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Background and Purpose: Current pharmacotherapies for Tourette syndrome (TS) are often unsatisfactory and poorly tolerated, underscoring the need for novel treatments. Insufficient striatal acetylcholine has been suggested to contribute to tic ontogeny. Thus, we tested whether activating M 1 and/or M 4 receptors-the two most abundant muscarinic receptors in the striatum-reduced tic-related behaviours in mouse models of TS., Experimental Approach: Studies were conducted using CIN-d and D1CT-7 mice, two TS models characterized by early-life depletion of striatal cholinergic interneurons and cortical neuropotentiation, respectively. First, we tested the effects of systemic and intrastriatal xanomeline, a selective M 1 /M 4 receptor agonist, on tic-like and other TS-related responses. Then, we examined whether xanomeline effects were reduced by either M 1 or M 4 antagonists or mimicked by the M 1 /M 3 agonist cevimeline or the M 4 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) VU0467154. Finally, we measured striatal levels of M 1 and M 4 receptors and assessed the impact of VU0461754 on the striatal expression of the neural marker activity c-Fos., Key Results: Systemic and intrastriatal xanomeline reduced TS-related behaviours in CIN-d and D1CT-7 mice. Most effects were blocked by M 4 , but not M 1 , receptor antagonists. VU0467154, but not cevimeline, elicited xanomeline-like ameliorative effects in both models. M 4 , but not M 1 , receptors were down-regulated in the striatum of CIN-d mice. Additionally, VU0467154 reduced striatal c-Fos levels in these animals., Conclusion and Implications: Activation of striatal M 4 , but not M 1 , receptors reduced tic-like manifestations in mouse models, pointing to xanomeline and M 4 PAMs as novel putative therapeutic strategies for TS., (© 2024 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.)

Multiple neurological disorders are associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unclear whether GI distress itself can modify aspects of behavior. Here, we show that mice that experience repeated colitis have impaired active social engagement, as measured by interactions with a foreign mouse, even though signs of colitis were no longer present. We then tested the hypothesis that individuals with ASD harbor a microbiota that might differentially influence GI health by performing microbiota transplantation studies into male germfree animals, followed by induction of colitis. Animals that harbor a microbiota from ASD individuals have worsened gut phenotypes when compared to animals colonized with microbiotas from familial neurotypical (NT) controls. We identify the enrichment of Blautia species in all familial NT controls and observe an association between elevated abundance of Bacteroides uniformis and reductions in intestinal injury. Oral treatment with either of these microbes reduces colon injury in mice. Finally, provision of a Blautia isolate from a NT control ameliorates gut injury-associated active social engagement in mice. Collectively, our data demonstrate that past intestinal distress is associated with changes in active social behavior in mice that can be ameliorated by supplementation of members of the human microbiota., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Self-grooming behavior in rodents serves as a valuable behavioral index for investigating stereotyped and perseverative responses. Most current grooming analyses rely on video observation, which lacks standardization, efficiency, and quantitative information about force. To address these limitations, we developed an automated paradigm to analyze grooming using a force-plate actometer., New Method: Grooming behavior is quantified by calculating ratios of relevant movement power spectral bands. These ratios are input into a naïve Bayes classifier, trained with manual video observations. The effectiveness of this method was tested using CIN-d mice, an animal model developed through early-life depletion of striatal cholinergic interneurons (CIN-d) and featuring prolonged grooming responses to acute stressors. Behavioral monitoring was simultaneously conducted on the force-place actometer and by video recording., Results: The naïve Bayes approach achieved 93.7% accurate classification and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.894. We confirmed that male CIN-d mice displayed significantly longer grooming durations than controls. However, this elevation was not correlated with increases in grooming force. Notably, the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol reduced grooming force and duration., Comparison With Existing Methods: In contrast to observation-based approaches, our method affords rapid, unbiased, and automated assessment of grooming duration, frequency, and force., Conclusions: Our novel approach enables fast and accurate automated detection of grooming behaviors. This method holds promise for high-throughput assessments of grooming stereotypies in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Marco Bortolato reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Christopher Pittenger reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Stefan Pulst reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dupilumab represents the first