Abstract
The rodent maternal separation (MS) model is frequently used to investigate the impact of early environmental factors on adult neurobiology and behavior. The majority of MS studies assess effects in the offspring and few address the consequences of repeated pup removal in the dam. Such studies are of interest since alterations detected in offspring subjected to MS may, at least in part, be mediated by variations in maternal behavior and the amount of maternal care provided by the dam. The aim of this study was to investigate how daily short (15 min; MS15) and prolonged (360 min; MS360) periods of MS affects the dam by examining postpartum behavioral profiles using the multivariate concentric square field™ (MCSF) test. The dams were tested on postpartum days 24–25, i.e., just after the end of the separation period and weaning. The results reveal a lower exploratory drive and lower risk-assessment behavior in MS15 dams relative to MS360 or animal facility reared dams. The present results contrast some of the previously reported findings and provide new information about early post-weaning behavioral characteristics in a multivariate setting. Plausible explanations for the results are provided including a discussion how the present results fit into the maternal mediation hypothesis.
Highlights
Together with the genetic makeup, the early life environment programs the development of neurobiobehavioral mechanisms and establishment of mental functions
With regard to risk-assessment behavior (Table 1) differences between the groups were revealed for the number of visits to the SLOPE (H = 8.08, p < 0.05) and the BRIDGE ENTRANCE (H = 7.35, p < 0.05), time spent on the SLOPE (H = 7.68, p < 0.05) and duration per visit on the BRIDGE ENTRANCE (H = 6.74, p < 0.05)
Research on the postpartum behavior at the time point evaluated in the present study, i.e., just after the end of the separation period and weaning, in dams reared under maternal separation (MS) conditions is sparse
Summary
Together with the genetic makeup, the early life environment programs the development of neurobiobehavioral mechanisms and establishment of mental functions. Adverse experiences early in life can alter brain development and result in enhanced vulnerability for adult psychopathology including depression and substance use disorders (e.g., Sinha, 2008; Loman and Gunnar, 2010). The neurobiological events mediating the effects are not fully understood and to further study these mechanisms the rodent maternal separation (MS) model is frequently used. Fewer investigations have addressed how the repeated removal of the pups during the MS procedure affects the dam and the results from these studies are not conclusive (Kalinichev et al, 2000, 2003; Boccia et al, 2007; Eklund et al, 2009; Maniam and Morris, 2010) there is an apparent lack of knowledge with regard to effects on the dam immediately after the MS period
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