Defeat stress in rodents: From behavior to molecules

Human social defeat and approach-avoidance: Escalating social-evaluative threat and threat of aggression increases social avoidance

Basic research on avoidance by Murray Sidman laid the foundation for advances in the classification, conceptualization and treatment of avoidance in psychological disorders. Contemporary avoidance research is explicitly translational and increasingly focused on how competing appetitive and aversive contingencies influence avoidance. In this laboratory investigation, we examined the effects of escalating social-evaluative threat and threat of social aggression on avoidance of social interactions. During social-defeat learning, 38 adults learned to associate 9 virtual peers with an increasing probability of receiving negative evaluations. Additionally, 1 virtual peer was associated with positive evaluations. Next, in an approach-avoidance task with social-evaluative threat, 1 peer associated with negative evaluations was presented alongside the peer associated with positive evaluations. Approaching peers produced a positive or a probabilistic negative evaluation, while avoiding peers prevented a negative evaluation (and forfeited a positive evaluation). In an approach-avoidance task with social aggression, virtual peers gave and took money away from participants. Escalating social-evaluative threat and aggression increased avoidance, ratings of feeling threatened and threat expectancy and decreased ratings of peer favorableness. These findings underscore the potential of coupling social defeat and approach-avoidance paradigms for translational research on the neurobehavioral mechanisms of social approach-avoidance decision-making and anxiety.

Resilience to fear: The role of individual factors in amygdala response to stressors

Resilience to stress is an adaptive process that varies individually. Resilience refers to the adaptation, or the ability to maintain or regain mental health, despite being subject to adverse situation. Resilience is a dynamic concept that reflects a combination of internal individual factors, including age and gender interacting with external factors such as social, cultural and environmental factors. In the last decade, we have witnessed an increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Given that stress in unavoidable, it is of great interest to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of resilience, the individual factors that may contribute to susceptibility and promote efficacious approaches to improve resilience. Here, we address this complex question, attempting at defining clear and operational definitions that may allow us to improve our analysis of behavior incorporating individuality. We examine how individual perception of the stressor can alter the outcome of an adverse situation using as an example, the fear-conditioning paradigm and discuss how individual differences in the reward system can contribute to resilience. Given the central role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating fear responses and anxiety, we discuss the evidence that polymorphisms in several molecules of this signaling system contribute to different anxiety phenotypes. The endocannabinoid system is highly interconnected with the serotoninergic and dopaminergic modulatory systems, contributing to individual differences in stress perception and coping mechanisms. We review how the individual variability in these modulatory systems can be used towards a multivariable assessment of stress risk. Incorporating individuality in our research will allow us to define biomarkers of anxiety disorders as well as assess prognosis, towards a personalized clinical approach to mental health.

[Social defeat and schizophrenia: Hypotheses, arguments, mechanisms]

There is growing evidence for a main role of environment in the occurrence of mental disorders such as a psychosocial risk factor, for example, childhood trauma, discrimination linked to minority status, or migrant status. One hypothesis is that social adversity factors influence the risk of schizophrenia through a common pathway: social defeat which could be defined as the impotence of a subject in the face of a situation of social adversity, with a consequential experience of devaluation on the social scale. This review proposes to explain the animal model of social defeat which provides an overview of the neurobiological consequences of chronic stress. Then, we expose this topic in humans, the assessment methods, and its psychopathological field. Finally, we expose epidemiologic and neurobiological evidences, in particular the dopaminergic sensitization process, which provide evidence of a significant role of social defeat in schizophrenia risk due to exposure to psychosocial factors. This etiopathogenic hypothesis has several issues. First, a common pathway to several environmental risk factors could allow an ethiopathogenic model more parcimonious for schizophrenia. It could also allow the assessment and prevention of adversity factors involved in social defeat so as to finally improve the outcome of subjects who have an individual risk for schizophrenia.

Social isolation alters behavior, the gut-immune-brain axis, and neurochemical circuits in male and female prairie voles

The absence of social support, or social isolation, can be stressful, leading to a suite of physical and psychological health issues. Growing evidence suggests that disruption of the gut-immune-brain axis plays a crucial role in the negative outcomes seen from social isolation stress. However, the mechanisms remain largely unknown. The socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) has been validated as a useful model for studying negative effects of social isolation on the brain and behaviors, yet how the gut microbiome and central immune system are altered in isolated prairie voles are still unknown. Here, we utilized this social rodent to examine how social isolation stress alters the gut-immune-brain axis and relevant behaviors. Adult male and female prairie voles (n = 48 per sex) experienced social isolation or were cohoused with a same-sex cagemate (control) for six weeks. Thereafter, their social and anxiety-like behaviors, neuronal circuit activation, neurochemical expression, and microgliosis in key brain regions, as well as gut microbiome alterations from the isolation treatment were examined. Social isolation increased anxiety-like behaviors and impaired social affiliation. Isolation also resulted in sex- and brain region-specific alterations in neuronal activation, neurochemical expression, and microgliosis. Further, social isolation resulted in alterations to the gut microbiome that were correlated with key brain and behavioral measures. Our data suggest that social isolation alters the gut-immune-brain axis in a sex-dependent manner and that gut microbes, central glial cells, and neurochemical systems may play a critical, integrative role in mediating negative outcomes from social isolation.

Critical role of TLR4 in uncovering the increased rewarding effects of cocaine and ethanol induced by social defeat in male mice

BACKGROUND

Substance use disorders and social stress are currently associated with changes in the immune system response by which they induce a proinflammatory state in neurons and glial cells that eventually modulates the reward system.

AIMS

The aim of the present work was to assess the role of the immune TLR4 (Toll-like receptors 4) and its signaling response in the increased contextual reinforcing effects of cocaine and reinforcing effects of ethanol (EtOH) induced by social defeat (SD) stress.

METHODS

Adult male C57BL/6 J wild-type (WT) mice and mice deficient in TLR4 (TLR4-KO) were assigned to experimental groups according to stress condition (exploration or SD). Three weeks after the last SD, conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced by a subthreshold cocaine dose (1 mg/kg), while another set underwent EtOH 6% operant self-administration (SA). Several inflammatory molecules were analyzed in the hippocampus and the striatum.

RESULTS

SD induced higher vulnerability to the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine only in defeated WT mice. Similarly, defeated WT mice exhibited higher 6% EtOH consumption, an effect that was not observed in the defeated TLR4-KO group. However, the motivation to obtain the drug was observed in both genotypes of defeated animals. Notably, a significant upregulation of the protein proinflammatory markers NFkBp-p65, IL-1β, IL-17 A and COX-2 were observed only in the defeated WT mice, but not in their defeated TLR4-KO counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that TLR4 receptors mediate the neuroinflammatory response underlying the increase in the rewarding effects of cocaine and EtOH induced by social stress.

mRNA and miRNA profiles in the nucleus accumbens are associated with psychological stress-induced susceptible and resilient mice

BACKGROUND

Stress may be one of the main causes of fear and anxiety. Previous studies have shown that the nucleus accumbens is involved in emotional responses. However, in the nucleus accumbens, the mRNA and miRNA profiles of stress susceptibility and resilience of psychological stress still need to be studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, by observing the conspecific being attacked, the witness group experienced psychological stress. After five days of psychological stress, the fear memory of mice was measured by social interaction test, and the degree of anxiety was measured by elevated plus maze. mRNA and miRNA profiles in the nucleus accumbens tissue of control, susceptible and resilient mice were established by high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS

In susceptible mice versus resilient mice, the Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may be related to psychological stress-induced susceptibility. DEGs enriched in Cell adhesion molecules, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Gap junction, PI3K-Akt, VEGF, Jak-STAT, Ras, and Chemokine pathways were up-regulated. DEGs enriched in cGMP-PKG, B cell receptor, and NOD-like receptor pathways were down- regulated. The sequencing results of mRNAs and miRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter assay.

