Pair housing reverses post-stroke depressive behavior in mice.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Immunology

Background:

• Social isolation (SI) is linked to poor stroke outcomes, including higher mortality and morbidity.
• Social support positively impacts stroke recovery and recurrence, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
• Understanding how social interactions influence post-stroke recovery is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of post-stroke pair housing versus social isolation on behavioral and functional recovery in mice.
• To explore the impact of social housing on brain changes and inflammatory markers following stroke.

Main Methods:

• Young male mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham surgery.
• Mice were housed individually or in pairs post-stroke.
• Behavioral tests (sociability, sucrose consumption, tail suspension) and histological analyses (cerebral atrophy, microglia markers) were performed.

Main Results:

• Pair-housed mice exhibited improved sociability, restored sucrose preference, and reduced immobility compared to isolated mice.
• Pair housing significantly reduced cerebral atrophy 6 weeks post-stroke.
• Pair housing decreased serum IL-6 levels and increased arginase-1 expressing microglia in the peri-infarct region.

Conclusions:

• Pair housing post-stroke enhances social behavior and reduces anhedonia and depression-like symptoms in mice.
• Social interaction promotes functional recovery and reduces brain damage after stroke.
• The findings suggest that social support modulates neuroinflammation and brain repair mechanisms, improving stroke outcomes.