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PubMed2006

Timing of stress and testing influence the long-lasting behavioral performance in rats.

Three exposures (Days 1, 2 and 3) of rats to immobilization or immobilization combined with cold induced an alteration of exploratory behavior in an open space arena. When tested 1h after both stressors exposure, rats displayed a decrease in locomotor and rearing score. The deficit disappeared when rats were tested five days later and the performance remained unchanged in trials performed on days 9, 10, 15, 22 and 29 of the study. When testing was postponed five days after the third stressor exposure, a gradual reduction of the performance developed and the deficit persisted until the last trial on Day 29. Amphetamine, in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg revealed a sensitized response to the drug in the stressed animals. The results showed short- and long-lasting behavioral consequences of the used stressors, the long-term manifestation of the sequelae being dependent on the sequence and timing of stressor exposure and open space testing.

Amphetamine↗

PubMed1999

The role of the hippocampus and 5-HT/GABA interaction in the central effects of benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

The effects of an intrahippocampal administering of a nonselective full (midazolam), a partial benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor agonist (bretazenil), and a BDZ1 selective (zolpidem) receptor ligand were examined in the open field test (OFT) of neophobia and Vogel's test (VT) of conflict behavior in rats. Moreover, the influence of local injections of a noncompetitive GABA(A) receptor antagonist, picrotoxin, on the anxiolytic-like effect of serotonin (5-HT) depletion (p-chlorophenylalanine, p-CPA) in the Vogel test was studied. It was found that in the OFT only midazolam (0.1 microg/site) given to the hippocampus (HP) disinhibited rat exploratory behavior, whereas all the examined compounds inhibited animal motor activity when injected locally at 10.0 microg/site, the highest dose used in the tests. In the VT, again, only midazolam disinhibited rat conflict behavior on a dose-dependent basis. Picrotoxin administered to the HP produced a tendency to increase locomotor activity in rats, and significantly attenuated the anti-conflict action of serotonin depletion without changing the pain threshold and spontaneous drinking of the animals. p-CPA induced potent, dose-dependent and selective 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid decrease in the HP after administering the dose used in the behavioral experiment. Thus, the present data provide evidence for the lack of selective anxiolytic activity of a partial non-selective agonist and a full selective agonist at the BDZ1 receptor after their administration to the HP. The model of intra-HP drug injections appeared effective in discriminating the anxiolytic spectrum of activity of new psychotropic compounds. Moreover, the obtained results indicate that the dorsal HP is one of the central sites important for GABA/5-HT interaction that modulates rat emotional behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Gender and diurnal effects on specific open-field behavioral patterns in the portacaval shunted rat.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequently observed neuropsychiatric syndrome with unknown pathogenesis in patients suffering from chronic liver failure. The portacaval shunted (PCS) rat has been extensively used as an experimental model for HE and for studying the effects of portal-systemic shunting. Previous behavioral studies on PCS rats have shown a number of abnormalities but there is no consensus about which abnormalities are characteristic. We therefore made a thorough descriptive study of 100 male and female PCS rats and sham-operated controls four to six weeks after the shunting procedure in an open field. The frequency, duration and average time sequence of various kinds of defined spontaneous behavioral patterns were investigated during both night and day in order to assess behavioral differences between PCS rats and sham-operated controls. The results indicate differences especially regarding motor exploratory behaviors such as forward locomotion and rearing. There were also differences in eating and sniffing behaviors. Our results show that the overall behavioral alteration seen in PCS rats compared to sham-operated controls is that of hypoactivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Behavioral changes following chronic myocardial infarction in rats.