CONCLUSION

The imbalance of different synapses and pathways in the nucleus accumbens may be related to susceptibility and resilience caused by psychological stress.

Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance

Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance.

Stress and signaling pathways regulating autophagy: From behavioral models to psychiatric disorders

Autophagy is a process of degradation and recycling of cytoplasmatic components by the lysosomes. In the central nervous system (CNS), autophagy is involved in cell surveillance, neuroinflammation, and neuroplasticity. Neuropsychiatric conditions are associated with functional disturbances at molecular and cellular levels, causing significant impairments in cell homeostasis. Additionally, emerging evidence supports that dysfunctions in autophagy contribute to the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. However, the studies on autophagy in psychiatric disorders are highly heterogeneous and have several limitations, mainly to assess causality and determine the autophagy flux in animals and human samples. Besides, the role of this mechanism in non-neuronal cells in the CNS is only recently being explored. Thus, this review summarizes and discusses the changes in the autophagy pathway in animal models of psychiatric disorders and the limitations underlying the significant findings. Moreover, we compared these findings with clinical studies. Understanding the involvement of autophagy in psychiatric conditions, and the limitation of our current models may contribute to the development of more effective research approaches and possibly pharmacological therapies.

Animal models for the discovery of novel drugs for post-traumatic stress disorder

INTRODUCTION

Existing pharmacological treatments for PTSD are limited and have been used primarily because of their effectiveness in other psychiatric conditions. To generate novel, PTSD specific pharmacotherapy, researchers must utilize animal models to assess the efficacy of experimental drugs.

AREAS COVERED

This review includes a discussion of factors that should be considered when developing an animal model of PTSD, as well as descriptions of the most commonly used models. Researchers have utilized physical stressors, psychological stressors, or a combination of the two to induce PTSD-like physiological and behavioral sequelae in animals. Such models have provided researchers with a valuable tool to examine the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the condition.

EXPERT OPINION

PTSD is a heterogeneous disorder that manifests as different symptom clusters in different individuals. Thus, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to modeling the disorder in animals. Preclinical investigators must adopt a concentrated effort aimed at modeling specific PTSD subtypes and the distinct symptom profiles that result from specific types of human trauma. Moreover, researchers have focused so much on modeling a single PTSD syndrome in animals that studies examining only specific facets of the disorder are largely ignored. Future research employing animal models of PTSD requires greater focus on the nuances of PTSD.

Naringin Confers Protection against Psychosocial Defeat Stress-Induced Neurobehavioral Deficits in Mice: Involvement of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Isoform-67, Oxido-Nitrergic Stress, and Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms

Psychosocial stress has been widely reported to contribute to psychiatric disturbances. Perturbations in the enzymes of GABAergic and cholinergic systems have been implicated as precursors in different stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 kDa (GAD67) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) via oxidative, nitrergic, and neuroinflammatory mechanisms have been recognized as prospective strategies for the prevention of psychosocial stress-induced behavioral impairments. Naringin, a neuro-active flavonoid compound isolated from citrus fruits, has been shown to produce memory-enhancing, antiepileptic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory activities similarly to ginseng, a very potent adaptogen. In this communication, we assessed the effect of naringin on social-defeat stress (SDS)-induced behavioral, GABAergic, cholinergic, oxidative, nitrergic, and neuroinflammatory changes in mice using the resident-intruder paradigm. The intruder male mice were culled into six groups. Groups 1 and 2 (normal- and SDS-controls) received sterile saline, groups 3-5 were given naringin (25-100 mg/kg, i.p.) whereas group 6 had ginseng (50 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 14 days, but followed by 10 min SDS (physical and psychological) exposure to groups 2-6 with aggressor-resident mice. Behavioral effects using Y-maze, elevated-plus maze, sociability, and tail-suspension tests were assessed on day 14. GAD67, AChE enzymes, and biomarkers of oxidative, nitrergic, and neuroinflammatory changes were assayed in the striatum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Naringin and ginseng reversed all SDS-induced behavioral impairments. Naringin increased the levels of GAD67 and decreased AChE activities in the striatum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Furthermore, naringin reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), malondialdehyde, nitrite concentrations, and increased glutathione levels in a region-dependent manner. Our study suggests that naringin attenuated SDS-induced behavioral endophenotypes of neuropsychiatric disease through increased GAD67 synthesis, inhibition of AChE activity, oxidative, nitrergic stress, and neuroinflammatory processes in stress-sensitive brain regions.

Rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder: behavioral assessment

Although the etiology and expression of psychiatric disorders are complex, mammals show biologically preserved behavioral and neurobiological responses to valent stimuli which underlie the use of rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a complex phenotype that is difficult to model in rodents because it is diagnosed by patient interview and influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, given that PTSD results from traumatic experiences, rodent models can simulate stress induction and disorder development. By manipulating stress type, intensity, duration, and frequency, preclinical models reflect core PTSD phenotypes, measured through various behavioral assays. Paradigms precipitate the disorder by applying physical, social, and psychological stressors individually or in combination. This review discusses the methods used to trigger and evaluate PTSD-like phenotypes. It highlights studies employing each stress model and evaluates their translational efficacies against DSM-5, validity criteria, and criteria proposed by Yehuda and Antelman's commentary in 1993. This is intended to aid in paradigm selection by informing readers about rodent models, their benefits to the clinical community, challenges associated with the translational models, and opportunities for future work. To inform PTSD model validity and relevance to human psychopathology, we propose that models incorporate behavioral test batteries, individual differences, sex differences, strain and stock differences, early life stress effects, biomarkers, stringent success criteria for drug development, Research Domain Criteria, technological advances, and cross-species comparisons. We conclude that, despite the challenges, animal studies will be pivotal to advances in understanding PTSD and the neurobiology of stress.

Chronic social defeat stress: Impacts on ethanol-induced stimulation, corticosterone response, and brain monoamine levels

BACKGROUND

Chronic exposure to stress may dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain monoamine levels, contributing to the development of ethanol dependence. Exposure to chronic social defeat stress may impact ethanol-related effects, neural, and endocrine functions.

AIM

This study assessed ethanol-induced locomotor activity, corticosterone responses, and brain monoamine levels in Swiss albino mice 10 days post-exposure to chronic social defeat stress.

