Behavioral Responses To Stress Research Articles

State of rat colon microbiocenosis in chronic restraint stress treated with Selank

It is currently accepted that stress significantly affects composition of microbiocenosis due to changes in permeability of intestinal barrier and pro-inflammatory effects. This, in turn, changes behavioral reactions, anxiety and stress response. In this regard, it seems promising to use regulatory peptide-based neurotropic drugs including Selank to correct stress-induced dysbiosis. Our study was aimed at assessing state of rat colon microbiocenosis in modelled chronic restraint stress and treated with Selankby using 65 Wistar male rats divided into five groups (per 13 rats in each): group 1 — rats injected with saline; group 2 — injected with saline and induced chronic restraint stress; group 3–5 — administered with Selank at dose of 80 μg/kg, 250 μg/kg and 750 μg/kg body weight, respectively, and induced chronic restraint stress. Quantitative and qualitative study of animal colon microbiota was carried out according to the method by L.I. Kafarskaja and V.M. Korshunov. Identification of microorganisms was carried out by using a Maldi Biotyper Microflex mass spectrometer (Bruker, United States). Microbial species-specific composition was presented as lg CFU/g mass of examined sample. For each identified microbial genus, the relative mean and frequency of occurrence were calculated. Statistical significance of differences in mean values was determined by using Student’s t-test. Chronic restraint stress in the experiment did not result in affecting dominant microbiota species in rat colon nor reduce their frequency, however, it significantly influenced examined parameters for commensal microbiota disturbing pattern of pathogenic bacterial strains. Use of Selank led to the reversing changes in composition of colonic microbiocenosis caused by stress model. Moreover, magnitude of parameters examined in experiment after applying Selank at dose of 750 μg/kg reached those in non-stressed animals. Thus, effects related to Selank administration may presumably be mediated due to both central and peripheral effects including immunotropic and anti-inflammatory activities which contributed to restoring colon microbiocenosis composition in stress model.

호텔 직원의 감정노동, 직무스트레스, 파괴적 반응행동 간의 구조적 관계 : 직무스트레스의 매개효과 및 리더의 타인감성이해의 조절효과

호텔 직원의 감정노동, 직무스트레스, 파괴적 반응행동 간의 구조적 관계 : 직무스트레스의 매개효과 및 리더의 타인감성이해의 조절효과

How Cortisol Reactivity Influences Prosocial Decision-Making: The Moderating Role of Sex and Empathic Concern.

The fight and flight theory and the tend-and-befriend theory suggest two opposite behavioral stress responses, and heterogeneous research results revealed the importance of taking sex into account. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of stress-related cortisol reactivity on subsequent prosocial decision-making behaviors, and the moderating role of sex and empathic concern (EC) in the process. Sixty-one healthy students (34 women, 27 men) underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G) or the control condition. Subsequently, participants completed three economic tasks—the dictator game, the ultimatum game, and the third-party compensation game. Statistical analyses revealed a significant main effect of cortisol reactivity on individuals’ third-party compensation behaviorssex. A sex-specific effect of stress-related cortisol change on prosocial behaviors was found, with men behaving more generously in the dictator game as stress-related cortisol reactivity increased. Furthermore, the level of EC was found to moderate the association between stress-related cortisol change and prosocial behaviors, that individuals with a low level of EC reported more generosity and third-party compensation behaviors. Overall, the present study contributes to a better understanding of the behavioral stress responses, that individuals whose hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are highly activated in response to stress would exhibit tend-and-befriend responses, but only among men and those with a low level of EC.

Stress-induced changes in group behaviour

Testing animals in groups can provide valuable data for investigating behavioural stress responses. However, conventional measures typically focus on the behaviour of individual animals or on dyadic interactions. Here, we aimed to determine metrics describing the behaviour of grouping animals that can reveal differences in stress responses. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model, we observed replicated shoals both immediately and 24 hours after exposure to a novel environment, as an assessment of temporal change in response to an acute stressor. We quantified various standard behavioural measures in combination with metrics describing group structure, including different proximity, social, and spatial metrics. Firstly, we showed a high collinearity between most of the analysed metrics, suggesting that they describe similar aspects of the group dynamics. After metric selection, we found that under acute stress shoals had significantly higher shoal densities, a lower variation in nearest neighbour distances and were in closer proximity to the walls compared to the same groups tested 24 hours later, indicating a reduction in acute stress over time. Thus, the use of group metrics could allow for the refinement of behavioural protocols carried out in a range of research areas, by providing sensitive and rich data in a more relevant social context.

Antidepressive Effects of Kamishoyosan through 5-HT1AReceptor and PKA-CREB-BDNF Signaling in the Hippocampus in Postmenopausal Depression-Model Mice.