Myocardial infarction evokes major physiological changes because of the acute loss of functional cardiac tissue, resulting in more or less severe symptoms of congestive heart failure. In addition, general well-being of patients, their quality of life, is reduced. This includes anxiety/depression, loss of interest in environment and social interactions, sexual problems, and sleep disturbances. Postinfarction treatment is aimed mainly at improving life expectancy, whereas less attention is paid to the quality of that life. The aim of the present study was to determine behavioral changes after myocardial infarction in a (otherwise proven as clinically relevant) rat model for heart failure after myocardial infarction. We have chosen for behavioral tests based upon certain aspects of quality of life in patients. Anxiety/depression, interest in environment, and mobility, tested in an open field, revealed that infarcted rats are more anxious (as inferred from a higher preference for the safe corner area and less visits to the middle area), have less interest in a new environment [as indicated by less exploratory behavior and a longer time before they go into the new area (free exploration)], and showed less mobility (as indicated by reduced distance walked and less time spent on walking). In a test on social interaction, infarcted rats spent less time on social behavior and displayed even somewhat more walking away, suggesting active avoidance of social interaction. The observed behavioral changes in infarcted rats match very well with the aspects of reduced quality of life in postinfarct patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Biogenic amines and the effect of short term lithium administration on open field activity in rats.

Experiments were performed to examine whether the effects of short-term lithium administration on cerebral biogenic amine metabolism might be related to its action on open field activity. Rats received intragastric injections of lithium chloride (1.5 mEq/kg) twice daily for 5 days. This lead to a decrease in exploratory behavior in the open field. Administration of imipramine, which blocks the efffects of short-term lithium administration on norepinephrine turnover and uptake in the brain, failed to influence the effect of lithium on exploratory activity. Parachlorophenylalanine, which inhibits cerebral serotonin synthesis and depletes brain catecholamines, prevented the behavioral effect of lithium. Injection of pargyline, which inhibits cerebral monoamine oxidase activity, counteracted the effect of lithium on exploratory behavior and also influenced the emotionality of the animals in the open field. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that cerebral monoamine levels and monoamine oxidase activity play a role in the effect of short-term lithium administration on open field activity in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Environmental enrichment and isolation rearing in the rat: effects on locomotor behavior and startle response plasticity.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory rats exhibit behavioral changes that reflect a continuum of early life experience, from isolation-reared to socially reared to enrichment-reared conditions. In this study, we further characterize the behavioral effects of isolation, social, and enriched rearing on locomotor activity, patterns of movement and exploration, startle reactivity, prepulse inhibition (PPI), and habituation in adult rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rat pups (21 days old) were housed under enrichment (three per cage with toys and exposure to enriched environments), normal social (three per cage), or isolation (one per cage) conditions. Eight weeks later, locomotor and exploratory behaviors, acoustic startle reactivity, PPI, and habituation were measured in the three groups. RESULTS: Enrichment-reared rats exhibited reduced exploration and rapid habituation of locomotor activity, increased startle reactivity, and normal PPI and startle habituation compared with socially reared controls. Isolation-reared rats exhibited increased exploration and normal habituation of locomotor activity, increased startle reactivity, reduced PPI, and normal startle habituation. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation- and enrichment-reared rats exhibited opposite changes in some behaviors and similar changes in other behaviors. Specifically, rats raised in enriched conditions appear more efficient at assimilating stimuli from their environment than do rats reared in isolation. Nevertheless, both enrichment- and isolation-rearing conditions increased startle reactivity, whereas only isolation rearing led to disruptions of PPI in adulthood. These results suggest that isolation- and enrichment-rearing conditions produce some common and some differential effects on how rats process environmental stimuli. For studies of isolation-rearing effects on PPI, however, the complex and resource-intensive enrichment condition seems to offer few advantages over the normal social condition.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Training in a novel environment improves the appetitive learning performance of the snail, Lymnaea stagnalis.

The effect of novelty, an environmental background variable affecting feeding and appetitive learning performance, was examined in a behavioral study of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Transfer of snails into a novel aquatic environment (clean water) evoked exploratory behavior which manifested itself in an increased number of spontaneous rasping movements of the mouth over the second to fifth minute after exposure to the novel environment. The intensity of this behavior was much weaker in a familiar environment (used water from the home tank). Similarly, sucrose-induced feeding rates were highest when the snails were given the sucrose stimulus in a novel environment. The effectiveness of appetitive conditioning using tactile stimulus paired with food (Kemenes & Benjamin, 1989a) improved when the snails were subjected to conditioning in a novel environment. Satiety, an internal variable, suppressed the stimulating effects of the novel environment on the spontaneous, unconditioned, and conditioned feeding alike. After training in the novel environment, the conditioned response was retained for up to 12 days and thus provided a robust behavioral paradigm for the extension of the analysis to the neurophysiological mechanisms of factors affecting appetitive learning in molluscs.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Effect of oxprenolol on some fear-induced behavioral responses and hyperthermia in rats subjected to inescapable shocks.

