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Stark O, Wlodarczyk J. Rank, stress, and risk: A conjecture. Soc Sci Med 2024; 350:116841. [PMID: 38713976 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
A perception at the core of studies that consider the link between social rank and stress (typically measured by the so-called stress hormone cortisol) is that the link is direct. Examples of such studies are Bartolomucci (2007), Beery and Kaufer (2015), and Koolhaas et al. (2017). A recent and stark representation of this body of work is a study by Smith-Osborne et al. (2023), who state that "social hierarchies directly influence stress status" (Smith-Osborne et al. p. 1537, italics added). In the present paper, we reflect on this "direct" perspective. We conjecture that the link between social rank and stress involves an intervening variable: an indirect relationship arises when the loss of rank triggers a behavioral response in the form of risk taking aimed at regaining rank, and it is the engagement in risk-taking behavior that is the cause of an elevated level of cortisol. Smith-Osborne et al., as well as others whose papers are cited by Smith-Osborne et al. and who, like Creel (2001) and Avitsur et al. (2006), conducted comprehensive research on the association between rank (social standing) and stress, do not refer to risk taking at all. We present four strands of research that lend support to our conjecture: evidence that in response to losing rank, individuals are stressed; evidence that in response to losing rank, individuals resort to risk-taking behavior aimed at regaining their lost rank; evidence that there exists a link between engagement in risky activities or exposure to risk and elevated levels of cortisol; and an analytical perspective on incidence and intensity, namely a perspective that shows how the willingness to take risks responds to a change in rank, specifically, how a loss of rank triggers a greater willingness to take risks and how this trigger is stronger for individuals whose rank is higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oded Stark
- University of Bonn, Germany; University of Warsaw, Poland.
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2
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Cánepa ET, Berardino BG. Epigenetic mechanisms linking early-life adversities and mental health. Biochem J 2024; 481:615-642. [PMID: 38722301 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Early-life adversities, whether prenatal or postnatal exposure, have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes later in life increasing the risk of several psychiatric disorders. Research on its neurobiological consequences demonstrated an association between exposure to adversities and persistent alterations in the structure, function, and connectivity of the brain. Consistent evidence supports the idea that regulation of gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms are involved in embedding the impact of early-life experiences in the genome and mediate between social environments and later behavioral phenotypes. In addition, studies from rodent models and humans suggest that these experiences and the acquired risk factors can be transmitted through epigenetic mechanisms to offspring and the following generations potentially contributing to a cycle of disease or disease risk. However, one of the important aspects of epigenetic mechanisms, unlike genetic sequences that are fixed and unchangeable, is that although the epigenetic markings are long-lasting, they are nevertheless potentially reversible. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the mental health consequences derived from early-life exposure to malnutrition, maltreatment and poverty, adversities with huge and pervasive impact on mental health. We also discuss the evidence about transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals and experimental data suggesting that suitable social and pharmacological interventions could reverse adverse epigenetic modifications induced by early-life negative social experiences. In this regard, these studies must be accompanied by efforts to determine the causes that promote these adversities and that result in health inequity in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo T Cánepa
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and IQUIBICEN, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bruno G Berardino
- Laboratorio de Neuroepigenética y Adversidades Tempranas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and IQUIBICEN, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Parvin Z, Jaafari Suha A, Afarinesh MR, Hosseinmardi N, Janahmadi M, Behzadi G. Social hierarchy differentially influences the anxiety-like behaviors and dendritic spine density in prefrontal cortex and limbic areas in male rats. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115043. [PMID: 38729219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Social hierarchy is a fundamental feature of social organization that can influence brain and emotional processing regarding social ranks. Several areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the hippocampus, and the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA), are recognized to be involved in the regulation of emotional processing. However, its delicate structural correlates in brain regions are poorly understood. To address this issue, social hierarchy in home-caged sibling Wistar rats (three male rats/cage) was determined by employing a social confrontation tube test (postnatal weeks 9-12). Then, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using an open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) at 13 weeks of age. The rapid Golgi impregnation method was conducted to quantify the spine density of the first secondary branch of the primary dendrite in 20 µm length. The results indicated that dominant rats had significantly higher anxiety-like behaviors compared to subordinates, as was evident by lower open-arm entries and time spent in the EPM and lower entries and time spent in the center of OFT. The spine density analysis revealed a significantly higher number of spines in subordinates compared to the dominant rats in dmPFC pyramidal neurons and the apical and basal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. However, the spine density of pyramidal-like neurons in the BLA was higher in dominant rats. Our findings suggest that dominant social rank is associated with higher anxiety and differential density of the dendritic spine in the prefrontal cortex and limbic regions of the brain in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Parvin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Jaafari Suha
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Narges Hosseinmardi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahyar Janahmadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Johnson EE, Southern WM, Doud B, Steiger B, Razzoli M, Bartolomucci A, Ervasti JM. Retention of stress susceptibility in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy after PGC-1α overexpression or ablation of IDO1 or CD38. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:594-611. [PMID: 38181046 PMCID: PMC10954366 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal degenerative muscle wasting disease caused by the loss of the structural protein dystrophin with secondary pathological manifestations including metabolic dysfunction, mood and behavioral disorders. In the mildly affected mdx mouse model of DMD, brief scruff stress causes inactivity, while more severe subordination stress results in lethality. Here, we investigated the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) metabolic pathway in mdx mice and their involvement as possible mediators of mdx stress-related pathology. We identified downregulation of the kynurenic acid shunt, a neuroprotective branch of the kynurenine pathway, in mdx skeletal muscle associated with attenuated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) transcriptional regulatory activity. Restoring the kynurenic acid shunt by skeletal muscle-specific PGC-1α overexpression in mdx mice did not prevent scruff -induced inactivity, nor did abrogating extrahepatic kynurenine pathway activity by genetic deletion of the pathway rate-limiting enzyme, indoleamine oxygenase 1. We further show that reduced NAD+ production in mdx skeletal muscle after subordination stress exposure corresponded with elevated levels of NAD+ catabolites produced by ectoenzyme cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) that have been implicated in lethal mdx response to pharmacological β-adrenergic receptor agonism. However, genetic CD38 ablation did not prevent mdx scruff-induced inactivity. Our data do not support a direct contribution by the kynurenine pathway or CD38 metabolic dysfunction to the exaggerated stress response of mdx mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erynn E Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - W Michael Southern
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Baird Doud
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Brandon Steiger
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Maria Razzoli
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - James M Ervasti
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
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5
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Lyons CE, Razzoli M, Bartolomucci A. The impact of life stress on hallmarks of aging and accelerated senescence: Connections in sickness and in health. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105359. [PMID: 37586578 PMCID: PMC10592082 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress is a risk factor for numerous aging-related diseases and has been shown to shorten lifespan in humans and other social mammals. Yet how life stress causes such a vast range of diseases is still largely unclear. In recent years, the impact of stress on health and aging has been increasingly associated with the dysregulation of the so-called hallmarks of aging. These are basic biological mechanisms that influence intrinsic cellular functions and whose alteration can lead to accelerated aging. Here, we review correlational and experimental literature (primarily focusing on evidence from humans and murine models) on the contribution of life stress - particularly stress derived from adverse social environments - to trigger hallmarks of aging, including cellular senescence, sterile inflammation, telomere shortening, production of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and epigenetic changes. We also evaluate the validity of stress-induced senescence and accelerated aging as an etiopathological proposition. Finally, we highlight current gaps of knowledge and future directions for the field, and discuss perspectives for translational geroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey E Lyons
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Maria Razzoli
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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6
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Samal S, Barik D, Jena S. Post craniotomy pain management in Copenhagen rat by intraperitoneal or oral dosage of Tramadol: a comparative evaluation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16116. [PMID: 37752330 PMCID: PMC10522690 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Calvarial craniotomy in animal models involves pain and distress. Moderate to severe pain in laboratory animals requires adequate pain management strategies. According to previous studies, the options available for suitable analgesia for rat calvarial craniotomy are very few. For most analgesic treatments, injectable routes of administration are predominantly used. However, these routes require restraining the animals, which may cause unnecessary pain, distress and suffering. As a well-fare measure, we focused on pain management by oral administration of analgesia. In this particular study, which is a sub-study of a major experiment on bone regeneration with different polymeric scaffold materials, we have compared the analgesic efficacy of intraperitoneal (I/P) and oral administration of tramadol (10 mg/kg) over a period of 96 h post-surgery in rat craniotomy models. The focus of our study is to evaluate the potential pain reduction efficacy of orally administered Tramadol without any restraining involved. We have used various non-invasive methods to assess the pain-alleviating efficacy of tramadol administered through different methods. We found that the efficacy of oral administration of tramadol is comparable to I/P administration in alleviating pain. Additionally, oral administration through drinking water has the benefit of not putting the animal under unwanted restraining stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasmita Samal
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Debyashreeta Barik
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Sarita Jena
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.