METHODS

During a period of 10 days, male Swiss mice were exposed to daily defeat episodes, followed by housing with an aggressive mouse for 24 h. Control mice were housed in pairs and rotated every 24 h. Ten days post-stress, locomotor behavior was recorded after a challenge with ethanol (2.2 g/kg; intraperitoneal) or saline. After the test, blood and brain samples were collected for determination of plasma corticosterone and brain monoamines across different brain areas through high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

Defeated mice failed to show a stimulant locomotor response to ethanol, while controls displayed the expected ethanol-induced stimulation. Ethanol increased plasma corticosterone levels, with lower corticosterone secretion in defeated mice. Brain monoamines were affected by social defeat and ethanol, varying in different brain regions. Social stress reduced levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin in the hypothalamus. Defeated mice presented reduced serotonin and dopamine levels in the frontal cortex. In the striatum, ethanol treatment increased dopamine levels in controls, but failed to do so in defeated mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that chronic exposure to social defeat blunted ethanol-induced locomotor stimulation, and reduced ethanol-induced corticosterone secretion. Social stress promoted differential reductions in brain monoamine levels in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex and blunted ethanol-induced dopamine increases in the striatum.

microRNA-15b contributes to depression-like behavior in mice by affecting synaptic protein levels and function in the nucleus accumbens

Major depression is a prevalent affective disorder characterized by recurrent low mood. It presumably results from stress-induced deteriorations of molecular networks and synaptic functions in brain reward circuits of genetically-susceptible individuals through epigenetic processes. Epigenetic regulator microRNA-15b inhibits neuronal progenitor proliferation and is up-regulated in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice that demonstrate depression-like behavior, indicating the contribution of microRNA-15 to major depression. Using a mouse model of major depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), here we examined the effects of microRNA-15b on synapses and synaptic proteins in the nucleus accumbens of these mice. The application of a microRNA-15b antagomir into the nucleus accumbens significantly reduced the incidence of CUMS-induced depression and reversed the attenuations of excitatory synapse and syntaxin-binding protein 3 (STXBP3A)/vesicle-associated protein 1 (VAMP1) expression. In contrast, the injection of a microRNA-15b analog into the nucleus accumbens induced depression-like behavior as well as attenuated excitatory synapses and STXBP3A/VAMP1 expression similar to the down-regulation of these processes induced by the CUMS. We conclude that microRNA-15b-5p may play a critical role in chronic stress-induced depression by decreasing synaptic proteins, innervations, and activities in the nucleus accumbens. We propose that the treatment of anti-microRNA-15b-5p may convert stress-induced depression into resilience.

NMDA receptor hypofunction for schizophrenia revisited: Perspectives from epigenetic mechanisms

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with cognitive deficits manifesting during early stages of the disease. Evidence suggests that genetic factors in combination with environmental insults lead to complex changes to glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic systems. In particular, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a major glutamate receptor subtype, is implicated in both the disease progression and symptoms of SZ. NMDARs are critical for synaptic plasticity and cortical maturation, as well as learning and memory processes. In fact, any deviation from normal NMDAR expression and function can have devastating consequences. Surprisingly, there is little evidence from human patients that direct mutations of NMDAR genes contribute to SZ. One intriguing hypothesis is that epigenetic changes, which could result from early insults, alter protein expression and contribute to the NMDAR hypofunction found in SZ. Epigenetics is referred to as modifications that alter gene transcription without changing the DNA sequence itself. In this review, we first discuss how epigenetic changes to NMDAR genes could contribute to NMDAR hypofunction. We then explore how NMDAR hypofunction may contribute to epigenetic changes in other proteins or genes that lead to synaptic dysfunction and symptoms in SZ. We argue that NMDAR hypofunction occurs in early stage of the disease, and it may consequentially initiate GABA and dopamine deficits. Therefore, targeting NMDAR dysfunction during the early stages would be a promising avenue for prevention and therapeutic intervention of cognitive and social deficits that remain untreatable. Finally, we discuss potential questions regarding the epigenetic of SZ and future directions for research.

Different effects of chronic social defeat on social behavior and the brain CRF system in adult male C57 mice with different susceptibilities

Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) has been found to produce different impacts on anxiety-like behaviors, spatial cognitive function and memory in rodents with different susceptibilities. However, the impacts of chronic social defeat on social behaviors in adult male mice with different susceptibilities to social defeat and the underlying mechanisms in the brain remain unclear. In the present study, we found that ten days of social defeat reduced the tendency of susceptible adult male C57 mice to approach an unfamiliar individual and increased their avoidance of an unfamiliar CD-1 mouse but had no effects on resilient individuals. In addition, CSDS enhanced anxiety-like behavior in susceptible animals, but produced no effects in the resilient group. Meanwhile, CSDS increased the number of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and CRF-R2-positive neurons in the accumbens nucleus shell in both resilient and susceptible animals. CSDS increased the number of CRF-R1-positive neurons and CRF-R1 mRNA expression in the prelimbic cortex (PrL) and the number of CRF-R2-positive neurons in the basolateral amygdala, but reduced the number of CRF-R2-positive neurons and mRNA expression in the PrL in susceptible animals. Therefore, the different effects of CSDS on sociability and anxiety-like behavior in mice with different susceptibilities may be associated with region- and type-specific alterations in CRF receptor levels. These findings help us understand the underlying mechanism by which social stress affects emotion and social behavior and provides an important basis for the treatment of disorders of social and emotional behavior caused by social stress.

Behavioral coping strategies predict tumor development and behavioral impairment after chronic social stress in mice

The aims of this study were to identify behavioral strategies to cope with social defeat, evaluate their impact on tumor development and analyze the contributions of both to changes in physiology and behavior produced by chronic defeat stress. For this purpose, OF1 mice were inoculated with B16F10 melanoma cells and subjected to 18 days of repeated defeat stress in the presence of a resident selected for consistent levels of aggression. Combined cluster and discriminant analyses of behavior that manifested during the first social interaction identified three types of behavioral profiles: active/aggressive (AA), passive/reactive (PR) and an intermediate active/non-aggressive (ANA) profile. Animals that showed a PR coping strategy developed more pulmonary metastases at the end of the social stress period than animals in other groups. The ANA but not AA group also showed higher tumor metastases than non-stressed subjects. In addition, the ANA group differed from the other groups because it displayed the highest corticosterone levels after the first interaction. Chronic stress reduced sucrose consumption, which indicates anhedonia, in all the stressed groups. However, the PR subjects exhibited a longer immobility time and swam for less time than other subjects in the forced swim test (FST), and they travelled a shorter distance in the open field test (OFT). In this test, the ANA group also travelled smaller distances than the non-stressed group, but the difference was more moderate. In contrast, tumor development but not stress increased behaviors associated with anxiety in the OFT (e.g., time in the center) in all tumor-bearing subjects. In summary, although the effects of social stress and tumor development on behavior were rather moderate, the results indicate the importance of behavioral coping strategies in modulating the effects of chronic stress on health.

Inhibition of the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) prolongs the social defeat-induced anxiogenesis in mice: Attenuation by NMDA receptor blockade in the right mPFC

Chemical inhibition and nitrergic stimulation of the left and right medial prefrontal cortex (L and RmPFC), respectively, provoke anxiety in mice. Moreover, LmPFC inhibition immediately followed by a single social defeat stress (SDS) led to anxiogenesis in mice exposed to the elevated plus maze (EPM) 24 h later. Given that glutamate NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors are densely present in the mPFC, we investigated (i) the time course of LmPFC inhibition + SDS-induced anxiogenesis and (ii) the effects of intra-RmPFC injection of AP-7 (a NMDA receptor antagonist) on this long-lasting anxiety. Male Swiss mice received intra-LmPFC injection of CoCl₂ (1 mM) and 10 min later were subjected to a single SDS episode and then (i) exposed to the EPM 2, 5, or 10 days later or (ii) 2 days later, received intra-RmPFC injection of AP-7 (0.05 nmol) and were exposed to the EPM to observe the percentage of open arm entries and time (%OE; %OT) and frequency of closed arm entries (CE). Dorsal but not ventral LmPFC inhibition + SDS reduced open arm exploration 2, 5, and 10 days later relative to that of saline-treated or non-defeated mice. Moreover, this effect is not due to locomotor impairment as assessed using the general activity. Intra-RmPFC AP-7 injection 2 days after LmPFC inhibition + SDS prevented this type of anxiogenesis. These results suggest that the integrity of the LmPFC is important for mice to properly cope with SDS, and that NMDA receptor blockade in the RmPFC facilitates resilience to SDS-induced anxiogenesis in mice.

