animal groups with transport or combined transport and restraint stayed in the same laboratory room. The term stress contagion has previously been introduced for the observation that animals exposed to stress may under specific circumstances increase the stress level of other animals in the same room [32].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…Theoretically, stress contagion, which has been reported for rats [32], might have contributed as the animal groups with transport or combined transport and restraint stayed in the same laboratory room. The term stress contagion has previously been introduced for the observation that animals exposed to stress may under specific circumstances increase the stress level of other animals in the same room [32]. Concerning our findings, it is, however, rather unlikely that stress contagion had a relevant impact on the data from the group with transport considering that no significant increase in [ 18 F]MPPF binding became evident in rats with repeated restraint.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress

et al. 2020

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Background Stress exposure can significantly affect serotonergic signaling with a particular impact on 5-HT1A receptor expression. Positron emission tomography (PET) provides opportunities for molecular imaging of alterations in 5-HT1A receptor binding following stress exposure. Considering the possible role of 5-HT1A receptors in stress coping mechanisms, respective imaging approaches are of particular interest. Material and methods For twelve consecutive days, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to daily transport with a 1 h stay in a laboratory or daily transport plus 1 h restraint in a narrow tube. Following, animals were subjected to μPET imaging with 2′-methoxyphenyl-(N-2′-pyridinyl)-p-[18F]fluoro-benzamidoethylpiperazine ([18F]MPPF) and 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG). Behavioral and biochemical parameters were analyzed to obtain additional information. Results In rats with repeated transport, hippocampal [18F]MPPF binding exceeded that in the naive group, while no difference in [18F]FDG uptake was detected between the groups. A transient decline in body weight was observed in rats with transport or combined transport and restraint. Thereby, body weight development correlated with [18F]MPPF binding. Conclusions Mild-to-moderate stress associated with daily transport and exposure to a laboratory environment can trigger significant alterations in hippocampal binding of the 5-HT1A receptor ligand [18F]MPPF. This finding indicates that utmost care is necessary to control and report transport and associated handling procedures for animals used in μPET studies analyzing the serotonergic system in order to enhance the robustness of conclusions and allow replicability of findings. In view of earlier studies indicating that an increase in hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor expression may be associated with a resilience to stress, it would be of interest to further evaluate 5-HT1A receptor imaging approaches as a candidate biomarker for the vulnerability to stress.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress

et al. 2020

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“…To evaluate emotional contagion studies have typically focussed on negative emotional states such as stress, pain and fear (Carnevali et al, 2017). A common measure of fear in rodents is freezing behaviour, which can be triggered by a mild electric shock (Lezak et al, 2017; Pisansky et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear contagion in zebrafish: a behaviour affected by familiarity

Silva

Leániz

Luchiari

2019

Preprint

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Emotional contagion has recently been described in fish but whether it is affected by familiarity is not known. We tested whether the sight of a distressed conspecific elicited fear in zebrafish, and whether this was modulated by familiarity. Groups of six zebrafish were housed together in the same tanks for 7 days to create familiar conditions. The behaviour of individual fish was then recorded in paired tanks within sight of either a familiar or an unfamiliar individual, before and after distilled water or an alarm substance was added to the demonstrator, but not to the observer. As expected, addition of distilled water did not elicit any behavioural change in either the demonstrator or the observer. However, addition of an alarm cue triggered anti-predatory behaviours in the demonstrator which caused the expression of anti-predatory behaviours in the observer, suggesting the existence of fear contagion. Furthermore, the extent of fear contagion was affected by familiarity, and observers were more active, swam closer to the bottom and further away from the demonstrator when they watched a distressed familiar neighbour than when they watched an unfamiliar fish. Our results have implications for fish welfare because they show that fish can become stressed by simply watching others become stressed. They also have implications for experimental design because fish housed in separate tanks cannot be assumed to be statistically independent if they can eavesdrop on their neighbours.

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“…In the mPFC, regulation of mainly glucocorticoid-responsive genes was found in avoidant animals after 10 but not 30 days social stress, indicating a high relevance of GC-dependent mechanisms for the initiation of social avoidance but not primarily for its sustainment [180]. Alteration of HPA function appears to be at least in part independent of the specific social stressor applied to the individual: Socially deprived mice developed signs of social avoidance and HPA hyperreactivity (elevated plasma CORT and adrenal gland weight) [221] and undefeated rats housed with defeated cagemates also developed avoidance together with a hyperactive HPA axis [222], revealing the contagious quality of social stress and reinforcing translational value of animal models.…”

Section: Hpa Axis and Glucocorticoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance

Gellner

Voelter

Schmidt

et al. 2020

Cell. Mol. Life Sci.

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Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance.

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Social stress contagion in rats: Behavioural, autonomic and neuroendocrine correlates

Cited by 40 publications

References 48 publications

[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress

[18F]MPPF and [18F]FDG μPET imaging in rats: impact of transport and restraint stress

Fear contagion in zebrafish: a behaviour affected by familiarity

Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance

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