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Rats with high or low sociability are differently affected by chronic variable stress
1Department of Psychology, Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tiigi 78, EE-50410 Tartu, Estonia.
Neuroscience
|March 18, 2008
Summary
High sociability rats are more vulnerable to chronic variable stress-induced anhedonia. Chronic variable stress (CVS) reduced sucrose intake in high sociability rats, indicating increased susceptibility to depression-like symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Animal Models
Background:
- Depression is closely linked to social behavior.
- Previous research established the individual stability of social behavior in rats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential sensitivity of rats with varying sociability to chronic variable stress (CVS).
- To compare the effects of CVS on high sociability (HS) and low sociability (LS) rats.
Main Methods:
- Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into LS and HS groups based on social activity.
- Both groups underwent a 3-week CVS protocol involving various stressors.
- Sucrose intake, social interaction, open field tests, and forced swimming tests were conducted.
- Ex vivo dopamine and 5-HT levels in the frontal cortex were analyzed in LS rats.
Main Results:
- CVS reduced sucrose intake in HS rats, indicating vulnerability to anhedonia.
- LS rats exhibited higher anxiety, but CVS normalized social interaction differences and increased forced swimming activity.
- Stress increased frontal cortex dopamine and decreased 5-HT levels in LS rats, suggesting potential impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- High sociability trait in rats confers vulnerability to anhedonia induced by chronic variable stress under single housing conditions.
- Sociability influences stress response, with HS rats showing greater susceptibility to stress-induced anhedonia and LS rats exhibiting altered anxiety and impulsivity markers.
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