Investigating Individual Pre-trauma Susceptibility to a PTSD-Like Phenotype in Animals

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that develops after experiencing a severe emotional trauma, with or without physical trauma. There is no known cure and evidence-based treatments, which are effective in reducing symptoms, have low retention rates. It is therefore important, in addition to seeking new therapeutics, to identify ways to reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD. The fact that some, but not all, individuals exposed to the same traumatic event develop PTSD suggests that there is individual susceptibility. Investigating susceptibility and underlying factors will be better guided if there is a coherent framework for such investigations. In this review, we propose that susceptibility is a dynamic state that is comprised of susceptibility factors (before trauma) and sequalae factors (during or after trauma, but before PTSD diagnosis). We define key features of susceptibility and sequalae factors as: (1) they are detectable before trauma (susceptibility factors) or during/shortly after trauma (sequalae factors), (2) they can be manipulated, and (3) manipulation of these factors alters the likelihood of developing PTSD, thus affecting resilience. In this review we stress the importance of investigating susceptibility to PTSD with appropriate animal models, because prospective human studies are expensive and manipulation of susceptibility and sequalae factors for study purposes may not always be feasible. This review also provides a brief overview of a subset of animal models that study PTSD-related behaviors and related alterations in endocrine and brain systems that focus on individual differences, peri- and post-trauma. Attention is drawn to the RISP model (Revealing Individual Susceptibility to a PTSD-like Phenotype) which assesses susceptibility before trauma. Using the RISP model and expression of plasticity-associated immediate early genes, Arc and Homer1a, we have identified impaired hippocampal function as a potential susceptibility factor. We further discuss other putative susceptibility factors and approaches to mitigate them. We assert that this knowledge will guide successful strategies for interventions before, during or shortly after trauma that can decrease the probability of developing PTSD.

Animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder and novel treatment targets

Understanding the neurobiological basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is fundamental to accurately diagnose this neuropathology and offer appropriate treatment options to patients. The lack of pharmacological effects, too often observed with the most currently used drugs, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), makes even more urgent the discovery of new pharmacological approaches. Reliable animal models of PTSD are difficult to establish because of the present limited understanding of the PTSD heterogeneity and of the influence of various environmental factors that trigger the disorder in humans. We summarize knowledge on the most frequently investigated animal models of PTSD, focusing on both their behavioral and neurobiological features. Most of them can reproduce not only behavioral endophenotypes, including anxiety-like behaviors or fear-related avoidance, but also neurobiological alterations, such as glucocorticoid receptor hypersensitivity or amygdala hyperactivity. Among the various models analyzed, we focus on the social isolation mouse model, which reproduces some deficits observed in humans with PTSD, such as abnormal neurosteroid biosynthesis, changes in GABAA receptor subunit expression and lack of pharmacological response to benzodiazepines. Neurosteroid biosynthesis and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system are altered in PTSD and are promising neuronal targets to discover novel PTSD agents. In this regard, we discuss pharmacological interventions and we highlight exciting new developments in the fields of research for novel reliable PTSD biomarkers that may enable precise diagnosis of the disorder and more successful pharmacological treatments for PTSD patients.

Chronic social defeat-induced social avoidance as a proxy of stress resilience in mice involves conditioned learning

Chronic social defeat (CSD)-induced social avoidance is considered to model a feature of stress-related mental dysfunction, while its absence has been used as a proxy of resilience in rodents. However, knowledge on the mechanisms shaping CSD-induced individual outcomes remains fragmentary. Fear conditioning has been described as a suitable model in humans for better understanding the pathophysiology of stress related mental disorders. We sought to explore the extent to which conditioned learning is involved in CSD-induced social avoidance. In experiment 1 (social avoidance specificity), C57BL/6 J male mice underwent CSD followed by a modified social interaction test offering the simultaneous choice between an unknown mouse from the aggressor's strain or a mouse from a different strain and phenotypic characteristics. In experiment 2 (social avoidance extinction), CSD-extinction sessions involving only the sensory phase of CSD were conducted on one group of defeated mice whereas a second group only received handling, followed by social interaction test with a novel mouse from the aggressor's strain. Our results provide evidence that CSD-induced social avoidance does not generalize to other phenotypic characteristics than those of the aggressors and can be successfully reversed during extinction training. Taken together, our findings strongly point to the involvement of conditioned learning in shaping CSD-induced social avoidance, a finding that is of interest to future studies into the neurobiology of resilience.

Migration and psychosis: a meta-analysis of incidence studies

BACKGROUND

The aims of this meta-analysis are (i) to estimate the pooled relative risk (RR) of developing non-affective psychotic disorder (NAPD) and affective psychotic disorder (APD) among migrants and their children; (ii) to adjust these results for socioeconomic status (SES); (iii) to examine the sources of heterogeneity that underlie the risk of NAPD.

METHODS

We included population-based incidence studies that reported an age-adjusted RR with 95% confidence interval (CI) published 1 January 1977-12 October 2017 and used a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We retrieved studies performed in Europe (n = 43), Israel (n = 3), Canada (n = 2) and Australia (n = 1). The meta-analysis yielded a RR, adjusted for age and sex, of 2.13 (95% CI 1.99-2.27) for NAPD and 2.94 (95% CI 2.28-3.79) for APD. The RRs diminished, but persisted after adjustment for SES. With reference to NAPD: a personal or parental history of migration to Europe from countries outside Europe was associated with a higher RR (RR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.63-3.29) than migration within Europe (RR = 1.88, 95% 1.62-2.18). The corresponding RR was lower in Israel (RR = 1.22; 0.99-1.50) and Canada (RR = 1.21; 0.85-1.74). The RR was highest among individuals with a black skin colour (RR = 4.19, 95% CI 3.42-5.14). The evidence of a difference in risk between first and second generation was insufficient.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive selection may explain the low risk in Canada, while the change from exclusion to inclusion may do the same in Israel. Given the high risks among migrants from developing countries in Europe, social exclusion may have a pathogenic role.

Reduced Consolation Behaviors in Physically Stressed Mandarin Voles: Involvement of Oxytocin, Dopamine D2, and Serotonin 1A Receptors Within the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

BACKGROUND

Consolation is a type of empathy-like behavior that has recently been observed in some socially living rodents. Despite the growing body of literature suggesting that stress affects empathy, the relationship between stress and consolation remains understudied at the preclinical level. Here, we examined the effects of chronic emotional stress or physical stress exposure on consolation and emotional behaviors by using the socially monogamous mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus) in both males and females.