approved biological for severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)., Objective: Aim of this paper is to provide a multicentric real-life study about treatment with dupilumab for CRSwNP with a special focus on blood parameters and IgE, IgG, and IgA., Method: A retrospective data collection was jointly conducted at the Otolaryngology departments of San Camillo Forlanini Hospital and University of Rome "La Sapienza" from December 2020 to January 2023., Results: A total of 130 patients were included in the study. Monitoring our patients for 18 months, we observed a reduction in nasal polyposis and an improvement in symptoms and their impact on quality of life. Regarding blood tests, a transient increase in blood eosinophils was found in most cases. Total IgE showed a gradual decrease in values. IgG and IgA also showed a slight reduction of values, while remaining within normal ranges., Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the impact of dupilumab on several blood parameters in patients receiving treatment for CRswNP. Further studies are needed to confirm our results and to understand the underlying immunological mechanisms., Competing Interests: AL, AC, EB, FC, GA, RC, GB, AG, MdV, and SM declare no conflicts of interest. CC and SM declare lecture fees and participations in experts board meeting of GSK, Novartis, Sanofi, AstraZeneca., (Copyright © 2023 Antonella Loperfido et al.)

Ample evidence suggests that acute stress can worsen symptom severity in Tourette syndrome (TS); however, the neurobiological underpinnings of this phenomenon remain poorly understood. We previously showed that acute stress exacerbates tic-like and other TS-associated responses via the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (AP) in an animal model of repetitive behavioral pathology. To verify the relevance of this mechanism to tic pathophysiology, here we tested the effects of AP in a mouse model recapitulating the partial depletion of dorsolateral cholinergic interneurons (CINs) seen in post-mortem studies of TS. Mice underwent targeted depletion of striatal CINs during adolescence and were tested in young adulthood. Compared with controls, partially CIN-depleted male mice exhibited several TS-relevant abnormalities, including deficient prepulse inhibition (PPI) and increased grooming stereotypies after a 30-min session of spatial confinement - a mild acute stressor that increases AP levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). These effects were not seen in females. Systemic and intra-PFC AP administration dose-dependently worsened grooming stereotypies and PPI deficits in partially CIN-depleted males. Conversely, both AP synthesis inhibition and pharmacological antagonism reduced the effects of stress. These results further suggest that AP in the PFC mediates the adverse effects of stress on the severity of tics and other TS-related manifestations. Future studies will be necessary to confirm these mechanisms in patients and define the circuitry responsible for the effects of AP on tics., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.)

Rationale: The prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex is the best-established index of sensorimotor gating. We documented that the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (AP) is necessary to reduce PPI in response to D 1 dopamine receptor agonists. Since Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats are poorly sensitive to the PPI-disrupting effects of these drugs, we hypothesized that AP might increase this susceptibility., Objectives: We tested whether AP is sufficient to increase the vulnerability of SD rats to PPI deficits in response to the D 1 receptor full agonist SKF82958., Methods: SD rats were tested for PPI after treatment with SKF82958 (0.05-0.3 mg/kg, SC) in combination with either intraperitoneal (1-10 mg/kg) or intracerebral (0.5 μg/μl/side) AP administration into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) or nucleus accumbens shell. To rule out potential confounds, we measured whether SKF82958 affected the endogenous mPFC levels of AP., Results: SD rats exhibited marked PPI deficits in response to the combination of systemic and intra-mPFC AP with SKF82958 but not with the D 2 receptor agonist quinpirole (0.3-0.6 mg/kg, SC). SKF82958 did not elevate mPFC levels of AP but enhanced the content of its precursor progesterone. The PPI deficits caused by SKF82958 in combination with AP were opposed by the AP antagonist isoallopregnanolone (10 mg/kg, IP) and the glutamate NMDA receptor positive modulator CIQ (5 mg/kg, IP)., Conclusion: These results suggest that AP enables the detrimental effects of D 1 receptor activation on sensorimotor gating. AP antagonism or glutamatergic modulation counters these effects and may have therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by gating deficits., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Ample evidence indicates that environmental stress impairs information processing, yet the underlying mechanisms remain partially elusive. We showed that, in several rodent models of psychopathology, the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (AP) reduces the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle, a well-validated index of sensorimotor gating. Since this GABA