The effect of oxprenolol (100 mg/kg p.o.) on the development of hyperthermia in a shock enclosure and on exploratory and grooming responses in an exploration box, was investigated in rats subjected to inescapable shocks once daily for 5 days. The hyperthermic response of shocked rats was found to be significantly reduced by oxprenolol treatment. Exploratory behavior, which was suppressed by previous exposure to shocks, was not influenced by oxprenolol. However, under oxprenolol treatment grooming diminished from the first day of the trial onward, both in duration and frequency, as though habituation had occurred. The results are interpreted as evidence of partial effectiveness of oxprenolol in suppressing fear-induced somatic and behavioral manifestations.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Intracerebral HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 produces sickness behavior and pituitary-adrenal activation in rats: role of prostaglandins.

HIV infection is associated with profound neurobehavioral and neuroendocrine impairments. Previous studies demonstrated that HIV causes neuropathological alterations indirectly, via shedding of glycoprotein 120 (gp120) within the brain. To extend these findings, we examined the neurobehavioral and neuroendocrine effects of central administration of gp120, as well as the role of brain prostaglandins in mediating these effects. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of gp120 in rats produced a marked sickness behavior syndrome, consisting of reduced exploratory behavior, suppressed consumption of food and saccharin solution, and reduced body weight. Gp120 also induced a significant febrile response and increased serum levels of ACTH and corticosterone. Following i.c.v. gp120 administration, the ex vivo production of PGE2 by the hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and hippocampus was significantly elevated, and indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, attenuated this elevation. Pre-treatment with indomethacin reduced the fever and adrenocortical activation induced by gp120 administration, but not its behavioral effects. These findings indicate that gp120 may be responsible for some of the behavioral and endocrine abnormalities seen in HIV-infected patients. Prostaglandins are important mediators of the physiological, but not the behavioral effects of brain gp120.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2000

Nicotine administration interacts with housing conditions to alter social and non-social behaviors in male and female Long-Evans rats.

Despite the fact that the anxiety-relieving effects of smoking are widely reported by smokers, human laboratory studies have not found consistent evidence for this effect. In animals, contrasting results also have been reported, with Sprague-Dawley rats unaffected by nicotine in behavioral tests of anxiety but with other rat strains (e.g., Wistar, Fischer-344) displaying behaviors indicative of anxiolysis. The present experiment used the social interaction test to evaluate effects of nicotine (12 mg/kg/day) chronically administered via minipump on social and non-social behaviors in 48 male and 48 female Long-Evans rats--a strain that has not previously been evaluated and that is known to differ from Sprague-Dawleys in other behavioral responses to nicotine. Because environmental conditions can alter behavioral effects of drugs, animals lived in either individual or same-sex group housing. Social interactions were measured on day 10 of drug administration and social behaviors (touch, follow, sniff-other, wrestle) as well as non-social behaviors (anxiety-related behaviors: freezing, grooming-self; exploratory behavior: moving) were scored. Group housing decreased social behaviors and increased anxiety-related behaviors. Nicotine's effects depended upon housing condition, such that nicotine further decreased social behaviors and increased anxiety-related behaviors of group-housed animals, with weaker effects in single-housed animals. Overall, the results suggest that nicotine's effects are modified by environmental conditions, and that nicotine administration at this dosage and in this particular rat strain results in anxiogenic effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Behavior and behavioral needs.