METHOD/RESULTS

Physical stress voles were exposed to 14-day social defeat stress, whereas emotional stress voles vicariously experienced the defeat of their partners. We found that physical stress, but not emotional stress, voles showed reduced grooming toward their defeated partners and increased anxiety- and despair-like behaviors. Meanwhile, physical stress voles exhibited decreased neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is centrally involved in empathy. The densities of oxytocin receptors, dopamine D2 receptors, and serotonin 1A-receptors within the anterior cingulate cortex were significantly decreased in the physical stress group compared with controls. All the behavioral and physiological changes were similar between the sexes. Finally, we found that the reduced consolation behavior and some anxiety-like syndromes in physical stress voles could be alleviated by pretreatment with an oxytocin receptor, D2 receptors, or serotonin 1A-receptor agonist within the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas injections of corresponding receptor antagonists to the control voles decreased the consolation behavior and increased some anxiety-like behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that chronic physical stress exposure impaired consolation and induced anxiety-like behaviors in mandarin voles and oxytocin receptors, 5-HT1A receptors, and D2 receptors within the anterior cingulate cortex may play important roles in these processes.

The behavioral paradigm to induce repeated social defeats in zebrafish

Social subordination, which causes severe stress in animals, can affect animal's behaviors, homeostasis, and mental health. In rodents, experiences of repeated social defeats, but not a single defeat, induce a depression-like state. However, it is unclear whether such experiences similarly affect behaviors of other model animals than rodents. Here, we established a behavioral paradigm for repeated social defeats with zebrafish, an emerging model for behavioral neuroscience and pharmacological analysis. We put fish into repeated social subordination for 6 consecutive days. Using behaviors during fighting as indicators, we observed that experiencing repeated social defeats led to a reduction in fight frequency and duration. The continuously-defeated zebrafish failed to win even against the transgenic fish with an impaired winning-associated neural pathway. These results suggest that repeated social defeats led to demotivation to fight and to win against opponents. Moreover, they showed strong activity in the ventral habenula, an evolutionary homolog of the mammalian lateral habenula. However, unlike the mice model, the continuously-defeated zebrafish showed no change in anxiety level and sociability. Our established behavioral paradigm will be a new tool to investigate neural mechanisms underlying social defeats.

mRNA and miRNA profiles in the nucleus accumbens are related to fear memory and anxiety induced by physical or psychological stress

Anxiety is presumably driven by fear memory. The nucleus accumbens involves emotional regulation. Molecular profiles in the nucleus accumbens related to stress-induced fear memory remain elucidated. Fear memory in mice was induced by a paradigm of social defeat. Physical and psychological stress was delivered to an intruder that was attacked by an aggressive resident. Meanwhile, an observer experienced psychological stress by seeing aggressor attacks. The nucleus accumbens tissues from intruder and observer mice that appear fear memory and anxiety as well as control mice were harvested for analyses of mRNA and miRNA profiles by high throughput sequencing. In the nucleus accumbens of intruders and observers with fear memory and anxiety, genes encoding AdrRα, AChRM2/3, GluRM2/8, HrR1, SSR, BDNF and AC are upregulated, while genes encoding DR3/5, PR2, GPγ8 and P450 are downregulated. Physical and/or psychological stress leads to fear memory and anxiety likely by molecules relevant to certain synapses. Moreover, there are differential expressions in genes that encode GABAR_A, 5-HTR1/5, CREB3, AChRM2, RyR, Wnt and GPγ13 in the nucleus accumbens from intruders versus observers. GABAergic, serotonergic and cholinergic synapses as well as calcium, Wnt and CREB signaling molecules may be involved in fear memory differently induced by psychological stress and physical/psychological stress. The data from analyzing mRNA and miRNA profiles are consistent. Some molecules are validated by qRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter assay. Fear memory and anxiety induced by the mixture of physical and psychological stress or psychological stress appear influenced by complicated molecular mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens.

Animal models of major depression: drawbacks and challenges

Major depression is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. This situation is mainly related to the chronicity and/or recurrence of the disorder, and to poor response to antidepressant therapy. Progress in this area requires valid animal models. Current models are based either on manipulating the environment to which rodents are exposed (during the developmental period or adulthood) or biological underpinnings (i.e. gene deletion or overexpression of candidate genes, targeted lesions of brain areas, optogenetic control of specific neuronal populations, etc.). These manipulations can alter specific behavioural and biological outcomes that can be related to different symptomatic and pathophysiological dimensions of major depression. However, animal models of major depression display substantial shortcomings that contribute to the lack of innovative pharmacological approaches in recent decades and which hamper our capabilities to investigate treatment-resistant depression. Here, we discuss the validity of these models, review putative models of treatment-resistant depression, major depression subtypes and recurrent depression. Furthermore, we identify future challenges regarding new paradigms such as those proposing dimensional rather than categorical approaches to depression.

Social context and dominance status contribute to sleep patterns and quality in groups of freely-moving mice

In socially-living species, sleep patterns are often subject to group influences, as individuals adjust to the presence, daily rhythms, and social pressures of cohabitation. However, sleep studies in mice are typically conducted in single-housed individuals. Here, we investigated sleep in a semi-naturalistic environment with freely-moving, group-housed mice using wireless electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring and video tracking. We found evidence of in-group synchrony of sleep state patterns and effects of social dominance status on sleep quality. These findings highlight the importance of exploring sleep in a social context and are a step toward more informative research on the interplay between social functioning and sleep.

Creatine transporter knockout mice (Slc6a8) show increases in serotonin-related proteins and are resilient to learned helplessness

Approximately 20% of adults in the U.S. will experience an affective disorder during their life. While it is well established that serotonin (5-HT) is a crucial factor in mood, impaired cellular bioenergetics are also implicated. Creatine (Cr), through the Cr/Phospho-Cr (PCr) shuttle, maintains high ATP concentrations in the neuron. This system may be implicated in the etiology of affective disorders, as reduced Cr, PCr, and ATP are often seen in the brains of affected patients. To address this issue, Cr transporter (Crt) deficient male mice (Slc6a8^-/y) and female mice heterozygous for Crt expression (Slc6a8^+/-) were used to evaluate how a Cr deficient system would alter affective-like behaviors. Slc6a8^-/y and Slc6a8^+/- mice had faster escape latencies in learned helplessness, indicating a potential resilience to behavioral despair. Slc6a8^-/y had decrease latency to immobility in the tail-suspension test and Slc6a8^+/- had increased open entries in elevated zero maze, but all other variables matched those of wildtype mice, however. Slc6a8^-/y mice have increased 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content in the hippocampus and striatum and increased monoamine oxidase protein and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 protein content in the hippocampus, while 5-HT levels are unchanged. This indicates an alteration to the 5-HTergic system in Cr deficient mice. Our results indicate that Cr plays a complex role in affective disorders and 5-HT, warranting further investigation.

Neurobiology of Resilience: Interface Between Mind and Body

Stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, exact enormous socioeconomic and individual consequences. Resilience, the process of adaptation in the face of adversity, is an important concept that is enabling the field to understand individual differences in stress responses, with the hope of harnessing this information for the development of novel therapeutics that mimic the body's natural resilience mechanisms. This review provides an update on the current state of research of the neurobiological mechanisms of stress resilience. We focus on physiological and transcriptional adaptations of specific brain circuits, the role of cellular and humoral factors of the immune system, the gut microbiota, and changes at the interface between the brain and the periphery, the blood-brain barrier. We propose viewing resilience as a process that requires the integration of multiple central and peripheral systems and that elucidating the underlying neurobiological mechanisms will ultimately lead to novel therapeutic options.