A receptor activator is synthesized in response to acute stress, we hypothesized its participation in stress-induced PPI deficits. Systemic AP administration reduced PPI in C57BL/6J mice and Long-Evans, but not Sprague-Dawley rats. These effects were reversed by isoallopregnanolone (isoAP), an endogenous AP antagonist, and the GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline and mimicked by AP infusions in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Building on these findings, we tested AP's implication in the PPI deficits produced by several complementary regimens of acute and short-term stress (footshock, restraint, predator exposure, and sleep deprivation). PPI was reduced by acute footshock, sleep deprivation as well as the combination of restraint and predator exposure in a time- and intensity-dependent fashion. Acute stress increased AP concentrations in the mPFC, and its detrimental effects on PPI were countered by systemic and intra-mPFC administration of isoAP. These results collectively indicate that acute stress impairs PPI by increasing AP content in the mPFC. The confirmation of these mechanisms across distinct animal models and several acute stressors strongly supports the translational value of these findings and warrants future research on the role of AP in information processing., Competing Interests: PN and MB are the Chief Executive Officer and a Scientific Advisory Board member of Asarina Pharma AB, respectively. The other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors.)

In a program to identify pain treatments with low addiction potential, we isolated five steroids, conosteroids A-E ( 1 - 5 ), from the hypobranchial gland of the mollusk Conus geographus . Compounds 1 - 5 were active in a mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) assay that suggested that they might be analgesic. A synthetic analogue 6 was used for a detailed pharmacological study. Compound 6 significantly increased the pain threshold in mice in the hot-plate test at 2 and 50 mg/kg. Compound 6 at 500 nM antagonizes type-A γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA A Rs). In a patch-clamp experiment, out of the six subunit combinations tested, 6 exhibited subtype selectivity, most strongly antagonizing α 1 β 1 γ 2 and α 4 β 3 γ 2 receptors (IC 50 1.5 and 1.0 μM, respectively). Although the structures of 1 - 6 differ from those of known neuroactive steroids, they are cell-type-selective modulators of GABA A Rs, expanding the known chemical space of neuroactive steroids.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) has become a leading cause of death in the United States, yet current therapeutic strategies remain highly inadequate. To identify potential treatments for OUD, we screened a targeted selection of over 100 drugs using a recently developed opioid self-administration assay in zebrafish. This paradigm showed that finasteride, a steroidogenesis inhibitor approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia, reduced self-administration of multiple opioids without affecting locomotion or feeding behavior. These findings were confirmed in rats; furthermore, finasteride reduced the physical signs associated with opioid withdrawal. In rat models of neuropathic pain, finasteride did not alter the antinociceptive effect of opioids and reduced withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. Steroidomic analyses of the brains of fish treated with finasteride revealed a significant increase in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Treatment with precursors of DHEAS reduced opioid self-administration in zebrafish in a fashion akin to the effects of finasteride. These results highlight the importance of steroidogenic pathways as a rich source of therapeutic targets for OUD and point to the potential of finasteride as a new treatment option for this disorder.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disabling neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple, recurrent tics. The pharmacological treatment of TS is currently based on dopaminergic antagonists; however, these drugs are associated with extrapyramidal symptoms and other serious adverse events. Recent evidence suggests that positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABA A receptors containing α6 subunits (α6 GABA A Rs) oppose the behavioral effects of dopamine. Building on this evidence, in the present study, we tested the efficacy of DK-I-56-1, a highly selective PAM for α6 GABA A Rs, in mouse models of TS exhibiting tic-related responses. DK-I-56-1 significantly reduced tic-like jerks and prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits in D1CT-7 transgenic mice, a well-documented mouse model of TS. DK-I-56-1 also prevented the exacerbation of spontaneous eyeblink reflex induced by the potent dopamine D 1 receptor agonist SKF 82958, a proxy for tic-like responses. We also showed that both systemic and prefrontal cortical administration of DK-I-56-1 countered the PPI disruption caused by SKF 82958. Although the effects of DK-I-56-1 were akin to those elicited by dopaminergic antagonists, this drug did not elicit extrapyramidal effects, as measured by catalepsy. These results point to α6 GABA A R PAMs as promising TS therapies with a better safety profile than dopaminergic antagonists.