An understanding of behavior is important in any consideration of poultry welfare. Behavior is a good indicator of states of suffering such as fear, frustration, and pain. It might also be possible to use social interactions as indicators of welfare. The possibility of using "luxury" behavior, such as play and exploratory behavior, as an indicator of positive emotional states, requires investigation. Important welfare consequences arise from the fact that some behavior may be so strongly motivated as to constitute a "need". A behavioral need will arise in the case of behavior, such as nesting, that is controlled largely by internal factors, because these factors will be present no matter what type of environment is provided. Behavior triggered largely by external stimuli, such as responses to predators, will not give rise to a need if the external factors can be removed from the environment. Dustbathing is an example of behavior controlled by complex interactions between internal and external factors; the extent to which this constitutes a need is still being debated. If a behavioral need arises, then it is important that the environment provided allows it to be performed without damage to the performer or other birds. It should also be remembered that birds may need to perform behavior, including appetitive as well as consummatory elements, although the functional consequences of these are no longer required for survival. Finally, the performance of certain behavior leads to an increase in health or physical condition that improves welfare later in life.

Animal Welfare↗

PubMed1975

Septal lesions in meadow voles and mongolian gerbils: consummatory and investigatory behavior.

In order to separate species specific from general effects of septal lesions on consummatory and investigatory behavior we chose to work with male Mongolian gerbils and meadow voles. These two rodent species are different in both the absolute amount of fluids consumed and reactivity to the palatability of the fluids presented in a single tube. Septal lesions did not elevate water consumption of either species. Septal lesioned gerbils tended to consume more sucrose, and septal voles clearly did drink more sucrose than their control counterparts. But only lesioned voles suppressed intake below control levels when presented with quinine. Exploratory behavior, which was measured only in gerbils, was also altered by septal lesions. Measurement of testosterone, seminal vesicles, and ventral marking glands (gerbils only) indicated that septal lesions alter hormonal systems in at least this species. The importance of comparative investigations in elucidating the general function of brain structures was discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Open field activity and human interaction as a function of age and breed in dogs.

Open field (OF) activity was studied in kennel reared purebred beagles from two separate colonies (2-13 years in age) and pound source mixed breed dogs (9 months to 10 years in age). Dogs were observed for 10 min sessions and records were taken of: locomotion, urination, sniffing, grooming, rearing, vocalizing, jumping frequencies and inactivity (16). Since dogs are uniquely social towards people, we also measured human interaction (HI), which recorded the same behaviors as during OF when a person was present in the room. Measures of exploratory behavior decreased as a function of age in pound source dogs in the OF test, but not in beagles from either colony. No breed differences were found between the young dogs. In the HI test, age effects were found in beagles but not pound source dogs. OF activity correlated with tests of cognitive function, but differences were found between the three groups. These findings indicate that OF activity is age-sensitive in dogs, but that breed and test conditions are also essential factors.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

[Development of pathological behavior in C57BL/6J female mice under the long-lasting psychoemotional influence].

Long-lasting psychoemotional influence consisting of permanent stay of females with aggressive males separated with a perforated transparent partition in the same cage, and daily presence of females during intermale confrontations, is negative toward the females' behavior estimated in the some ethological tests. Elevated plus-maze and open field tests reveal an increased anxiety and inhibited exploratory behavior and motor activity. Within a month, the decreased females' reactions near the partition to both familiar and unfamiliar males testify to decreased communicativeness. In two months from the beginning, intermale confrontations become uninteresting for females too, as it was shown in the partition test. Abnormalities in the pain sensitivity estimated in the hot-plate test are found in females after the psychoemotional influence. More than half of all females have a prolonged diestrous stage of the estrous cycle. Moreover, after the psychoemotional influence females lose the capability to recognize intact female and male littermates as well as aggressive and submissive males. Taken together the results suggest that long-lasting psychoemotional influence can cause the anxiety-depression states in females.

Aggression↗

PubMed1988

Behavioral effects of angiotensin II and angiotensin II-(4-8)-pentapeptide in rats.

One nM of angiotensin II (AII) or angiotensin II-(4-8)-pentapeptide [AII(4-8)] given intracerebroventricularly did not affect locomotor and exploratory behavior of rats in open field. AII significantly increased and AII(4-8) did not affect vertical activity of animals in electromagnetic motimeter. Neither of the peptides influenced horizontal activity in the motimeter. Both peptides intensified stereotypy produced by apomorphine and amphetamine. AII significantly improved, while AII(4-8) did not affect, consolidation of memory of the correct way to food in T-maze. Similarly, AII increased and AII(4-8) did not change the rate of acquisition of conditioned avoidance responses in a shuttle-box. Of the two examined peptides only AII significantly improved retrieval of memory of the passive avoidance behavior. The results show that AII(4-8) influences central dopaminergic system but, unlike its parent peptide AII, has no apparent effect on memory.