Females are well known to suffer disproportionately more than males from stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, especially during perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods. In addition to a decline in serum estradiol levels, environmental stress and social stress likely contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Kamishoyosan (KSS) is a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, composed of a specified mixture of 10 crude compounds derived from plant sources, widely used for various neuropsychiatric symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying KSS-mediated attenuation of neuropsychological symptoms and stress-response behaviors in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women remain unknown. In the present study, we first established a mouse model for postmenopausal depression-like signs using chronic water-immersion and restraint-stressed ovariectomized (OVX) mice to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of KSS. We found that continuous administration of KSS to these mice normalized the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, ameliorated stress-induced depressive behavior, and prevented a decrease of neurogenesis in the hippocampus. As previous studies have implicated dysfunction of the hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) in depressive disorders, we also evaluated the effect of KSS on 5-HT1AR expression and the protein kinase A- (PKA-) cAMP response element-binding- (CREB-) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway in the hippocampus in this model. The level of 5-HT1AR in the hippocampus decreased in chronic stress-exposed OVX mice, while KSS treatment normalized the stress-induced decrease in 5-HT1AR expression in the hippocampus of chronic stress-exposed OVX mice. Furthermore, we found that KSS treatment upregulated the expression levels of phosphorylated PKA (p-PKA), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and BDNF in the hippocampus in chronic stress-exposed OVX mice. These results suggest that KSS improves neuropsychiatric symptoms through 5-HT1AR and PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling in the hippocampus in postmenopausal women.

When food access is challenging: evidence of wood mice ability to balance energy budget under predation risk and physiological stress reactions

Prey species must balance the energetic cost of locomotion, foraging effort, and predation risk. In our work, we assessed how the wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) balance these costs by manipulating food access difficulty and predation risk. Live trapping was conducted in Madrid (Spain) where 80 Sherman traps were set in four different plots. To assess how wood mice manage their energy budget, all traps were first subjected to a control period followed by four treatments of 3-day duration in which food access was experimentally manipulated (free access, straw balls, straw balls wrapped in metal wire, opened plastic bottles, closed bottles). Predation risk was simulated by exposing half of the traps to fox feces. To quantify food intake, we weighed the remnants of food left by each captured mouse. Furthermore, we collected mouse fecal samples from traps to evaluate the physiological stress response by quantifying fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM). Results showed that despite mice generally avoiding traps treated with fox feces, predation risk did not modulate food intake or FCM levels. By contrast, the experimental manipulation of food access determined the amount eaten and increased FCM levels, probably owing to the different degrees of difficulty and the energy required to obtain the food. Moreover, recaptured individuals ate more, indicating that experience critically determines mice ability to reduce the costs of accessing food. By analyzing the joint variation between mice intake and FCM levels depending on food restriction treatments, we found that mice were able to modulate their energetic expenditure depending on food access difficulty probably in order to achieve a positive marginal value of energy. For wild animals, to optimally balance the energetic budget is critical to maximize fitness. However, foraging decisions are influenced by numerous internal and external factors which are poorly understood. We studied free-ranging mice behavioral and physiological stress response to different food restriction treatments, testing also the influence of predation risk and experience. We found that predation risk modulated mice capturability but not the feeding behavior or the stress response. We also discovered that mice seem to be able to adjust energy allocation when a novel resource appear, and that energy budget optimization may be mediated via glucocorticoid release and individuals experience.

Reaction of Surrogate Escherichia coli Serotype O157:H7 and Non-O157 Strains to Nutrient Starvation: Variation in Phenotype and Transcription of Stress Response Genes and Behavior on Lettuce Plants in the Field

Preharvest contamination with bacteria borne by irrigation water may result in leafy vegetables serving as vehicles for transmission of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) to humans. The influence of starvation-associated stress on the behavior of non-toxin-producing strains of E. coli serotype O157:H7 and serotypes O26, O103, O111, and O145 was examined subsequent to their introduction to the phyllosphere of field-grown romaine lettuce as inocula simulating starved (96 h in sterile deionized water) and nutrient-depleted (24 h broth culture) cells. As with E. coli O157:H7, leaf populations of the non-O157 strains declined rapidly during the first 72 h postinoculation, displaying the biphasic decay curve typical of serotype O157:H7 isolates. Preinoculation treatment appeared not to influence decay rates greatly (P > 0.5), but strain-specific differences (persistence period and attachment proficiency) indicated that serotype O103:H2 strain PARC445 was a better survivor. Also assessed was the impact of preinoculation treatment on phenotypes key to leaf colonization and survival and the expression of starvation stress-associated genes. The 96-h starvation period enhanced biofilm formation in one strain but reduced motility and autoinducer 2 formation in all five study strains relative to those characteristics in stationary-phase cells. Transcription of rpoS, dps, uspA, and gapA was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in starvation-stressed cells relative to that for exponential- and stationary-phase cultures. Strain-specific differences were observed; serotype O103:H2 PARC445 had greater downturns than did serotype O157:H7 and other non-O157 strains. Within this particular cohort, the behavior of the representative serotype O157:H7 strain, PARC443 (ATCC 700728), was not predictive of behavior of non-O157 members of this STEC group.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio indexes individual variation in the behavioural stress response of wild roe deer across fluctuating environmental conditions