Background and Purpose: We previously demonstrated that paracetamol has to be metabolised in the brain by fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme into AM404 (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenamide) to activate CB 1 receptors and TRPV1 channels, which mediate its analgesic effect. However, the brain mechanisms supporting paracetamol-induced analgesia remain unknown., Experimental Approach: The effects of paracetamol on brain function in Sprague-Dawley rats were determined by functional MRI. Levels of neurotransmitters in the periaqueductal grey (PAG) were measured using in vivo 1 H-NMR and microdialysis. Analgesic effects of paracetamol were assessed by behavioural tests and challenged with different inhibitors, administered systemically or microinjected in the PAG., Key Results: Paracetamol decreased the connectivity of major brain structures involved in pain processing (insula, somatosensory cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, and the PAG). This effect was particularly prominent in the PAG, where paracetamol, after conversion to AM404, (a) modulated neuronal activity and functional connectivity, (b) promoted GABA and glutamate release, and (c) activated a TRPV1 channel-mGlu 5 receptor-PLC-DAGL-CB 1 receptor signalling cascade to exert its analgesic effects., Conclusions and Implications: The elucidation of the mechanism of action of paracetamol as an analgesic paves the way for pharmacological innovations to improve the pharmacopoeia of analgesic agents., (© 2019 The British Pharmacological Society.)

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by multiple, persistent tics. These semi-voluntary motor and phonic manifestations are typically aggravated by exposure to acute stress, yet the mechanisms underlying this exacerbation remain unclear. Using a well-characterised animal model of TS, the D1CT-7 mouse, we recently showed that acute stress increases tic-like responses and causes sensorimotor gating deficits, as measured by the prepulse inhibition of the startle. We showed that these effects are promoted by the brain synthesis of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (AP). In line with this idea, inhibition of AP synthesis by finasteride was found to suppress the tic-exacerbating effects of stress; conversely, AP administration resulted in a marked enhancement of the number of tic-like motor bursts. Given that the primary mechanism of AP is based on the positive allosteric modulation of GABA A receptors, in the present study, we hypothesised that the enhancement in tic-like behaviours induced by either stress or AP may be countered by isoallopregnanolone (isoAP), the natural 3β-epimer of AP that acts as an antagonist to the AP-binding site within GABA A receptors. In agreement with our hypothesis, isoAP (5-10 mg kg -1 , s.c.) dose-dependently reduced the number of tic-like behaviours induced by stress in D1CT-7 mice. These effects were comparable to those elicited by both the benchmark TS therapy haloperidol (0.3 mg kg -1 , i.p.), as well as finasteride (25 mg kg -1 , i.p.). IsoAP also countered the prepulse inhibition deficits secondary to stress in D1CT-7 mice. Finally, isoAP opposed the enhancement of tic-like behaviours induced by AP (15 mg kg -1 , i.p.). Given that isoAP is well-tolerated and has an optimal safety profile, these data suggest that this steroid may have therapeutic properties in TS., (© 2019 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.)