Angiotensins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

CNS activities of Celesia coromandeliane Vahl. in mice.

The dried extracts of aerial parts of Celesia coromandeliane Vahl. (Scrophulariaceae) were evaluated for CNS activities in mice. The methanol extract of aerial part of Celesia coromandeliane (MECC) was found to cause significant depression in general as well as exploratory behavioral profiles in mice. MECC showed reduction in muscle relaxant activity by 30 degrees inclined screen test, as well as potential remarkably the pentobarbitone sodium-, diazepam- and meprobamate-induced sleeping time of mice. The petroleum ether extract of aerial parts of Celesia coromandeliane (PECC) showed significant analgesic properties as evidenced by the significant reduction in the number of writhes and stretches induced in mice by 1.2% acetic acid solution. Pretreatment with PECC caused significant protection against strychnine- and leptazol-induced convulsions. All these results were compared with respective controls for the evaluation of significance. The presence of steroids in PECC and saponins in MECC might be responsible for respective CNS activities in mice.

Analgesics↗

PubMed1984

Effects on the postnatal development of the mouse of preconception, postconception and/or suckling exposure to manganese via maternal inhalation exposure to MnO2 dust.

Female mice were exposed either to MnO2 dust (7 hours/day, 5 days/week) or filtered air (control group) for 16 weeks prior to conception. On day 1 of gestation, half of each of these groups was assigned randomly either to MnO2 dust or filtered air exposure until day 17 of gestation. To separate effects of prenatal maternal exposure to MnO2 from postnatal exposure of offspring to Mn via suckling, a complete fostering/-cross-fostering design was employed. Compared to control mothers, mothers exposed to MnO2 prior to conception produced significantly larger litters. Prenatal exposure resulted in reduced neonatal activity scores and retarded offspring growth that persisted into adulthood. Offspring reared by mothers exposed to MnO2 prior to conception and filtered air postconception had significantly lower day 7 postpartum weights compared to offspring reared by mothers exposed to filtered air both prior to and postconception. Also, offspring reared by mothers exposed to MnO2 prior to conception and filtered air postconception had higher day 12 activity scores compared to offspring reared by mothers exposed to filtered air prior to conception and MnO2 postconception. Prenatal exposure to MnO2 depressed neonate activity and continued exposure, via suckling, intensified this depression. Offspring exposed prenatally to MnO2 were retrieved faster than control offspring. Rearing frequency, exploratory behavior, and scores in tests having an activity component were depressed for sexually mature offspring who had been exposed to MnO2 both in utero and via suckling. Independent of in utero exposure history, sexually mature offspring reared by mothers exposed to Mn had significantly reduced cerebellum + brain stem mitochondrial Mn levels. Also, sexually mature offspring of mothers exposed to filtered air that were reared by MnO2 -exposed mothers had lower cerebral mitochondrial Mn levels than offspring of control mothers reared by control foster mothers.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Association of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III repeat polymorphism with temperament in 3-year-old infants.

The long forms of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III repeat polymorphism (L-DRD4) have been linked in some studies to the adult personality trait of novelty seeking (NS), as well as to infant personality traits related to interest and activity. The current investigation extends the results of our previous longitudinal study on 1- to 5-month-old neonates assessed by the Early and Revised Infancy Temperament Questionnaire (EITQ/RITQ), in which we found a significant correlation between the DRD4 polymorphism and the adaptability trait at 1 month of age. In this study, we examined the relationship between children's behavior at 3 years of age, measured with the Toddler Temperament Scale (TTS), and DRD4 exon III repeat polymorphism. We found a significant association between the behavioral dimension of intensity of reaction and DRD4 genotypes. Current data failed to confirm the association with the adaptability trait. None of the extraversion and/or exploratory behavior measures was related to the L-DRD4 allele, as expected. In contrast, children with 4/7 genotypes showed worse response to new stimuli compared with 4/4 genotypes. This study corroborates only in part previous results on the link between the DRD4 gene and human temperament.

Child Behavior↗