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7
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Zipple MN, Vogt CC, Sheehan MJ. Re-wilding model organisms: Opportunities to test causal mechanisms in social determinants of health and aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105238. [PMID: 37225063 PMCID: PMC10527394 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Social experiences are strongly associated with individuals' health, aging, and survival in many mammalian taxa, including humans. Despite their role as models of many other physiological and developmental bases of health and aging, biomedical model organisms (particularly lab mice) remain an underutilized tool in resolving outstanding questions regarding social determinants of health and aging, including causality, context-dependence, reversibility, and effective interventions. This status is largely due to the constraints of standard laboratory conditions on animals' social lives. Even when kept in social housing, lab animals rarely experience social and physical environments that approach the richness, variability, and complexity they have evolved to navigate and benefit from. Here we argue that studying biomedical model organisms outside under complex, semi-natural social environments ("re-wilding") allows researchers to capture the methodological benefits of both field studies of wild animals and laboratory studies of model organisms. We review recent efforts to re-wild mice and highlight discoveries that have only been made possible by researchers studying mice under complex, manipulable social environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Zipple
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Caleb C Vogt
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Sheehan
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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8
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Thompson González N, Machanda Z, Emery Thompson M. Age-related social selectivity: An adaptive lens on a later life social phenotype. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105294. [PMID: 37380041 PMCID: PMC10529433 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Age-related social selectivity is a process in which older humans reduce their number of social partners to a subset of positive and emotionally fulfilling relationships. Although selectivity has been attributed to humans' unique perceptions of time horizons, recent evidence demonstrates that these social patterns and processes occur in other non-human primates, suggesting an evolutionarily wider phenomenon. Here, we develop the hypothesis that selective social behavior is an adaptive strategy that allows social animals to balance the costs and benefits of navigating social environments in the face of age-related functional declines. We first aim to distinguish social selectivity from the non-adaptive social consequences of aging. We then outline multiple mechanisms by which social selectivity in old age may enhance fitness and healthspan. Our goal is to lay out a research agenda to identify selective strategies and their potential benefits. Given the importance of social support for health across primates, understanding why aging individuals lose social connections and how they can remain resilient has vital applications to public health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Thompson González
- Integrative Anthropological Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Zarin Machanda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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9
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Razzoli M, Nyuyki-Dufe K, Chen BH, Bartolomucci A. Contextual modifiers of healthspan, lifespan, and epigenome in mice under chronic social stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211755120. [PMID: 37043532 PMCID: PMC10120026 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211755120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustained life stress and low socioeconomic status are among the major causes of aging-related diseases and decreased life expectancy. Experimental rodent models can help to identify the underlying mechanisms, yet very few studies address the long-term consequences of social stress on aging. We conducted a randomized study involving more than 300 male mice of commonly used laboratory strains (C57BL/6J, CD1, and Sv129Ev) chosen for the spontaneous aggression gradient and stress-vulnerability. Mice were exposed to a lifelong chronic psychosocial stress protocol to model social gradients in aging and disease vulnerability. Low social rank, inferred based on a discretized aggression index, was found to negatively impact lifespan in our study population. However, social rank interacted with genetic background in that low-ranking C57BL/6J, high-ranking Sv129Ev, and middle-ranking CD1 mice had lower survival, respectively, implying a cost of maintaining a given social rank that varies across strains. Machine learning linear discriminant analysis identified baseline fat-free mass as the most important predictor of mouse genetic background and social rank in the present dataset. Finally, strain and social rank differences were significantly associated with epigenetic changes, most significantly in Sv129Ev mice and in high-ranking compared to lower ranking subjects. Overall, we identified genetic background and social rank as critical contextual modifiers of aging and lifespan in an ethologically relevant rodent model of social stress, thereby providing a preclinical experimental paradigm to study the impact of social determinants of health disparities and accelerated aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Razzoli
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Kewir Nyuyki-Dufe
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Brian H. Chen
- FOXO Technologies Inc., Minneapolis, MN55401
- Division of Epidemiology, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA92093
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
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10
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Ecological validity of social defeat stressors in mouse models of vulnerability and resilience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105032. [PMID: 36608919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory mouse models offer opportunities to bridge the gap between basic neuroscience and applied stress research. Here we consider the ecological validity of social defeat stressors in mouse models of emotional vulnerability and resilience. Reports identified in PubMed from 1980 to 2020 are reviewed for the ecological validity of social defeat stressors, sex of subjects, and whether results are discussed in terms of vulnerability alone, resilience alone, or both vulnerability and resilience. Most of the 318 reviewed reports (95%) focus on males, and many reports (71%) discuss vulnerability and resilience. Limited ecological validity is associated with increased vulnerability and decreased resilience. Elements of limited ecological validity include frequent and repeated exposure to defeat stressors without opportunities to avoid or escape from unfamiliar conspecifics that are pre-screened and selected for aggressive behavior. These elements ensure defeat and may be required to induce vulnerability, but they are not representative of naturalistic conditions. Research aimed at establishing causality is needed to determine whether ecologically valid stressors build resilience in both sexes of mice.
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11
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Newman LE, Testard C, DeCasien AR, Chiou KL, Watowich MM, Janiak MC, Pavez-Fox MA, Rosado MRS, Cooper EB, Costa CE, Petersen RM, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Brent LJ, Snyder-Mackler N, Higham JP. The biology of aging in a social world:insights from free-ranging rhesus macaques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.28.525893. [PMID: 36747827 PMCID: PMC9900930 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.28.525893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Social adversity can increase the age-associated risk of disease and death, yet the biological mechanisms that link social adversities to aging remain poorly understood. Long-term naturalistic studies of nonhuman animals are crucial for integrating observations of social behavior throughout an individual's life with detailed anatomical, physiological, and molecular measurements. Here, we synthesize the body of research from one such naturalistic study system, Cayo Santiago Island, which is home to the world's longest continuously monitored free-ranging population of rhesus macaques. We review recent studies of age-related variation in morphology, gene regulation, microbiome composition, and immune function. We also discuss ecological and social modifiers of age-markers in this population. In particular, we summarize how a major natural disaster, Hurricane Maria, affected rhesus macaque physiology and social structure and highlight the context-dependent and domain-specific nature of aging modifiers. Finally, we conclude by providing directions for future study, on Cayo Santiago and elsewhere, that will further our understanding of aging across different domains and how social adversity modifies aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Newman
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Camille Testard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institutes of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenneth L. Chiou
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Marina M. Watowich
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mareike C. Janiak
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Eve B. Cooper
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Christina E. Costa
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel M. Petersen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael L. Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marketing Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren J.N. Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - James P. Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
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12
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Topol IA, Polyakova IS, Elykova AV. Role of intestinal microbiota in regulation of immune reactions of gut-associated lymphoid tissue under stress and following the modulation of its composition by antibiotics and probiotics administration. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND IMMUNOBIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.36233/0372-9311-270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, active study of the microbial ecosystem of the host organism gastrointestinal tract has led to the recognition of gut microbiome as a "key player" that carries a significant immune pressure and is responsible both for the course of physiological processes and for the development of pathological conditions in humans and animals. A vast number of bacteria living in the human gastrointestinal tract are considered as an organ functioning in dialogue in formation of immunological tolerance, the regulation of normal functional activity of the immune system and maintaining the intestinal mucosa homeostasis. However, disturbances in interaction between these physiological systems is closely related to the pathogenesis of different immune-mediated diseases. In turn, in a large number of works chronic social stress, along with the use of antibiotics, pre- and probiotics, is recognized as one of the leading factors modulating in the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract. This review focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of immune responses of GALT under stress and modulation of its composition by antibiotics and probiotics administration.
