Chronic corticosterone deteriorates latrine and nesting behaviours in mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Stress Research

Background:

• Self-care behaviors, including toileting, nesting, and grooming, are crucial for health in humans and animals.
• Chronic stress is known to disrupt nesting and self-grooming, but its impact on latrine behavior remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of chronic corticosterone administration on latrine and nesting behaviors in mice.
• To quantify latrine behavior using Shannon entropy and assess nest quality.

Main Methods:

• Mice were administered chronic corticosterone.
• Defecation site variation was measured using Shannon entropy to quantify latrine behavior.
• Nest quality was assessed based on shape.
• Depression-like behaviors were evaluated through open field activity and tail suspension tests.

Main Results:

• Mice exposed to chronic corticosterone exhibited scattered defecation sites and reduced nest quality compared to controls.
• A correlation was observed between more scattered defecation and lower nest quality at an individual level.
• Deterioration in self-care behaviors was associated with increased depression-like behaviors, including reduced open field activity and increased immobility.

Conclusions:

• Chronic corticosterone administration negatively impacts latrine and nesting behaviors in mice.
• These self-care behavior deficits are linked to depression-like symptoms.
• The study highlights the detrimental effects of chronic stress on fundamental animal behaviors.