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Disrupted startle modulation in animal models for affective disorders.
E Y Bijlsma1, R S Oosting, B Olivier
1Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.Y.Bijlsma@uu.nl
Behavioural Brain Research
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Blunted affective startle modulation, a sign of altered emotional reactivity, was observed in animal models of depression. This finding suggests these models can help study the mechanisms behind emotional dysregulation in affective disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Models
- Affective Disorders
Background:
- Affective startle modulation assesses emotional reactivity in humans.
- Blunted affective startle modulation is a known characteristic of depression.
- Its presence in animal models of affective disorders is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate affective startle modulation in established animal models for affective disorders.
- To determine if blunted affective startle modulation is a common feature in these models.
- To assess sensory-motor gating via prepulse inhibition in these models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three animal models: inescapable foot shock (IFS), repeated restraint stress (RRS), and olfactory bulbectomy (OBX).
- Measured light-enhanced startle response and prepulse inhibition.
- Analyzed affective startle modulation and sensory-motor gating.
Main Results:
- Light-enhanced startle was blunted in IFS and OBX models.
- RRS decreased overall startle responding but did not affect light-enhanced startle.
- Prepulse inhibition remained unaffected across all models.
Conclusions:
- Animal models for affective disorders exhibit long-term alterations in affective startle modulation.
- The observed changes are likely linked to emotional reactivity, not sensory-motor gating deficits.
- Blunted affective startle modulation in these models offers a valuable tool for investigating mechanisms of altered emotional reactivity.