Obese mice exposed to psychosocial stress display cardiac and hippocampal dysfunction associated with local brain-derived neurotrophic factor depletion

INTRODUCTION

Obesity and psychosocial stress (PS) co-exist in individuals of Western society. Nevertheless, how PS impacts cardiac and hippocampal phenotype in obese subjects is still unknown. Nor is it clear whether changes in local brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) account, at least in part, for myocardial and behavioral abnormalities in obese experiencing PS.

METHODS

In adult male WT mice, obesity was induced via a high-fat diet (HFD). The resident-intruder paradigm was superimposed to trigger PS. In vivo left ventricular (LV) performance was evaluated by echocardiography and pressure-volume loops. Behaviour was indagated by elevated plus maze (EPM) and Y-maze. LV myocardium was assayed for apoptosis, fibrosis, vessel density and oxidative stress. Hippocampus was analyzed for volume, neurogenesis, GABAergic markers and astrogliosis. Cardiac and hippocampal BDNF and TrkB levels were measured by ELISA and WB. We investigated the pathogenetic role played by BDNF signaling in additional cardiac-selective TrkB (cTrkB) KO mice.

FINDINGS

When combined, obesity and PS jeopardized LV performance, causing prominent apoptosis, fibrosis, oxidative stress and remodeling of the larger coronary branches, along with lower BDNF and TrkB levels. HFD/PS weakened LV function similarly in WT and cTrkB KO mice. The latter exhibited elevated LV ROS emission already at baseline. Obesity/PS augmented anxiety-like behaviour and impaired spatial memory. These changes were coupled to reduced hippocampal volume, neurogenesis, local BDNF and TrkB content and augmented astrogliosis.

INTERPRETATION

PS and obesity synergistically deteriorate myocardial structure and function by depleting cardiac BDNF/TrkB content, leading to augmented oxidative stress. This comorbidity triggers behavioral deficits and induces hippocampal remodeling, potentially via lower BDNF and TrkB levels. FUND: J.A. was in part supported by Rotary Foundation Global Study Scholarship. G.K. was supported by T32 National Institute of Health (NIH) training grant under award number 1T32AG058527. S.C. was funded by American Heart Association Career Development Award (19CDA34760185). G.A.R.C. was funded by NIH (K01HL133368-01). APB was funded by a Grant from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region entitled: "Heart failure as the Alzheimer disease of the heart; therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities". M.C. was supported by PRONAT project (CNR). N.P. was funded by NIH (R01 HL136918) and by the Magic-That-Matters fund (JHU). V.L. was in part supported by institutional funds from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy), by the TIM-Telecom Italia (WHITE Lab, Pisa, Italy), by a research grant from Pastificio Attilio Mastromauro Granoro s.r.l. (Corato, Italy) and in part by ETHERNA project (Prog. n. 161/16, Fondazione Pisa, Italy). Funding source had no such involvement in study design, in the collection, analysis, interpretation of data, in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Impact of Stress on Gamma Oscillations in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens During Spontaneous Social Interaction

Alteration in social behavior is one of the most debilitating symptoms of major depression, a stress related mental illness. Social behavior is modulated by the reward system, and gamma oscillations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) seem to be associated with reward processing. In this scenario, the role of gamma oscillations in depression remains unknown. We hypothesized that gamma oscillations in the rat NAc are sensitive to the effects of social distress. One group of male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) while the other group was left undisturbed (control group). Afterward, a microelectrode array was implanted in the NAc of all animals. Local field potential (LFP) activity was acquired using a wireless recording system. Each implanted rat was placed in an open field chamber for a non-social interaction condition, followed by introducing another unfamiliar rat, creating a social interaction condition, where the implanted rat interacted freely and continuously with the unfamiliar conspecific in a natural-like manner (see Supplementary Videos). We found that the high-gamma band power in the NAc of non-stressed rats was higher during the social interaction compared to a non-social interaction condition. Conversely, we did not find significant differences at this level in the stressed rats when comparing the social interaction- and non-social interaction condition. These findings suggest that high-gamma oscillations in the NAc are involved in social behavior. Furthermore, alterations at this level could be an electrophysiological signature of the effect of chronic social stress on reward processing.

Social Housing Conditions Modulate the Long-Lasting Increase in Cocaine Reward Induced by Intermittent Social Defeat

Social defeat is considered the most representative animal model for studying the consequences of social stress. Intermittent social defeat (ISD) has proved to enhance the response to cocaine hedonic properties. In the present research, we evaluated if different social housing conditions, as housing with a familiar conspecific or with a female, exert a protective effect modulating the negative consequences of ISD as the increased sensitivity to cocaine and the induction of anxiety-like behavior. To achieve this objective, non-stressed or ISD OF1 male mice were divided into five different experimental groups according to their social environment: standard housing (four adult males per cage); male adolescent or adult in pairs (two males per cage); and adult males housed with a female for a short or long period (3 days vs. the whole duration of the study). Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated 19 days after the last episode of ISD using an elevated plus maze (EPM), and 24 h later the animals underwent a conditioned place preference paradigm (CPP) induced by a sub-threshold dose of cocaine (1 mg/kg). Following CPP, biological samples were taken to measure striatal levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and plasmatic levels of oxytocin (OT). Our results confirmed that ISD animals housed in standard condition displayed an anxious phenotype, developed CPP and had increased levels of IL-6 in the striatum. However, animals housed with a female or with a familiar male since adolescence did not develop CPP and were protected against the anxiogenic and neuroinflammatory potential of ISD stress. In the group of animals paired with a female throughout the experimental procedure, an increase in OT levels may have underlain this buffering effect, while the protective effect of being housed with a familiar male mouse seems to be related with a better resolution of the stress response. The present results expand our knowledge of the neurobiology of vulnerability to drug addiction and highlight the benefit of social support for recovery from the adverse effects of social stress.

microRNA and mRNA profiles in the amygdala are relevant to fear memory induced by physical or psychological stress

Anxiety is presumably driven by fear memory. Molecular profiles in the amygdala of mice with fear memory induced by psychological and physical stresses remain to be elucidated. Fear memory in mice was induced by a paradigm of social defeat. Physical and psychological stresses (PPS) to an intruder were given by attacks from an aggressive resident. Psychological stress (PS) to an observer was given by the witnessing of aggressor attacks. Amygdala tissues from these mice showing fear memory and anxiety vs. tissues from control mice were harvested to analyze mRNA and microRNA profiles by high-throughput sequencing. In the amygdala of intruders and observers with fear memory, the genes encoding 5-HTR1b, 5-HTR2a, DAR2, AChRM3, and IP3R1 are upregulated, whereas genes encoding GPγ11, GPγ13, GPγT2, RasC3, and P450 are downregulated, indicating that these molecules are involved in fear memory induced by physical/psychological stresses. In the comparison of intruders with observers, the upregulation of genes encoding 5-HTR6, GPγ8, P2R7, NFκ2, CREB3/1, and Itgα9 as well as the downregulation of genes encoding DAR5, 5-HTR1a, and HSP1a are involved in fear memory induced by physical stress. The upregulation of genes encoding DAR1, 5-HTR5a and SSR2/3 as well as the downregulation of AdRα1, CREB3/1, GPγ13 and GPγ8 are involved in fear memory induced by psychological stress. Results obtained by sequencing mRNA and microRNA profiles are consistent with results of quantitative RT-PCR analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays performed for validation. In conclusion, fear memories and anxiety induced by PPS vs. PS are caused by the imbalanced regulation of different synapses and signaling pathways in the amygdala.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current study identifies the molecular mechanism underlying fear memory and anxiety induced by psychological stress vs. physical stress, in which the imbalanced expression of microRNA-regulated mRNAs relevant to dopaminergic, adrenergic, and serotonergic synapses in the amygdala plays an important role. This result reveals different molecular profiles for psychological and physical stresses.