Finasteride (FIN) is the prototypical inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the conversion of progesterone and testosterone into their main neuroactive metabolites. FIN is clinically approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness; while often well-tolerated, FIN has also been shown to cause or exacerbate psychological problems in vulnerable subjects. Evidence on the psychological effects of FIN, however, remains controversial, in view of inconsistent clinical reports. Here, we tested the effects of FIN in a battery of tests aimed at capturing complementary aspects of mood regulation and stress reactivity in rats. FIN reduced exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior; furthermore, it decreased stress coping, as revealed by increased immobility in the forced-swim test (FST). This last effect was also observed in female and orchiectomized male rats, suggesting that the mechanism of action of FIN does not primarily reflect changes in gonadal steroids. The effects of FIN on FST responses were associated with a dramatic decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. These results suggest that FIN impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Introduction: The extraction of salient information from the environment is modulated by the activation of dopamine receptors. Using rodent models, we previously reported that gating deficits caused by dopamine receptor activation - as measured by the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle - are effectively opposed by inhibitors of the steroidogenic enzyme 5α-reductase (5αR). The specific 5αR isoenzyme and steroids implicated in these effects, however, remain unknown., Methods: The effects of the selective D 1 dopamine receptor agonist SKF-82958 (SKF, 0.3 mg/kg, IP) and D 2 receptor agonist quinpirole (QUIN, 0.5 mg/kg, IP) were tested in the startle reflex and PPI of knockout (KO) mice for either 5αR type 1 (5αR1) or type 2 (5αR2). Furthermore, we established whether these effects may be modified by the 5α-reduced steroids dihydroprogesterone (DHP), allopregnanolone (AP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-diol), or androsterone. To test the mechanisms whereby 5αR products may alter the PPI-disrupting properties of D 1 agonists, we studied the involvement of GABA-A and PXR, two receptors targeted by neuroactive steroids. Specifically, we tested the effects of SKF in combination with the GABA-A antagonist bicuculline, as well as in KO mice for the GABA-A δ subunit and PXR., Results: 5αR1, but not 5αR2, knockout (KO) mice were insensitive to the PPI-disrupting effects of SKF. This sensitivity was reinstated by AP (3 mg/kg, IP), but not other 5α-reduced steroids. The PPI deficits induced by SKF were not modified by bicuculline, δ-subunit KO mice and PXR KO mice., Conclusions: These results collectively suggest that 5αR1 enables the negative effects of D 1 dopamine receptor activation on information processing via production of AP. The contribution of AP to the PPI-disrupting mechanisms of D 1 receptor agonists, however, do not appear to be mediated by either GABA-A or PXR receptors., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Since the therapeutic treatment of depression is far from being satisfactory, new therapeutic strategies ought to be pursued. In addition, further investigation on brain areas involved in the action mechanism of antidepressants can shed light on the aetiology of depression. We have previously reported that typical and atypical antidepressants strongly stimulate catecholamine transmission in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST). In this study, we have built on that work to examine the effect of ketamine, an unusual antidepressant that can produce a fast-acting and long-lasting antidepressant effect after administration of a single sub-anaesthetic dose. Ketamine is an antagonist of the ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor but can also act through its metabolite (2R-6R)-hydroxynorketamine. Using the microdialysis technique in freely moving rats, we monitored the acute effect of ketamine on catecholamine release in the BNST to gain clues to its prompt antidepressant effect. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with a microdialysis probe in the BNST and 48h later, were injected with ketamine (10, 20, and 40mg/kg, i.p.). Ketamine increased norepinephrine (127%, 155%, 186%) and dopamine (114%, 156%, 176%) extracellular concentration above basal in a time and dose dependent manner, without significantly modifying motility. Since the effect of ketamine, although lower, was not substantially different from that produced by classical antidepressants, we suggest that catecholamine increase in BNST is not likely to be related to a rapid ketamine antidepressant effect, though it might be related to its performance in predictive tests of antidepressant properties., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Antidepressants include a relatively wide spectrum of drugs that