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13
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Kivimäki M, Bartolomucci A, Kawachi I. The multiple roles of life stress in metabolic disorders. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:10-27. [PMID: 36224493 PMCID: PMC10817208 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-022-00746-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The activation of stress-related neuroendocrine systems helps to maintain homeostasis, but excessive stress can damage body functions. We review current evidence from basic sciences and epidemiology linking stress to the development and progression of metabolic disorders throughout life. Findings from rodents demonstrate that stress can affect features of metabolic dysfunction, such as insulin resistance, glucose and lipid homeostasis, as well as ageing processes such as cellular senescence and telomere length shortening. In human studies, stressors in the home, workplace and neighbourhood are associated with accelerated ageing and metabolic and immune alterations, both directly and indirectly via behavioural risks. The likelihood of developing clinical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and hepatic steatosis is increased in individuals with adverse childhood experiences or long-term (years) or severe stress at work or in private life. The increased risk of metabolic disorders is often associated with other stress-related conditions, such as mental health disorders, cardiovascular disease and increased susceptibility to infections. Equally, stress can worsen prognosis in metabolic diseases. As favourable modifications in stressors are associated with reductions in incidence of metabolic disorders, further investigation of the therapeutic value of targeting stress in personalized medicine is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Mental Health of Older People, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
- Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Lin YC, Zhang M, Wang SH, Chieh CW, Shen PY, Chen YL, Chang YC, Kuo TH. The deleterious effects of old social partners on Drosophila lifespan and stress resistance. NPJ AGING 2022; 8:1. [PMID: 35927252 PMCID: PMC9158773 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-022-00081-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions play important roles in the modulation of behavior, physiology, and, potentially, lifespan. Although longevity has been studied extensively in different model organisms, due to the complexity of social environments, the social modulation of aging remains poorly investigated. The present study used the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model to study lifespan and stress resistance under different social conditions. Our experiments first showed that social isolation increased fly lifespan, suggesting a potential deleterious effect of social companions. Furthermore, we exposed flies to different aged social partners and found that living with old animals significantly reduced lifespan and stress resistance in young animals. In contrast, living with young animals increased old animal lifespan, although the effects were less robust. Overall, our results suggest that while social interaction can influence fly health, specific social partners may have more pronounced effects than others. This study provides new evidence that different social environments have significant impacts on animal physiology and longevity.
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15
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Kleshchev MA, Osadchuk AV, Osadchuk LV. Peculiarities of Agonistic and Marking Behavior in Male Laboratory Mice (Mus musculuc) of Different Inbred Strains during the Formation of Social Hierarchy. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022090151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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16
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Seet-Lee C, Yee J, Morahan H, Ross LS, Edwards KM. The effect of aerobic exercise on tumour blood delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:8637-8653. [PMID: 35650456 PMCID: PMC9633495 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumour blood vessels are structurally and functionally abnormal, resulting in areas of hypoxia and heterogeneous blood supply. Aerobic exercise may modulate tumour blood flow and normalise the tumour microenvironment to improve chemotherapy delivery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of the aerobic exercise mode on tumour hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow. METHODS Four online databases were searched. Preclinical and clinical randomised controlled trials examining the effects of aerobic exercise training on hypoxia, vascularisation or blood flow in solid tumours were included. The risk of bias was assessed and a meta-analysis performed. RESULTS Seventeen preclinical studies and one clinical study met criteria. Eleven studies assessed hypoxia, 15 studies assessed vascularisation and seven evaluated blood flow. There was large variability in measurement methods, tumour types and exercise program designs. The overall risk of bias was unclear in clinical and preclinical studies, owing to poor reporting. There was no significant effect of aerobic exercise on hypoxia (SMD = -0.17; 95% CI = -0.62, 0.28; I2 = 60%), vascularisation (SMD = 0.07; 95% CI = -0.40, 0.55; I2 = 71%) or blood flow (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI = -0.59, 0.61; I2 = 63%). CONCLUSION There is heterogeneity in methodology, resulting in evidence that is inconsistent and inconclusive for the effects of aerobic exercise on hypoxia, vascularisation and blood flow. Most evidence of aerobic exercise effects on tumour blood flow is in animal models, with very limited evidence in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Seet-Lee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Jasmine Yee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
- Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Heidi Morahan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Lois S Ross
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Kate M Edwards
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
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17
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Nunamaker EA, Reynolds PS. 'Invisible actors'-How poor methodology reporting compromises mouse models of oncology: A cross-sectional survey. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274738. [PMID: 36264974 PMCID: PMC9584398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The laboratory mouse is a key player in preclinical oncology research. However, emphasis of techniques reporting at the expense of critical animal-related detail compromises research integrity, animal welfare, and, ultimately, the translation potential of mouse-based oncology models. To evaluate current reporting practices, we performed a cross-sectional survey of 400 preclinical oncology studies using mouse solid-tumour models. Articles published in 2020 were selected from 20 journals that specifically endorsed the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) preclinical reporting guidelines. We assessed reporting compliance for 22 items in five domains: ethical oversight assurance, animal signalment, husbandry, welfare, and euthanasia. Data were analysed using hierarchical generalised random-intercept models, clustered on journal. Overall, reporting of animal-related items was poor. Median compliance over all categories was 23%. There was little or no association between extent of reporting compliance and journal or journal impact factor. Age, sex, and source were reported most frequently, but verifiable strain information was reported for <10% of studies. Animal husbandry, housing environment, and welfare items were reported by <5% of studies. Fewer than one in four studies reported analgesia use, humane endpoints, or an identifiable method of euthanasia. Of concern was the poor documentation of ethical oversight information. Fewer than one in four provided verifiable approval information, and almost one in ten reported no information, or information that was demonstrably false. Mice are the "invisible actors" in preclinical oncology research. In spite of widespread endorsement of reporting guidelines, adherence to reporting guidelines on the part of authors is poor and journals fail to enforce guideline reporting standards. In particular, the inadequate reporting of key animal-related items severely restricts the utility and translation potential of mouse models, and results in research waste. Both investigators and journals have the ethical responsibility to ensure animals are not wasted in uninformative research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Nunamaker
- Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Penny S. Reynolds
- Department of Anesthesiology, Statistics in Anesthesiology Research (STAR) Core, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Bartolomucci A. Adaptive/innate immunity balance in a complex social world. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 104:16-17. [PMID: 35580791 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma 43100, Italy.