Animal Models of PTSD: The Socially Isolated Mouse and the Biomarker Role of Allopregnanolone

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating undertreated condition that affects 8%-13% of the general population and 20%-30% of military personnel. Currently, there are no specific medications that reduce PTSD symptoms or biomarkers that facilitate diagnosis, inform treatment selection or allow monitoring drug efficacy. PTSD animal models rely on stress-induced behavioral deficits that only partially reproduce PTSD neurobiology. PTSD heterogeneity, including comorbidity and symptoms overlap with other mental disorders, makes this attempt even more complicated. Allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid that positively, potently and allosterically modulates GABAA receptors and, by this mechanism, regulates emotional behaviors, is mainly synthesized in brain corticolimbic glutamatergic neurons. In PTSD patients, allopregnanolone down-regulation correlates with increased PTSD re-experiencing and comorbid depressive symptoms, CAPS-IV scores and Simms dysphoria cluster scores. In PTSD rodent models, including the socially isolated mouse, decrease in corticolimbic allopregnanolone biosynthesis is associated with enhanced contextual fear memory and impaired fear extinction. Allopregnanolone, its analogs or agents that stimulate its synthesis offer treatment approaches for facilitating fear extinction and, in general, for neuropsychopathologies characterized by a neurosteroid biosynthesis downregulation. The socially isolated mouse model reproduces several other deficits previously observed in PTSD patients, including altered GABAA receptor subunit subtypes and lack of benzodiazepines pharmacological efficacy. Transdiagnostic behavioral features, including expression of anxiety-like behavior, increased aggression, a behavioral component to reproduce behavioral traits of suicidal behavior in humans, as well as alcohol consumption are heightened in socially isolated rodents. Potentials for assessing novel biomarkers to predict, diagnose, and treat PTSD more efficiently are discussed in view of developing a precision medicine for improved PTSD pharmacological treatments.

Cardiovascular outcomes related to social defeat stress: New insights from resilient and susceptible rats

Stress exposure is an important risk factor for psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders. Two phenotypes related to coping with stress can be observed in rodents that experience chronic social defeat stress (SDS): susceptible, showing social avoidance and behavioral changes related to depression, and resilient, showing none of these alterations. Moreover, a strong correlation exists between depression and the development of or mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, little is known about cardiovascular alterations related to SDS exposure in those phenotypes or their correlation with depressive-like behaviors. Using a chronic SDS protocol followed by the social interaction test, we identified Wistar rats as resilient or susceptible to SDS. Susceptible animals showed increased depressive-like behaviors with resting tachycardia and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) due to increased sympathetic tone in the heart and a less effective baroreflex. In contrast, resilient rats were protected from these alterations by increased vagal tone, resulting in greater HRV values. To our knowledge, our study is the first to indicate that harmful cardiovascular outcomes are related to depressive-like behaviors in susceptible rats and to suggest a mechanism by which resilient rats are protected from these changes. Also, our results suggest that enhanced HRV and vagal tone may be an important trait in resilient individuals.

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Cardiovascular alterations are correlated to depressive-like behaviors.

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Susceptible rats show increased sympathetic tone to the heart and lower HRV.

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Baroreflex effectiveness in susceptible rats is impaired.

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Resilient rats show an increased vagal tone to the heart and greater values of HRV.

Abdominal vagal deafferentation alters affective behaviors in rats

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence for a role of abnormal gut-brain signaling in disorders involving altered mood and affect, including depression. Studies using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) suggest that the disruption of vagal afferent signaling may contribute to these abnormalities. To test this hypothesis, we used a rat model of subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation (SDA), the most complete and selective vagal deafferentation method existing to date, to study the consequences of complete disconnection of abdominal vagal afferents on affective behaviors.

METHODS

SDA- and Sham-operated male rats were subjected to several tests that are commonly used in preclinical rodent models to assess the presence of anhedonic behavior, namely the novel object-induced exploration test, the novelty-suppressed eating test, and the sucrose preference test. In addition, we compared SDA and Sham rats in a social interaction test and the forced swim test to assess sociability and behavioral despair, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared to Sham controls, SDA rats consistently displayed signs of anhedonic behavior in all test settings used. SDA rats also showed increased immobility and reduced swimming in the forced swim test, whereas they did not differ from Sham controls with regards to social approach behavior.

LIMITATIONS

This study was conducted in male rats only. Hence, possible sex-specific effects of SDA on affective behaviors remained unexamined.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that hedonic behavior and behavioral despair are subject to visceral modulation through abdominal vagal afferents. These data are compatible with preclinical models and clinical trials showing beneficial effects of VNS on depression-like and affective behaviors.

Physiologic Stress of Ear Punch Identification Compared with Restraint Only in Mice

Social housing of laboratory rodents is recommended whenever possible to encourage natural behavior and social dynamics. Several identification methods are used to distinguish rodents from one another. One of the most common means of identifying mice is ear punching. The effect of ear punching for identification or genotyping on the welfare of mice remains a concern, because this method negatively affects welfare in other species. To assess the influence of ear punching on the welfare of mice, we implanted telemetry units in 6 female Swiss-Webster mice and monitored heart rate, body temperature, and activity after various routine procedures. The physiologic and behavioral responses to restraint (by scruffing) only, restraint and ear punching, and routine handling for husbandry were evaluated. The mean heart rate of mice after receiving an ear punch was significantly higher than baseline values at 30 min after the procedure, and the mean body temperature was significantly increased over baseline for at least 1 h. The heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels of mice after scruffing only and routine handling did not differ from baseline values. The proportion of time mice spent head grooming, a potentially nocifensive behavior, was increased immediately after ear punching and began to decline by 60 min. We show that the physiologic stress of mice receiving an ear punch was greater than that from restraint (scruffing) alone, whereas behavioral indices of pain were unchanged, suggesting that ear punching causes a transient response in mice.

A Model for Basic Emotions Using Observations of Behavior in Drosophila

Emotion plays a crucial role, both in general human experience and in psychiatric illnesses. Despite the importance of emotion, the relative lack of objective methodologies to scientifically studying emotional phenomena limits our current understanding and thereby calls for the development of novel methodologies, such us the study of illustrative animal models. Analysis of Drosophila and other insects has unlocked new opportunities to elucidate the behavioral phenotypes of fundamentally emotional phenomena. Here we propose an integrative model of basic emotions based on observations of this animal model. The basic emotions are internal states that are modulated by neuromodulators, and these internal states are externally expressed as certain stereotypical behaviors, such as instinct, which is proposed as ancient mechanisms of survival. There are four kinds of basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, and anger, which are differentially associated with three core affects: reward (happiness), punishment (sadness), and stress (fear and anger). These core affects are analogous to the three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) in that they are combined in various proportions to result in more complex “higher order” emotions, such as love and aesthetic emotion. We refer to our proposed model of emotions as called the “Three Primary Color Model of Basic Emotions.”