Understanding how wild animals adapt to perturbations and their consequences for life history traits and population dynamics is a current focus of attention in ecology and conservation biology. Here, we analysed variation in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N:L ratio), a proxy of stress level, in wild roe deer Capreolus capreolus from three populations experiencing markedly different environmental conditions. We first assessed whether among-individual differences in the N:L ratio were consistent over time and across environmental contexts. We then investigated how both individual characteristics (behaviour at capture, age, sex, body mass), and environmental context (habitat and year quality) were linked to this indicator of stress level. We found moderate, but consistent, repeatability of the N:L ratio in all three populations, indicating stable among-individual differences in the way individuals cope physiologically with varying environmental conditions. In addition, we found a weak, but consistent, association between the N:L ratio and behaviour at capture in two of the three populations. Finally, the N:L ratio also varied in relation to temporal changes in environmental conditions. In particular, individuals had, on average, higher levels of stress in poor-quality years in two of the three populations. We discuss our results in relation to the coping styles framework. Due to global change, natural populations are increasingly faced with unpredictable fluctuations of their environment. The stress response, via the release of glucocorticoids, is a key mechanism that enables individuals to cope with these variations. However, all individuals do not necessarily cope with life threatening and/or stressful situations in the same way, but as yet, the major drivers underlying variation in stress level remain unclear. We showed that the N:L ratio, reflecting baseline stress level, was repeatable and influenced by both individual and environmental factors. In particular, variation in the N:L ratio was linked to the quality of the year in terms of resource availability and, to a lesser extent, to the individual’s behaviour at capture. Our study demonstrates that both environmental context and individual characteristics drive variation in the N:L ratio in a wild vertebrate population.

Synaptic Inputs to the Mouse Dorsal Vagal Complex and Its Resident Preproglucagon Neurons.

Stress responses are coordinated by widespread neural circuits. Homeostatic and psychogenic stressors activate preproglucagon (PPG) neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) that produce glucagon-like peptide-1; published work in rodents indicates that these neurons play a crucial role in stress responses. While the axonal targets of PPG neurons are well established, their afferent inputs are unknown. Here we use retrograde tracing with cholera toxin subunit b to show that the cNTS in male and female mice receives axonal inputs similar to those reported in rats. Monosynaptic and polysynaptic inputs specific to cNTS PPG neurons were revealed using Cre-conditional pseudorabies and rabies viruses. The most prominent sources of PPG monosynaptic input include the lateral (LH) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus, parasubthalamic nucleus, lateral division of the central amygdala, and Barrington's nucleus (Bar). Additionally, PPG neurons receive monosynaptic vagal sensory input from the nodose ganglia and spinal sensory input from the dorsal horn. Sources of polysynaptic input to cNTS PPG neurons include the hippocampal formation, paraventricular thalamus, and prefrontal cortex. Finally, cNTS-projecting neurons within PVN, LH, and Bar express the activation marker cFOS in mice after restraint stress, identifying them as potential sources of neurogenic stress-induced recruitment of PPG neurons. In summary, cNTS PPG neurons in mice receive widespread monosynaptic and polysynaptic input from brain regions implicated in coordinating behavioral and physiological stress responses, as well as from vagal and spinal sensory neurons. Thus, PPG neurons are optimally positioned to integrate signals of homeostatic and psychogenic stress.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Recent research has indicated a crucial role for glucagon-like peptide-1-producing preproglucagon (PPG) neurons in regulating both appetite and behavioral and autonomic responses to acute stress. Intriguingly, the central glucagon-like peptide-1 system defined in rodents is conserved in humans, highlighting the translational importance of understanding its anatomical organization. Findings reported here indicate that PPG neurons receive significant monosynaptic and polysynaptic input from brain regions implicated in autonomic and behavioral responses to stress, as well as direct input from vagal and spinal sensory neurons. Improved understanding of the neural pathways underlying the recruitment of PPG neurons may facilitate the development of novel therapies for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

Hysteresis energy based low cycle fatigue properties analysis in extruded Al-7Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.2Sc-0.1Zr alloy at low temperature