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19
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Shi T, Feng S, Shi W, Fu Y, Zhou W. A modified mouse model for observational fear learning and the influence of social hierarchy. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:941288. [PMID: 35957923 PMCID: PMC9359141 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.941288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Indirectly experiencing traumatic events either by witnessing or learning of a loved one’s suffering is associated with the highest prevalence rates of epidemiological features of PTSD. Social species can develop fear by observing conspecifics in distress. Observational fear learning (OFL) is one of the most widely used paradigms for studying fear contagion in mice. However, the impact of empathic fear behavior and social hierarchy on fear transfer in mice is not well understood. Methods Fear emotions are best characterized in mice by using complementary tests, rather than only freezing behavior, and simultaneously avoiding behavioral variability in different tests across time. In this study, we modified the OFL model by implementing freezing (FZ), open field (OF), and social interaction (SI) tests in a newly designed experimental facility and applied Z-normalization to assess emotionality changes across different behaviors. Results The integrated emotionality scores revealed a robustly increased emotionality of observer mice and, more importantly, contributed to distinguishing susceptible individuals. Interestingly, fos-positive neurons were mainly found in the interoceptive network, and mice of a lower social rank showed more empathy-like behaviors. Conclusion Our findings highlight that combining this experimental model with the Z-scoring method yields robust emotionality measures of individual mice, thus making it easier to screen and differentiate between empathic fear-susceptible mice and resilient mice, and refining the translational applicability of these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Shufang Feng
- Department of Medical Psychology, The Third Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenlong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Wenxia Zhou,
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20
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Lange ME, Uwiera RRE, Inglis GD. Enteric Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Cattle, and the Use of Mice as a Model to Elucidate Key Aspects of the Host-Pathogen-Microbiota Interaction: A Review. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:937866. [PMID: 35898542 PMCID: PMC9310005 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.937866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serotype O157:H7 is responsible for foodborne disease outbreaks, typically associated with the consumption of undercooked foods contaminated with cattle manure containing the bacterium. At present, effective mitigations do not exist. Many of the factors regulating enteric colonization by E. coli O157:H7 in cattle, and how cattle respond to the bacterium are unknown. In this regard, intestinal colonization locations, shedding patterns, interactions with the enteric microbiota, and host immune responses to infection are current knowledge gaps. As disturbances to host homeostasis are believed to play an important role in the enteric survival of the bacterium, it is important to consider the potential importance of stress during cattle production. Husbandry logistics, cost, and the high genetic, physiological, and microbial heterogeneity in cattle has greatly hampered the ability of researchers to elucidate key aspects of the host-pathogen-microbiota interaction. Although mice have not been extensively used as a cattle model, the utilization of murine models has the potential to identify mechanisms to facilitate hypothesis formulation and efficacy testing in cattle. Murine models have been effectively used to mechanistically examine colonization of the intestine, host responses to infection, and to interactively ascertain how host physiological status (e.g., due to physiological stress) and the enteric microbiota influences colonization and disease. In addition to reviewing the relevant literature on intestinal colonization and pathogenesis, including existing knowledge gaps, the review provides information on how murine models can be used to elucidate mechanisms toward the development of rationale-based mitigations for E. coli O157:H7 in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximo E. Lange
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Richard R. E. Uwiera
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - G. Douglas Inglis
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: G. Douglas Inglis
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21
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Lee W, Milewski TM, Dwortz MF, Young RL, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK, Champagne FA, Curley JP. Distinct immune and transcriptomic profiles in dominant versus subordinate males in mouse social hierarchies. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:130-144. [PMID: 35447300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Social status is a critical factor determining health outcomes in human and nonhuman social species. In social hierarchies with reproductive skew, individuals compete to monopolize resources and increase mating opportunities. This can come at a significant energetic cost leading to trade-offs between different physiological systems. In particular, changes in energetic investment in the immune system can have significant short and long-term effects on fitness and health. We have previously found that dominant alpha male mice living in social hierarchies have increased metabolic demands related to territorial defense. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that high-ranking male mice favor adaptive immunity, while subordinate mice show higher investment in innate immunity. We housed 12 groups of 10 outbred CD-1 male mice in a social housing system. All formed linear social hierarchies and subordinate mice had higher concentrations of plasma corticosterone (CORT) than alpha males. This difference was heightened in highly despotic hierarchies. Using flow cytometry, we found that dominant status was associated with a significant shift in immunophenotypes towards favoring adaptive versus innate immunity. Using Tag-Seq to profile hepatic and splenic transcriptomes of alpha and subordinate males, we identified genes that regulate metabolic and immune defense pathways that are associated with status and/or CORT concentration. In the liver, dominant animals showed a relatively higher expression of specific genes involved in major urinary production and catabolic processes, whereas subordinate animals showed relatively higher expression of genes promoting biosynthetic processes, wound healing, and proinflammatory responses. In spleen, subordinate mice showed relatively higher expression of genes facilitating oxidative phosphorylation and DNA repair and CORT was negatively associated with genes involved in lymphocyte proliferation and activation. Together, our findings suggest that dominant and subordinate animals adaptively shift immune profiles and peripheral gene expression to match their contextual needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of In Vivo Pharmacology Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Tyler M Milewski
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Madeleine F Dwortz
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca L Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - James P Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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22
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Butler-Struben HM, Kentner AC, Trainor BC. What's wrong with my experiment?: The impact of hidden variables on neuropsychopharmacology research. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1285-1291. [PMID: 35338255 PMCID: PMC9117327 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01309-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The field of neuropsychopharmacology relies on behavioral assays to quantify behavioral processes related to mental illness and substance use disorders. Although these assays have been highly informative, sometimes laboratories have unpublished datasets from experiments that "didn't work". Often this is because expected outcomes were not observed in positive or negative control groups. While this can be due to experimenter error, an important alternative is that under-appreciated environmental factors can have a major impact on results. "Hidden variables" such as circadian cycles, husbandry, and social environments are often omitted in methods sections, even though there is a strong body of literature documenting their impact on physiological and behavioral outcomes. Applying this knowledge in a more critical manner could provide behavioral neuroscientists with tools to develop better testing methods, improve the external validity of behavioral techniques, and make better comparisons of experimental data across institutions. Here we review the potential impact of "hidden variables" that are commonly overlooked such as light-dark cycles, transport stress, cage ventilation, and social housing structure. While some of these conditions may not be under direct control of investigators, it does not diminish the potential impact of these variables on experimental results. We provide recommendations to investigators on which variables to report in publications and how to address "hidden variables" that impact their experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda C Kentner
- School of Arts & Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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23
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Effects of Diazepam on Hematological and Histological Parameters in Rats / in Vivo and Unbiased Stereological Investigation. ACTA VET-BEOGRAD 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/acve-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Diazepam-based drugs are widely used today in human treatment. Diazepam may be a primary drug aimed at treating neurological diseases or an associated drug in the treatment of other diseases in the purpose of symptomatic therapy. The sedative effect of diazepam characterizes it as a drug that people usually use on their own and without a doctor’s supervision. Directly, but also through influencing the nervous system, diazepam disrupts proper functioning of all body organs. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of diazepam on blood and cytohistological parameters of rats in an in vivo experiment. Mallory-Azan and immunochistochemical staining methods BLX-CX and Survivin tissues of liver, kidney and spleen of rats were used to achieve the set goal. Cytometric analysis of rats detected cells in apoptosis and measurements of stereological parameters were made using a system according to Cavalier’s principle. Results of analysis of hematological and histological parameters indicate a detrimental effect of diazepam on blood parameters, as well as on structure and functioning of the liver, kidneys and spleen of rats. This paper is a foundation for further detailed scientific research with the aim of elucidating all harmful effects that diazepam has on all organs in the body of rats. This data could serve as a starting point for future studies in clinical pharmacology on therapeutic protocols for usage of diazepam-based sedatives.
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24
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O'Brien SL, Irian CG, Bentley GE, Lacey EA. Sex, not social behavior, predicts fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in a facultatively social rodent, the highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus). Horm Behav 2022; 141:105152. [PMID: 35286897 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships may influence circulating glucocorticoid levels, particularly in group-living species in which individuals regularly engage in interactions with conspecifics. The effects of such interactions appear to vary, with greater social contact being associated with increased glucocorticoid concentrations in some species but decreased concentrations in others. These distinct responses raise intriguing questions regarding relationships among social behavior, individual phenotypes, and glucocorticoid physiology. To explore such relationships in a free-living mammal with a dynamic social organization, we quantified variation in baseline glucocorticoids in a population of highland tuco-tucos (Ctenomys opimus) from Jujuy Province, Argentina. These subterranean rodents are facultatively social, with lone and group-living individuals regularly occurring within the same population. To assess potential endocrine correlates of this behavioral variability, we examined differences in baseline fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCm) concentrations as a function of social group size and composition as well as several metrics of social behavior derived from social network analyses. Despite marked variability in social relationships among the 37 (12 male, 25 female) free-living tuco-tucos sampled, none of the measures of social behavior examined were significant predictors of variation in fGCm concentrations. In contrast, individual variation in glucocorticoid metabolites was best explained by sex, with males having higher fGCm concentrations than females. These analyses provide the first characterization of the glucocorticoid physiology of highland tuco-tucos and underscore the potential importance of intrinsic phenotypic factors (e.g., sex) in shaping glucocorticoid variation in free-living mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L O'Brien
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Christian G Irian
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - George E Bentley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eileen A Lacey
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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25