increase the synaptic concentration of monoamines, mostly through neurotransmitter reuptake blockade. The bed nucleus of stria teminalis (BNST) is considered a relay station in mediating the activation of stress response but also in the acquisition and expression of emotions. BNST is richly innervated by monoamines and sends back projections to the nucleus of origin. We previously showed that the administration of selective blockers of norepinephrine transporter (NET) increases the extracellular concentration (output) of dopamine, suggesting that dopamine could be captured by NET in the BNST., Objectives: The aim of this study, carried out by means of in vivo microdialysis, was to ascertain the acute effects that antidepressants with varying mechanisms of action have on dopamine and norepinephrine output in the BNST., Results: We observed that all the antidepressants tested (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) increased the output of catecholamines, dose dependently. In particular, the maximum increases (as a percent of basal) for norepinephrine and dopamine respectively, were as follows: desipramine, 239 and 137; reboxetine, 185 and 128; imipramine, 512 and 359; citalopram, 95 and 122; fluoxetine, 122 and 68; bupropion, 255 and 164., Conclusions: These results suggest that catecholamine transmission in the BNST may be part of a common downstream pathway that is involved in the action mechanism of antidepressants. Consequently, it is hypothesized that a dysfunction of neuronal transmission in this brain area may have a role in the etiology of affective disorders.

Rationale: Disulfiram efficacy in treatment of cocaine addiction is attributed to the inhibition of dopamine-β-hydroxylase and reduction in brain noradrenaline (NA)/dopamine (DA) ratio., Objectives: Using microdialysis, we investigated if disulfiram causes DA release from noradrenergic terminals and modifies cocaine-induced DA release., Results: Disulfiram reduced extracellular NA in the medial prefrontal (mPF) cortex, occipital cortex, accumbens and caudate nuclei, while it markedly increased DA not only in mPF but also in the occipital cortex, despite its scanty dopaminergic afferences, and modestly increased DA in the accumbens and caudate nuclei, despite their dense dopaminergic innervation. Disulfiram-induced DA accumulation was reversed in both cortices by tetrodotoxin infusion and by systemic administration of the α(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, but was not modified by the α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist RS 79948 or the D(2)-like agonist quinpirole. Disulfiram prevented cocaine-induced NA release in the mPF cortex and nucleus accumbens, potentiated cocaine-induced DA release in the mPF cortex but failed to modify cocaine effect in the nucleus accumbens. DA release induced by disulfiram-cocaine combination in the mPF cortex was prevented by clonidine but not by quinpirole., Conclusions: We suggested that disulfiram, by removing NA-mediated inhibitory control on noradrenergic terminals, causes an unrestrained cocaine-induced DA release from those terminals in the mPF cortex. In the accumbens and caudate nuclei, "allogenic" DA concentration might be clouded by DA originated from dopaminergic terminals. The possible role of "allogenic" DA in disulfiram ability to prevent stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking is discussed.

Rats deprived of social contact with other rats at a young age experience a form of prolonged stress that leads to long-lasting changes in behavioral profile. Such isolation is thought to be anxiogenic for these normally gregarious animals, and the abnormal reactivity of isolated rats to environmental stimuli is thought to be a product of prolonged stress. We now show that isolation of rats at weaning reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, decreased sucrose intake and preference, and down-regulated both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and activity-regulated cytoskeletal associated protein (Arc) in the hippocampus. In the Morris water maze, isolated rats showed a reduced latency to reach the hidden platform during training, indicative of an improved learning performance, compared with group-housed rats. The cumulative search error during place training trials indicated a reliable difference between isolated and group-housed rats on days 4 and 5. The probe trial revealed a significant decrease of the average proximity to the target location in the isolated rats suggesting an improvement in spatial memory. Isolated rats also showed an increase in the plasma level of corticosterone on the 5th day of training and increased expression of BDNF and Arc in the hippocampus on both days 1 and 5. These results show that social isolation from weaning in rats results in development of depressive-like behavior but has a positive effect on spatial learning, supporting the existence of a facilitating effect of stress on cognitive function., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)