Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety
Published on: November 11, 2022
Diphenyl diselenide induces anxiolytic-like and sedative effects on the chick social separation-stress behavior
Marina Prigol1, Cristiane Luchese, Simone Pinton
1Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, RS, Brazil. marinaprigol@yahoo.com.br
Insights
Diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)(2)] demonstrated anxiolytic-like and sedative effects in young chicks. This organoselenium compound reduced distress behaviors and increased resting states in a dose-dependent manner.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Social separation stress is a significant challenge in animal models.
- Organoselenium compounds are being explored for their therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anxiolytic-like effects of diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)(2)] in a chick model of social separation stress.
Main Methods:
- Six-day-old male chicks were orally administered single doses of (PhSe)(2) (1, 10, 50 mg/kg).
- Behavioral tests were conducted 30 minutes post-administration, recording distress vocalizations, jumps, wakefulness, and resting postures.
Main Results:
- (PhSe)(2) at 10 and 50 mg/kg significantly reduced distress vocalizations, jumps, and active wakefulness.
- Higher doses (10 and 50 mg/kg) increased time spent in motionless postures, indicative of anxiolysis.
- The 50 mg/kg dose also increased sleeping posture time, suggesting sedative effects.
Conclusions:
- Diphenyl diselenide exhibits dose-dependent anxiolytic-like and sedative properties in chicks.
- These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for (PhSe)(2) in managing anxiety and stress-related behaviors.
Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to investigate the anxiolytic-like effect of diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)(2)] on the chick social separation-stress behavior. Male chicks (six day-old) received, per oral route, a single administration of (PhSe)(2) at doses of 1, 10 and 50mg/kg. Thirty minutes after treatment, chicks were submitted to the behavioral tests. The behavioral tests: number of separation-induced distress vocalizations and jumps, time of active wakefulness, time of standing/sitting motionless with eyes open, time of standing motionless with eyes closed and time of sleeping posture, during 10 min, were recorded. (PhSe)(2) at doses of 10 and 50mg/kg reduced the number of vocalizations and jumps and the time of active wakefulness and increased the time of standing/sitting motionless with eyes open of chicks. The sleeping posture time was increased in animals treated with (PhSe)(2) at the dose of 50mg/kg. In conclusion, treatment with (PhSe)(2), in a dose dependent-manner, caused anxiolytic-like and sedative effects in chicks.