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Song L, Mao J, Wang Q, Chen A, Sun R, Li X, Luo J, Zhao P, Shi Y, Su Y, Liu K, Yuan F, Wang S, Li Y, Zhang H, Yu D, Shi H. Long-lasting and sex-dependent effects of postweaning swimming exercise on social dominance in adult mice. Neuroscience 2022; 498:224-234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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26
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Anderson JA, Lea AJ, Voyles TN, Akinyi MY, Nyakundi R, Ochola L, Omondi M, Nyundo F, Zhang Y, Campos FA, Alberts SC, Archie EA, Tung J. Distinct gene regulatory signatures of dominance rank and social bond strength in wild baboons. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200441. [PMID: 35000452 PMCID: PMC8743882 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The social environment is a major determinant of morbidity, mortality and Darwinian fitness in social animals. Recent studies have begun to uncover the molecular processes associated with these relationships, but the degree to which they vary across different dimensions of the social environment remains unclear. Here, we draw on a long-term field study of wild baboons to compare the signatures of affiliative and competitive aspects of the social environment in white blood cell gene regulation, under both immune-stimulated and non-stimulated conditions. We find that the effects of dominance rank on gene expression are directionally opposite in males versus females, such that high-ranking males resemble low-ranking females, and vice versa. Among females, rank and social bond strength are both reflected in the activity of cellular metabolism and proliferation genes. However, while we observe pronounced rank-related differences in baseline immune gene activity, only bond strength predicts the fold-change response to immune (lipopolysaccharide) stimulation. Together, our results indicate that the directionality and magnitude of social effects on gene regulation depend on the aspect of the social environment under study. This heterogeneity may help explain why social environmental effects on health and longevity can also vary between measures. This article is part of the theme issue 'The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A. Anderson
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Amanda J. Lea
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Carl Icahn Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Tawni N. Voyles
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Mercy Y. Akinyi
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Ruth Nyakundi
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Lucy Ochola
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Martin Omondi
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Fred Nyundo
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Fernando A. Campos
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Susan C. Alberts
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Archie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada M5G 1M1
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27
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Kravchenko LB. Influence of Social Conditions on Humoral Adaptive Immunity in Bank (Clethrionomys glareolus) and Gray-Sided (Clethrionomys rufocanus) Voles: An Experimental Study. BIOL BULL+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359021090120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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28
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Pandey A, Bloch G. Krüppel-homologue 1 Mediates Hormonally Regulated Dominance Rank in a Social Bee. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111188. [PMID: 34827180 PMCID: PMC8614866 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dominance hierarchies are ubiquitous in invertebrates and vertebrates, but little is known on how genes influence dominance rank. Our gaps in knowledge are specifically significant concerning female hierarchies, particularly in insects. To start filling these gaps, we studied the social bumble bee Bombus terrestris, in which social hierarchies among females are common and functionally significant. Dominance rank in this bee is influenced by multiple factors, including juvenile hormone (JH) that is a major gonadotropin in this species. We tested the hypothesis that the JH responsive transcription factor Krüppel homologue 1 (Kr-h1) mediates hormonal influences on dominance behavior. We first developed and validated a perfluorocarbon nanoparticles-based RNA interference protocol for knocking down Kr-h1 expression. We then used this procedure to show that Kr-h1 mediates the influence of JH, not only on oogenesis and wax production, but also on aggression and dominance rank. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study causally linking a gene to dominance rank in social insects, and one of only a few such studies on insects or on female hierarchies. These findings are important for determining whether there are general molecular principles governing dominance rank across gender and taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Pandey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (G.B.)
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (G.B.)
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Michelitsch A, Fast C, Sick F, Tews BA, Stiasny K, Bestehorn-Willmann M, Dobler G, Beer M, Wernike K. Long-term presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in experimentally infected bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101693. [PMID: 33690089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a vector-borne pathogen that can cause serious neurological symptoms in humans. Across large parts of Eurasia TBEV is found in three traditional subtypes: the European, the Siberian and the Far-eastern subtype. Small mammalian animals play an important role in the transmission cycle as they enable the spread of TBEV among the vector tick population. To assess the impact of TBEV infection on its natural hosts, outbred bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were inoculated with one out of four European TBEV strains. Three of these TBEV strains were recently isolated in Germany. The forth one was the TBEV reference strain Neudörfl. Sampling points at 7, 14, 28, and 56 days post inoculation allowed the characterization of the course of infection. At each time point, six animals per strain were euthanized and eleven organ samples (brain, spine, lung, heart, small and large intestine, liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, sexual organ) as well as whole blood and serum samples were collected. The majority of bank voles (92/96) remained clinically unaffected after the inoculation with TBEV, but still developed a systemic infection during the first week, which transitioned to a viraemia and an infestation of the brain in some animals for the remainder of the first month. Viral RNA was found in whole blood samples of several animals (50/96), but only in a small fraction of the corresponding serum samples (4/50). From the whole blood, virus was successfully reisolated in cell culture until 14 days after inoculation. Less than five percent of all inoculated bank voles (4/96) displayed signs of distress in combination with a rapid weight loss and had to be euthanized prematurely. Overall, the recently isolated TBEV strains showed marked differences, such as a more frequent development of long-term viraemia and a higher detection rate of viral RNA in various organs, in comparison to the reference strain Neudörfl. Overall, our data suggest that the bank vole is a potential amplifying host in the TBEV transmission cycle and appears to be highly adapted to circulating TBEV strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Michelitsch
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Christine Fast
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10,17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Franziska Sick
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Birke Andrea Tews
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | | | - Gerhard Dobler
- Dept. of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany; Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) Partner Site Munich, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937, München, Germany.
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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30
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Bartolomucci A, Sapolsky RM. Psychosocial Risk Factors, Noncommunicable Diseases, and Animal Models for COVID-19. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:e67-e71. [PMID: 33487440 PMCID: PMC7748972 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Robert M. Sapolsky
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California,Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California,Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
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31
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Sundvik M, Puttonen H, Semenova S, Panula P. The bullies are the leaders of the next generation: Inherited aminergic neurotransmitter system changes in socially dominant zebrafish, Danio rerio. Behav Brain Res 2021; 409:113309. [PMID: 33878430 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We studied the social hierarchy in zebrafish and assessed differences in neurotransmitters and behavior in the F1 generation offspring of dominant and subordinate zebrafish (Danio rerio). We used behavioral assays to study locomotion, ability to complete cognitive tasks, social interaction and aggression. To study the neurochemical changes, we applied quantitative polymerase chain reaction, high pressure liquid chromatography and immunohistochemistry. Social hierarchies were formed both by males and females when animals were kept in same sex pairs in the dyadic dominant-subordinate hierarchy test. The offspring of dominant animals were the leaders in social interactions, however aggression in the mirror-test was not altered in any group. Serotonin and noradrenaline levels were lower in the F1 generation subordinate animals when compared with dominant animals, but not compared with animals that were naïve to social hierarchy. The mRNA level of the rate-limiting enzyme in histamine synthesis, histidine decarboxylase, was significantly lower in dominant and subordinate larval zebrafish when compared with control animals. In the dominant adult zebrafish tyrosine hydroxylase 1 mRNA level was lower compared with control animals, whereas tyrosine hydroxylase 2 mRNA was not different. The result was verified with immunohistochemistry. There were gender specific differences between the dominant and subordinate animals, where the dominant females performed better in cognitive tasks such as the T-maze than subordinate females. This was not observed in males, as the behavior of the dominant and subordinate males did not differ. These results add to the understanding of the plastic nature of the central nervous system and show that neurochemical features in aminergic neurotransmitter systems are associated with social leadership and dominance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sundvik
- Department of Anatomy, POB 63, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Henri Puttonen
- Department of Anatomy, POB 63, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Svetlana Semenova
- Department of Anatomy, POB 63, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pertti Panula
- Department of Anatomy, POB 63, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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32
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Karvonen A, Räihä V, Klemme I, Ashrafi R, Hyvärinen P, Sundberg LR. Quantity and Quality of Aquaculture Enrichments Influence Disease Epidemics and Provide Ecological Alternatives to Antibiotics. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10030335. [PMID: 33810018 PMCID: PMC8004632 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental heterogeneity is a central component influencing the virulence and epidemiology of infectious diseases. The number and distribution of susceptible hosts determines disease transmission opportunities, shifting the epidemiological threshold between the spread and fadeout of a disease. Similarly, the presence and diversity of other hosts, pathogens and environmental microbes, may inhibit or accelerate an epidemic. This has important applied implications in farming environments, where high numbers of susceptible hosts are maintained in conditions of minimal environmental heterogeneity. We investigated how the quantity and quality of aquaculture enrichments (few vs. many stones; clean stones vs. stones conditioned in lake water) influenced the severity of infection of a pathogenic bacterium, Flavobacterium columnare, in salmonid fishes. We found that the conditioning of the stones significantly increased host survival in rearing tanks with few stones. A similar effect of increased host survival was also observed with a higher number of unconditioned stones. These results suggest that a simple increase in the heterogeneity of aquaculture environment can significantly reduce the impact of diseases, most likely operating through a reduction in pathogen transmission (stone quantity) and the formation of beneficial microbial communities (stone quality). This supports enriched rearing as an ecological and economic way to prevent bacterial infections with the minimal use of antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anssi Karvonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland; (V.R.); (I.K.); (R.A.); (L.-R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-40-8053882; Fax: +358-14-2601021
| | - Ville Räihä
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland; (V.R.); (I.K.); (R.A.); (L.-R.S.)
| | - Ines Klemme
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland; (V.R.); (I.K.); (R.A.); (L.-R.S.)
| | - Roghaieh Ashrafi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland; (V.R.); (I.K.); (R.A.); (L.-R.S.)
| | - Pekka Hyvärinen
- Natural Resources and Bioproduction, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Manamansalontie 90, 88300 Paltamo, Finland;
| | - Lotta-Riina Sundberg
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland; (V.R.); (I.K.); (R.A.); (L.-R.S.)
- Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
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33
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Labeit S, Hirner S, Bogomolovas J, Cruz A, Myrzabekova M, Moriscot A, Bowen TS, Adams V. Regulation of Glucose Metabolism by MuRF1 and Treatment of Myopathy in Diabetic Mice with Small Molecules Targeting MuRF1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2225. [PMID: 33672385 PMCID: PMC7926706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase MuRF1 regulates muscle catabolism during chronic wasting states, although its roles in general metabolism are less-studied. Here, we metabolically profiled MuRF1-deficient knockout mice. We also included knockout mice for MuRF2 as its closely related gene homolog. MuRF1 and MuRF2-KO (knockout) mice have elevated serum glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced glucose tolerance. In addition, MuRF2-KO mice have a reduced tolerance to a fat-rich diet. Western blot and enzymatic studies on MuRF1-KO skeletal muscle showed perturbed FoxO-Akt signaling, elevated Akt-Ser-473 activation, and downregulated oxidative mitochondrial metabolism, indicating potential mechanisms for MuRF1,2-dependent glucose and fat metabolism regulation. Consistent with this, the adenoviral re-expression of MuRF1 in KO mice normalized Akt-Ser-473, serum glucose, and triglycerides. Finally, we tested the MuRF1/2 inhibitors MyoMed-205 and MyoMed-946 in a mouse model for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). After 28 days of treatment, T2DM mice developed progressive muscle weakness detected by wire hang tests, but this was attenuated by the MyoMed-205 treatment. While MyoMed-205 and MyoMed-946 had no significant effects on serum glucose, they did normalize the lymphocyte-granulocyte counts in diabetic sera as indicators of the immune response. Thus, small molecules directed to MuRF1 may be useful in attenuating skeletal muscle strength loss in T2DM conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siegfried Labeit
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68169 Mannheim, Germany;
- Myomedix GmbH, 69151 Neckargemünd, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hirner
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68169 Mannheim, Germany;
| | | | - André Cruz
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, 05508-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil; (A.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Moldir Myrzabekova
- Scientific Research Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Problems, al-Farabi Kasakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan;
| | - Anselmo Moriscot
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, 05508-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil; (A.C.); (A.M.)
| | | | - Volker Adams
- Laboratory of Molecular and Experimental Cardiology, TU Dresden, Heart Center Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Cardiovascular Research Institute and Core Laboratories GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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34
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Vobrubová B, Fraňková M, Štolhoferová I, Kaftanová B, Rudolfová V, Chomik A, Chumová P, Stejskal V, Palme R, Frynta D. Relationship between exploratory activity and adrenocortical activity in the black rat (Rattus rattus). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2021; 335:286-295. [PMID: 33411407 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between physiological and behavioral stress markers is documented in several rodent species. However, there is no information regarding the role of adrenocortical activity in behavior of the black rat (Rattus rattus). Therefore, we hypothesize that the adrenocortical activity of black rats varies between individuals and is related to some of the behaviors in a novel environment. To test this hypothesis, we (i) validated a method for quantifying glucocorticoid metabolites from feces (fGCMs) with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA); (ii) examined variation and diurnal rhythms of feces and GCM production; and (iii) examined the relationship between GCM levels and exploratory behavioral traits. We fulfilled the first aim (i) by successfully performing an ACTH challenge test to validate the use of a 5α-pregnane-3β,11β,21-triol-20-one EIA for measuring fGCMs. Second (ii) we detected considerable consistent interindividual variability in production of both feces and glucocorticoids. The peak production of feces occurred in the first hour of the dark cycle, the peak of fGCMs occurred approximately 3 h later. Lastly, (iii) there was no clear relationship between behavior in the hole board test and GCMs. Grooming, a typical behavioral stress marker, was negatively associated with stress reactivity, while head-dipping in the hole-board test (traditionally considered an exploratory behavior independent of stress) was not correlated with the GCMs. This study offers a first look at GCMs in the black rat, successfully validates a method for their measurement and opens possibilities for future research of the relationship between glucocorticoids and exploratory behavior in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vobrubová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,RP3 Applied Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Marcela Fraňková
- Division of Crop Protection and Plant Health, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Iveta Štolhoferová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,RP3 Applied Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Barbora Kaftanová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Department of Physiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Veronika Rudolfová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,RP3 Applied Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| | - Aleksandra Chomik
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petra Chumová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Václav Stejskal
- Division of Crop Protection and Plant Health, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,RP3 Applied Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
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35
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Hill DL, Pillay N, Schradin C. Glucocorticoid levels predict subsequent social tactic in females of a facultatively social mammal. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Davina L. Hill
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Carsten Schradin
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
- Université de StrasbourgCNRSIPHC UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
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36
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Palego L, Giannaccini G, Betti L. Neuroendocrine Response to Psychosocial Stressors, Inflammation Mediators and Brain-periphery Pathways of Adaptation. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem 2020; 21:2-19. [PMID: 33319677 DOI: 10.2174/1871524920999201214231243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Threats, challenging events, adverse experiences, predictable or unpredictable, namely stressors, characterize life, being unavoidable for humans. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are well-known to underlie adaptation to psychosocial stress in the context of other interacting systems, signals and mediators. However, much more effort is necessary to elucidate these modulatory cues for a better understanding of how and why the "brain-body axis" acts for resilience or, on the contrary, cannot cope with stress from a biochemical and biological point of view. Indeed, failure to adapt increases the risk of developing and/or relapsing mental illnesses such as burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and at least some types of depression, even favoring/worsening neurodegenerative and somatic comorbidities, especially in the elderly. We will review here the current knowledge on this area, focusing on works presenting the main brain centers responsible for stressor interpretation and processing, together with those underscoring the physiology/biochemistry of endogenous stress responses. Autonomic and HPA patterns, inflammatory cascades and energy/redox metabolic arrays will be presented as allostasis promoters, leading towards adaptation to psychosocial stress and homeostasis, but also as possible vulnerability factors for allostatic overload and non-adaptive reactions. Besides, the existence of allostasis buffering systems will be treated. Finally, we will suggest promising lines of future research, particularly the use of animal and cell culture models together with human studies by means of high-throughput multi-omics technologies, which could entangle the biochemical signature of resilience or stress-related illness, a considerably helpful facet for improving patients' treatment and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionella Palego
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Betti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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37
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Abstract
Social rank differentially influences how male and female mice respond to chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Evelyn Ordoñes Sanchez
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
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38
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Zafar T. Potential biomarkers of emotional stress induced neurodegeneration. eNeurologicalSci 2020; 21:100292. [PMID: 33294647 PMCID: PMC7695868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2020.100292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental health is a matter of great significance and interest both socially and scientifically. The present review aims to provide an informative platform about the classical biomarkers available to identify and diagnose the neurodegeneration induced by emotional stress and depression. Present article provides an expert comprehensive overview of the universally accepted markers and their mechanism of action involved in emotional stress assessment and its management. This envisioned piece of work emphasize on the incorporation of clinical markers in classical psychiatry experiments will make the information more significant, reliable and universally accepted. The information summaries in the article will facilitates the researchers of clinical psychiatry, neuropharmacology and neuropsychiatry in management of depressive disorders along with the identification of possible neurodegenerative association. Health is an overall outcome of emotional, physiological, endocrinological and neurological factors. Emotional stress and depression are silent causes of neurodegeneration. Clinical markers play a vital role in the management of neurological health. Endocrine secretions play a vital role in mediation of various neurotransmission, nerves excitability and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabassum Zafar
- Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, Barkatullah University, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India
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39
