Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
Published on: January 24, 2025
Social disruption alters pain and cognition in an animal model of multiple sclerosis
H R Linsenbardt1, J L Cook2, E E Young2
1Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Abstract:
Although pain and cognitive deficits are widespread and debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), they remain poorly understood. Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection is an animal model of MS where disease course is exacerbated by prior stressors. Here chronic infection coupled with prior social stress increased pain behavior and impaired hippocampal-dependent memory consolidation during the demyelinating phase of disease in SJL mice. These results suggest that the TMEV model may be useful in investigating pain and cognitive impairments in MS. However, in contrast to prior Balb/cJ studies, stress failed to consistently alter behavioral and physiological indicators of disease course.
Insights
Social stress worsens pain and memory issues in a multiple sclerosis (MS) mouse model. The Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model shows promise for studying MS-related pain and cognitive deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by widespread pain and cognitive deficits, which are poorly understood.
- The Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in mice serves as a model for MS.
- Prior stressors can exacerbate the disease course in this TMEV model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic TMEV infection combined with social stress on pain behavior and memory consolidation in mice.
- To evaluate the utility of the TMEV model for studying pain and cognitive impairments in MS.
Main Methods:
- SJL mice were infected with TMEV and subjected to social stress.
- Pain behavior and hippocampal-dependent memory consolidation were assessed during the demyelinating phase.
- Behavioral and physiological indicators of disease course were monitored.
Main Results:
- Chronic TMEV infection and social stress significantly increased pain behavior in SJL mice.
- Memory consolidation, specifically hippocampal-dependent processes, was impaired under these conditions.
- In contrast to previous studies, stress did not consistently alter disease indicators in this model.
Conclusions:
- The TMEV model, particularly under conditions of stress, may be valuable for researching MS-related pain and cognitive dysfunction.
- Stress exacerbates specific MS-like symptoms (pain, memory deficits) in this animal model.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying stress-induced exacerbation and the discrepancies with other studies.