Voluntary Wheel Running Reverses Deficits in Social Behavior Induced by Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Mice: Involvement of the Dopamine System

Voluntary exercise has been reported to have a therapeutic effect on many psychiatric disorders and social stress is known to impair social interaction. However, whether voluntary exercise could reverse deficits in social behaviors induced by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. The present study shows CSDS impaired social preference and induced social interaction deficiency in susceptible mice. Voluntary wheel running (VWR) reversed these effects. In addition, CSDS decreased the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase in the ventral tegmental area and the D2 receptor (D2R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. These changes can be recovered by VWR. Furthermore, the recovery effect of VWR on deficits in social behaviors in CSDS mice was blocked by the microinjection of D2R antagonist raclopride into the NAc shell. Thus, these results suggest that the mechanism underlying CSDS-induced social interaction disorder might be caused by an alteration of the dopamine system. VWR may be a novel means to treat CSDS-induced deficits in social behaviors via modifying the dopamine system.

Regulation of volatile and non-volatile pheromone attractants depends upon male social status

We investigated the regulation of chemical signals of house mice living in seminatural social conditions. We found that male mice more than doubled the excretion of major urinary proteins (MUPs) after they acquired a territory and become socially dominant. MUPs bind and stabilize the release of volatile pheromone ligands, and some MUPs exhibit pheromonal properties themselves. We conducted olfactory assays and found that female mice were more attracted to the scent of dominant than subordinate males when they were in estrus. Yet, when male status was controlled, females were not attracted to urine with high MUP concentration, despite being comparable to levels of dominant males. To determine which compounds influence female attraction, we conducted additional analyses and found that dominant males differentially upregulated the excretion of particular MUPs, including the pheromone MUP20 (darcin), and a volatile pheromone that influences female reproductive physiology and behavior. Our findings show that once male house mice become territorial and socially dominant, they upregulate the amount and types of excreted MUPs, which increases the intensities of volatiles and the attractiveness of their urinary scent to sexually receptive females.

Animal models of depression: pros and cons

Animal models of depression are certainly needed but the question in the title has been raised owing to the controversies in the interpretation of the readout in a number of tests, to the perceived lack of progress in the development of novel treatments and to the expressed doubts in whether animal models can offer anything to make a true breakthrough in understanding the neurobiology of depression and producing novel drugs against depression. Herewith, it is argued that if anything is wrong with animal models, including those for depression, it is not about the principle of modelling complex human disorder in animals but in the way the tests are selected, conducted and interpreted. Further progress in the study of depression and in developing new treatments, will be supported by animal models of depression if these were more critically targeted to drug screening vs. studies of underlying neurobiology, clearly stratified to vulnerability and pathogenetic models, focused on well-defined endophenotypes and validated for each setting while bearing the existing limits to validation in mind. Animal models of depression need not to rely merely on behavioural readouts but increasingly incorporate neurobiological measures as the understanding of depression as human brain disorder advances. Further developments would be fostered by cross-fertilizinga translational approach that is bidirectional, research on humans making more use of neurobiological findings in animals.

Oxytocin prevents the increase of cocaine-related responses produced by social defeat

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) plays a critical role in the regulation of social and emotional behaviors. OXT plays a role in stress response and in drug reward, but to date no studies have evaluated its implication in the long-lasting increase of the motivational effects of cocaine induced by repeated social defeat (RSD). During the social defeat procedure, 1 mg/kg of OXT was administered 30 min before each episode of RSD. Three weeks after the last defeat, the effects of cocaine on the conditioned place preference (CPP), locomotor sensitization and the self-administration (SA) paradigms were evaluated. The influence of OXT on the levels of BDNF in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum and hippocampus was also measured. Our results confirm that raising the levels of OXT during social defeat stress can block the long-lasting effects of this type of stress. OXT counteracts the anxiety induced by social defeat and modifies BDNF levels in all the structures we have studied. Moreover, OXT prevents RSD-induced increases in the motivational effects of cocaine. Administration of OXT before each social defeat blocked the social defeat-induced increment in the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine in the CPP, favored the extinction of cocaine-associated memories in both the CPP and SA, and decreased reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in the SA. In conclusion, the long-lasting effects of RSD are counteracted by administering OXT prior to stress, and changes in BDNF expression may underlie these protective effects.

Social stress during adolescence activates long-term microglia inflammation insult in reward processing nuclei

The experience of social stress during adolescence is associated with higher vulnerability to drug use. Increases in the acquisition of cocaine self-administration, in the escalation of cocaine-seeking behavior, and in the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine have been observed in rodents exposed to repeated social defeat (RSD). In addition, prolonged or severe stress induces a proinflammatory state with microglial activation and increased cytokine production. The aim of the present work was to describe the long-term effects induced by RSD during adolescence on the neuroinflammatory response and synaptic structure by evaluating different glial and neuronal markers. In addition to an increase in the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine, our results showed that RSD in adolescence produced inflammatory reactivity in microglia that is prolonged into adulthood, affecting astrocytes and neurons of two reward-processing areas of the brain (the prelimbic cortex, and the nucleus accumbens core). Considered as a whole these results suggest that social stress experience modulates vulnerability to suffer a loss of glia-supporting functions and neuronal functional synaptic density due to drug consumption in later life.

Serotonin Mediates Depression of Aggression After Acute and Chronic Social Defeat Stress in a Model Insect

In all animals, losers of a conflict against a conspecific exhibit reduced aggressiveness, often coupled with depression-like symptoms, particularly after multiple defeats. While serotonin (5HT) is involved, discovering its natural role in aggression and depression has proven elusive. We show how 5HT influences aggression in male crickets, before, and after single and multiple defeats using serotonergic drugs, at dosages that had no obvious deleterious effect on general motility: the 5HT synthesis inhibitor alpha-methyltryptophan (AMTP), the 5HT₂ receptor blocker ketanserin, methiothepin which blocks 5HT receptor subtypes other than 5HT₂, 5HT's precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) and re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Contrasting reports for other invertebrates, none of the drugs influenced aggression at the first encounter. However, the recovery of aggression after single defeat, which normally requires 3 h in crickets, was severely affected. Losers that received ketanserin or AMTP regained their aggressiveness sooner, whereas those that received fluoxetine, 5HTP, or methiothepin failed to recover within 3 h. Furthermore, compared to controls, which show long term aggressive depression 24 h after 6 defeats at 1 h intervals, crickets that received AMTP or ketanserin regained their full aggressiveness and were thus more resilient to chronic defeat stress. In contrast, 5HTP and fluoxetine treated crickets showed long term aggressive depression 24 h after only 2 defeats, and were thus more susceptible to defeat stress. We conclude that 5HT acts after social defeat via a 5HT₂ like receptor to maintain depressed aggressiveness after defeat, and to promote the susceptibility to and establishment of long-term depression after chronic social defeat. It is known that the decision to flee and establishment of loser depression in crickets is controlled by nitric oxide (NO), whereas dopamine (DA), but not octopamine (OA) is necessary for recovery after defeat. Here we show that blocking NO synthesis, just like ketanserin, affords resilience to multiple defeat stress, whereas blocking DA receptors, but not OA receptors, increases susceptibility, just like fluoxetine. We discuss the possible interplay between 5HT, NO, DA, and OA in controlling aggression after defeat, as well as similarities and differences to findings in mammals and other invertebrate model systems.