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Karamihalev S, Brivio E, Flachskamm C, Stoffel R, Schmidt MV, Chen A. Social dominance mediates behavioral adaptation to chronic stress in a sex-specific manner. eLife 2020; 9:58723. [PMID: 33034286 PMCID: PMC7679136 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences and social context independently contribute to the development of stress-related disorders. However, less is known about how their interplay might influence behavior and physiology. Here we focused on social hierarchy status, a major component of the social environment in mice, and whether it influences behavioral adaptation to chronic stress in a sex-specific manner. We used a high-throughput automated behavioral monitoring system to assess social dominance in same-sex, group-living mice. We found that position in the social hierarchy at baseline was a significant predictor of multiple behavioral outcomes following exposure to chronic stress. Crucially, this association carried opposite consequences for the two sexes. This work demonstrates the importance of recognizing the interplay between sex and social factors and enhances our understating of how individual differences shape the stress response. Most people experience chronic stress at some point in their life, which may increase their chances of developing depression or anxiety. There is evidence that chronic stress may more negatively impact the well-being of women, placing them as higher risk of developing these mental health conditions. The biological factors that underlie these differences are not well understood, which leaves clinicians and scientists struggling to develop and provide effective treatments. The social environment has a powerful influence on how people experience and cope with stress. For example, a person’s social and socioeconomic status can change their perception of and reaction to everyday stress. Researchers have found differences in how men and women relate to their social standing. One way for scientists to learn more about the biological processes involved is to study the effect of social standing and chronic stress in male and female mice. Now, Karamihalev, Brivio et al. show that social status influences the behavior of stressed mice in a sex-specific way. In the experiments, an automated observation system documented the behavior of mice living in all female or male groups. Karamihalev, Brivio et al. determined where each animal fit into the social structure of their group. Then, they exposed some groups of mice to mild chronic stress and compared their behaviors to groups of mice housed in normal conditions. They found that both the sex and social status of each played a role in how they responded to stress. For example, subordinate males displayed more anxious behavior under stressful circumstances, while dominant females acted bolder and less anxious. More studies in mice are needed to understand the biological basis of these social- and sex-based differences in stress response. Learning more may help scientists understand why some individuals are more susceptible to the effects of stress and lead to the development of personalized prevention or treatment strategies for anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stoyo Karamihalev
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Elena Brivio
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Cornelia Flachskamm
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Stoffel
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias V Schmidt
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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40
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Levy EJ, Gesquiere LR, McLean E, Franz M, Warutere JK, Sayialel SN, Mututua RS, Wango TL, Oudu VK, Altmann J, Archie EA, Alberts SC. Higher dominance rank is associated with lower glucocorticoids in wild female baboons: A rank metric comparison. Horm Behav 2020; 125:104826. [PMID: 32758500 PMCID: PMC7541639 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, glucocorticoid secretion occurs in response to energetic and psychosocial stressors that trigger the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Measuring glucocorticoid concentrations can therefore shed light on the stressors associated with different social and environmental variables, including dominance rank. Using 14,172 fecal samples from 237 wild female baboons, we test the hypothesis that high-ranking females experience fewer psychosocial and/or energetic stressors than lower-ranking females. We predicted that high-ranking females would have lower fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) concentrations than low-ranking females. Because dominance rank can be measured in multiple ways, we employ an information theoretic approach to compare 5 different measures of rank as predictors of fGC concentrations: ordinal rank; proportional rank; Elo rating; and two approaches to categorical ranking (alpha vs non-alpha and high-middle-low). Our hypothesis was supported, but it was also too simplistic. We found that alpha females exhibited substantially lower fGCs than other females (typical reduction = 8.2%). If we used proportional rank instead of alpha versus non-alpha status in the model, we observed a weak effect of rank such that fGCs rose 4.2% from the highest- to lowest-ranking female in the hierarchy. Models using ordinal rank, Elo rating, or high-middle-low categories alone failed to explain variation in female fGCs. Our findings shed new light on the association between dominance rank and the stress response, the competitive landscape of female baboons as compared to males, and the assumptions inherent in a researcher's choice of rank metric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Levy
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA,.
| | - Laurence R Gesquiere
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA,.
| | - Emily McLean
- Oxford College of Emory University, 801 Emory Street, Oxford, GA 30054, USA.
| | - Mathias Franz
- Institute for Biology, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 1-3, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Serah N Sayialel
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Tim L Wango
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Physiology, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vivian K Oudu
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jeanne Altmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya,.
| | - Elizabeth A Archie
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya,; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Susan C Alberts
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA,; Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya,; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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41
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Vaz-Leal FJ, Ramos-Fuentes MI, Guisado-Macías JA, Espárrago-Llorca G, Redondo-Rodríguez C, Bajo-Cabello B, Rodríguez-Santos L. Coping strategies and stress-induced natural killer cell redistribution in women with eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord 2020; 53:964-971. [PMID: 32333613 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with eating disorders (ED) are very sensitive and responsive to psychosocial stress. Stress response includes changes in immune cell distribution and may be modulated by the capability to cope with stressors. Thus, the present study sought to analyze the association between coping strategies and immune response (natural killer [NK] cell redistribution following psychosocial stress) in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and healthy controls (HC). METHOD Twenty-four AN patients, 29 BN patients, and 58 HC were studied. A multidimensional assessment tool, the COPE Inventory, was used to assess coping strategies. The number of NK cells was quantified in peripheral blood before and after the application of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Potentially mediating variables, such as weight status, severity of eating pathology, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity were controlled. RESULTS The three groups differed in intensity and direction of cell redistribution: The TSST was followed in BN patients by a significant decrease in the number of NK cells, whereas HC displayed a moderate decrease and AN a clear increase. Specific correlations between coping strategies and NK cell mobilization were found, especially in BN patients (positive for "planning" and negative for "substance abuse"). CONCLUSION Recognition and subsequent modification of the dysfunctional coping strategies used by patients with ED could contribute to improving their immune status, strengthening their resilience and increasing their ability to overcome the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Vaz-Leal
- University Hospital/University Hospital Network, Extremadura Health Service, Badajoz, Spain.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Juan Antonio Guisado-Macías
- University Hospital/University Hospital Network, Extremadura Health Service, Badajoz, Spain.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | | | - Beatriz Bajo-Cabello
- College of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
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42
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Snyder-Mackler N, Burger JR, Gaydosh L, Belsky DW, Noppert GA, Campos FA, Bartolomucci A, Yang YC, Aiello AE, O'Rand A, Harris KM, Shively CA, Alberts SC, Tung J. Social determinants of health and survival in humans and other animals. Science 2020; 368:eaax9553. [PMID: 32439765 PMCID: PMC7398600 DOI: 10.1126/science.aax9553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 278] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The social environment, both in early life and adulthood, is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality risk in humans. Evidence from long-term studies of other social mammals indicates that this relationship is similar across many species. In addition, experimental studies show that social interactions can causally alter animal physiology, disease risk, and life span itself. These findings highlight the importance of the social environment to health and mortality as well as Darwinian fitness-outcomes of interest to social scientists and biologists alike. They thus emphasize the utility of cross-species analysis for understanding the predictors of, and mechanisms underlying, social gradients in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Joseph Robert Burger
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lauren Gaydosh
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Daniel W Belsky
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grace A Noppert
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Fernando A Campos
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yang Claire Yang
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Angela O'Rand
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Carol A Shively
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Section, Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Susan C Alberts
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jenny Tung
- Social and Biological Determinants of Health Working Group, NC, USA.
