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Stereological brain volume changes in post-weaned socially isolated rats.

Katrine Fabricius1, Lone Helboe, Björn Steiniger-Brach

  • 1Copenhagen University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Denmark. forsklab@bbh.hosp.dk

Brain Research
|June 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Social isolation in male rats induces brain changes similar to schizophrenia. These neuroanatomical alterations, including smaller brains and altered hippocampus, highlight isolation

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Animal Models

Background:

  • Social isolation after weaning causes behavioral and neurochemical changes resembling schizophrenia.
  • The neurodevelopmental origins of this animal model are established, but neuroanatomical changes require further investigation.
  • Few studies compare neuroanatomical alterations in this model to human schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuroanatomical consequences of long-term social isolation in a rat model of schizophrenia.
  • To compare brain structure changes between isolated and group-housed male and female rats.

Main Methods:

  • Stereological volume estimation was used to assess total brain, ventricular system, and hippocampal subfields.
  • Male and female Lister Hooded rats were isolated from postnatal day 25 for 15 weeks.

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  • Comparisons were made between isolated rats and group-housed controls.

    • Main Results:

    • Males exhibited larger total brain volumes than females, consistent with known gender differences.
    • Isolated males showed significantly smaller total brain volumes and larger lateral ventricles compared to controls.
    • Isolated males had smaller hippocampi, dentate gyri, and CA2/3 regions; isolated females had smaller CA1 regions.

    Conclusions:

    • Long-term social isolation in male rats induces significant neuroanatomical changes.
    • These changes, including reduced brain volume and hippocampal alterations, parallel findings in human schizophrenia.
    • This study reinforces the utility of the isolation-reared rat as a neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia research.