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
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43
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Sosa S, Dobson FS, Bordier C, Neuhaus P, Saraux C, Bosson C, Palme R, Boonstra R, Viblanc VA. Social stress in female Columbian ground squirrels: density-independent effects of kin contribute to variation in fecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02830-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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44
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O’Brien SL, Tammone MN, Cuello PA, Lacey EA. Facultative sociality in a subterranean rodent, the highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding why social relationships vary among conspecifics is central to studies of animal behaviour. For many species, patterns of space use provide important insights into social behaviour. To characterize the social organization of the highland tuco-tuco (Ctenomys opimus), we used visual observations and radiotelemetry to quantify spatial relationships among adults in a population at Laguna de los Pozuelos, Jujuy Province, Argentina. Specifically, we sought to confirm anecdotal reports that these subterranean rodents are social, meaning that adults share burrow systems and nest sites. Our data indicate that the animals live in spatially distinct groups, although the number of individuals per group varies markedly. Although these relationships were robust with regard to location (above vs. below ground) and type of data (visual vs. telemetry), some groups identified during the daytime fissioned during the night. We suggest that the population of C. opimus at Pozuelos is facultatively social, meaning that individuals display predictable, adaptive differences in social relationships with conspecifics. More generally, our findings add to the growing number of subterranean species of rodents recognized as social, thereby generating new opportunities for comparative studies of these animals aimed at assessing the causes and consequences of variation in social organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L O’Brien
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mauro N Tammone
- INIBIOMA-CONICET and Programa de Estudios Aplicados a la Conservación del Parque Nacional Nanhuel Huapi (CENAC-PHHN, CONICET), Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Pablo A Cuello
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas (IADIZA-CCT CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Eileen A Lacey
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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45
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Lee W, Fu J, Bouwman N, Farago P, Curley JP. Temporal microstructure of dyadic social behavior during relationship formation in mice. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220596. [PMID: 31821344 PMCID: PMC6903754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Socially competent animals must learn to modify their behavior in response to their social partner in a contextually appropriate manner. Dominant-subordinate relationships are a particularly salient social context for mice. Here we observe and analyze the microstructure of social and non-social behaviors as 21 pairs of outbred CD-1 male mice (Mus Musculus) establish dominant-subordinate relationships during daily 20-minute interactions for five consecutive days in a neutral environment. Firstly, using a Kleinberg burst detection algorithm, we demonstrate aggressive and subordinate interactions occur in bursting patterns followed by quiescent periods rather than being uniformly distributed across social interactions. Secondly, we identify three phases of dominant-subordinate relationship development (pre-, middle-, and post-resolution) by utilizing two statistical methods to identify stability in aggressive and subordinate behavior across these bursts. Thirdly, using First Order Markov Chains we find that dominant and subordinate mice show distinct behavioral transitions, especially between tail rattling and other aggressive/subordinate behaviors. Further, dominant animals engaged in more digging and allogrooming behavior and were more likely to transition from sniffing their partner's body to head, whereas subordinates were more likely to transition from head sniffing to side-by-side contact. Lastly, we utilized a novel method (Forward Spike Time Tiling Coefficient) to assess how individuals respond to the behaviors of their partner. We found that subordinates decrease their tail rattling and aggressive behavior in response to aggressive but not subordinate behavior exhibited by dominants and that tail rattling in particular may function to deescalate aggressive behavior in pairs. Our findings demonstrate that CD-1 male mice rapidly establish dominance relationships and modify their social and non-social behaviors according to their current social status. The methods that we detail also provide useful tools for other researchers wishing to evaluate the temporal dynamics of rodent social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Lee
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jiayi Fu
- Department of Statistics Graduate Program, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Statistics Master’s Program, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Neal Bouwman
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Pam Farago
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - James P. Curley
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Center for Integrative Animal Behavior, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, United States of America
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46
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Wascher CA, Canestrari D, Baglione V. Affiliative social relationships and coccidian oocyst excretion in a cooperatively breeding bird species. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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47
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Radaelli E, Santagostino SF, Sellers RS, Brayton CF. Immune Relevant and Immune Deficient Mice: Options and Opportunities in Translational Research. ILAR J 2019; 59:211-246. [PMID: 31197363 PMCID: PMC7114723 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1989 ILAR published a list and description of immunodeficient rodents used in research. Since then, advances in understanding of molecular mechanisms; recognition of genetic, epigenetic microbial, and other influences on immunity; and capabilities in manipulating genomes and microbiomes have increased options and opportunities for selecting mice and designing studies to answer important mechanistic and therapeutic questions. Despite numerous scientific breakthroughs that have benefitted from research in mice, there is debate about the relevance and predictive or translational value of research in mice. Reproducibility of results obtained from mice and other research models also is a well-publicized concern. This review summarizes resources to inform the selection and use of immune relevant mouse strains and stocks, aiming to improve the utility, validity, and reproducibility of research in mice. Immune sufficient genetic variations, immune relevant spontaneous mutations, immunodeficient and autoimmune phenotypes, and selected induced conditions are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sara F Santagostino
- Department of Safety Assessment, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Cory F Brayton
- Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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48
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Ajmone-Cat MA, Spinello C, Valenti D, Franchi F, Macrì S, Vacca RA, Laviola G. Brain-Immune Alterations and Mitochondrial Dysfunctions in a Mouse Model of Paediatric Autoimmune Disorder Associated with Streptococcus: Exacerbation by Chronic Psychosocial Stress. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8101514. [PMID: 31547098 PMCID: PMC6833026 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse psychosocial experiences have been shown to modulate individual responses to immune challenges and affect mitochondrial functions. The aim of this study was to investigate inflammation and immune responses as well as mitochondrial bioenergetics in an experimental model of Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS). Starting in adolescence (postnatal day 28), male SJL/J mice were exposed to five injections (interspaced by two weeks) with Group-A beta-haemolytic streptococcus (GAS) homogenate. Mice were exposed to chronic psychosocial stress, in the form of protracted visual exposure to an aggressive conspecific, for four weeks. Our results indicate that psychosocial stress exacerbated individual response to GAS administrations whereby mice exposed to both treatments exhibited altered cytokine and immune-related enzyme expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Additionally, they showed impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes IV and V, and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by mitochondria and ATP content. These brain abnormalities, observed in GAS-Stress mice, were associated with blunted titers of plasma corticosterone. Present data support the hypothesis that challenging environmental conditions, in terms of chronic psychosocial stress, may exacerbate the long-term consequences of exposure to GAS processes through the promotion of central immunomodulatory and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Ajmone-Cat
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Spinello
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
| | - Daniela Valenti
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Council of Research, Via Giovanni Amendola 122/O - 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesca Franchi
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone Macrì
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosa Anna Vacca
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Council of Research, Via Giovanni Amendola 122/O - 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
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49
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Leech T, Evison SEF, Armitage SAO, Sait SM, Bretman A. Interactive effects of social environment, age and sex on immune responses in Drosophila melanogaster. J Evol Biol 2019; 32:1082-1092. [PMID: 31313398 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Social environments have been shown to have multiple effects on individual immune responses. For example, increased social contact might signal greater infection risk and prompt a prophylactic upregulation of immunity. This differential investment of resources may in part explain why social environments affect ageing and lifespan. Our previous work using Drosophila melanogaster showed that single-sex social contact reduced lifespan for both sexes. Here, we assess how social interactions (isolation or contact) affect susceptibility to infection, phagocytotic activity and expression of a subset of immune- and stress-related genes in young and old flies of both sexes. Social contact had a neutral, or even improved, effect on post-infection lifespan in older flies and reduced the expression of stress response genes in females; however, it reduced phagocytotic activity. Overall, the effects of social environment were complex and largely subtle and do not indicate a consistent effect. Together, these findings indicate that social contact in D. melanogaster does not have a predictable impact on immune responses and does not simply trade-off immune investment with lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Leech
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sophie E F Evison
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Western Bank, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Steven M Sait
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Amanda Bretman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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50
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Synergistic effects of predation and parasites on the overwinter survival of root voles. Oecologia 2019; 191:83-96. [PMID: 31332519 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Predators and parasites have been important extrinsic factors influencing the fluctuation of small mammal populations. They can have non-additive effects on a shared group of preys or hosts, which can have important consequences for population dynamics. However, experimental studies incorporating the interactions between predation and parasites are scarce in small mammal populations. Here we systematically examined the synergistic effects of predators and coccidian parasites interaction on overwinter survival and likely mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects in the root vole (Microtus oeconomus). Our aim was to test the general hypothesis that predators and coccidia interact synergistically to decrease overwinter survival of root voles through mediating vole's physiological traits and body conditions. We carried out a factorial experimental design, by which we manipulated the predator exclusion in combination with the parasitic removal in enclosures, and then measured fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels, immunocompetence, and body conditions in captured animals via repeated live trapping. We found a strong negative synergistic effect of predators and coccidia on survival. Importantly, we found that predators increased both the prevalence and intensity of coccidian infection in voles through immune suppression induced by predation stress, while increased coccidian infection reduced plasma protein and hematocrit level of voles, which may impair anti-predator ability of voles and lead to an increase in predation. Our finding showed when voles are exposed to both predation risk and infection, their synergistic effects greatly reduce overwinter survival and population density. This may be an important mechanism influencing population dynamics in small mammals.
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