The influences of low-temperature on low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviors and fracture mechanisms of extruded Al-7Zn-2Mg-1.5Cu-0.2Sc-0.1Zr alloy with T6 state were investigated by strain-controlled LCF tests. The results show that the tensile strength increases, elongation and LCF life decreases with decreasing the temperature. The cyclic stress response behaviors of alloy are stable at various temperatures of room temperature (RT), 0 °C, −20 °C and −40 °C. And cyclic hysteresis energy densities are also stable after a short period of fluctuations at different conditions. In consideration of the different temperatures, the fatigue life evaluation model based on hysteresis energy is adopted. And the relationship between temperature and LCF life is derived from the parameters (Wo and β) of hysteresis energy model. The increase of hysteretic energy will lead to greater plastic damage, which is the main reason for the decrease of fatigue life, and the corresponding value of Wo significantly decreases. In addition, the fatigue crack initiates from the free surface of specimens and there exist a mass of fatigue striations in crack propagation region. The secondary cracks appear at low temperature, and the corresponding value of β slightly increases.

Practical Considerations for In Vivo Mouse Studies.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are serious conditions that have reached pandemic proportions. The underlying physiology is complex with multiorgan interactions involved and, consequently, multiorgan approaches are necessary for researchers to elucidate and find treatments. As such, in vivo models are an invaluable resource for these studies and mice are, for many reasons, by far the most common species used. The use of animals comes with responsibilities to ensure their welfare and well-being: primarily for the sake of the mice themselves, but also to ensure quality of data. Physiological stress responses, such as adrenalin (epinephrine) and corticosterone release among others, have major consequences on metabolism. Additionally, behavioral stress responses are also a source of data variance. This chapter looks at the main in vivo procedures incorporated in mouse obesity/diabetes protocols and considers the practical factors involved that can be considered to minimize animal stress and improve study data quality.

Behavioral and physiological stress responses to local spatial disturbance and human activities by howler monkeys at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

AbstractTo develop effective conservation and management actions, it is important to examine anthropogenic disturbance patterns and their impact on wildlife. We examined variation in the behavioral and physiological stress response of the Critically Endangered Mexican mantled howler monkeys Alouatta palliata mexicana in relation to two types of anthropogenic disturbance, habitat spatial patterns and presence of humans or their livestock (noise and presence nearby primates). We studied four groups (42 individuals) in two forest fragments at the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve for a total of 1100 observation hours, during which we recorded the howler monkeys’ vocalizations, locomotion and vigilance. We additionally collected fecal samples to determine the concentrations of glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM). Howler monkeys vocalized less and moved more when in more spatially disturbed locations and when exposed more time to nearby noise but spent less time in locomotion when humans were present. fGCM were only related to human presence, suggesting that habitat spatial patterns are less of a challenge than human presence. This may be related to the generally unpredictable nature of the latter. Although our study does not allow determining whether the behavioral and physiological responses of howler monkeys to disturbance are costly, from a conservation standpoint it may be more prudent to assume that they are and design strategies to mitigate them. In this sense, actions aimed at reducing anthropogenic noise could benefit the conservation of Mexican mantled howler monkeys.

Relationships between personality traits and the physiological stress response in a wild mammal.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in the regulation of an animal’s energetic state. Under stressful situations, they are part of the neuroendocrine response to cope with environmental challenges. Animals react to aversive stimuli also through behavioral responses, defined as coping styles. Both in captive and wild populations, individuals differ in their behavior along a proactive–reactive continuum. Proactive animals exhibit a bold, active-explorative and social personality, whereas reactive ones are shy, less active-explorative and less social. Here, we test the hypothesis that personality traits and physiological responses to stressors covary, with more proactive individuals having a less pronounced GC stress response. In wild populations of invasive gray squirrels Sciurus carolinensis, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), an integrated measure of circulating GCs, and 3 personality traits (activity, sociability, and exploration) derived from open field test (OFT) and mirror image stimulation (MIS) test. Gray squirrels had higher FGMs in Autumn than in Winter and males with scrotal testes had higher FGMs than nonbreeding males. Personality varied with body mass and population density. Squirrels expressed more activity-exploration at higher than at lower density and heavier squirrels had higher scores for activity-exploration than animals that weighed less. Variation in FGM concentrations was not correlated with the expression of the 3 personality traits. Hence, our results do not support a strong association between the behavioral and physiological stress responses but show that in wild populations, where animals experience varying environmental conditions, the GC endocrine response and the expression of personality are uncorrelated traits among individuals.

Stress activity is not predictive of coping style in North American red squirrels

Individuals vary in their behavioral and physiological responses to environmental changes. These behavioral responses are often described as “coping styles” along a proactive-reactive continuum. Studies in laboratory populations often, but not always, find that behavioral responses and physiological responses to stressors covary, where more proactive (more aggressive and active) individuals have a lower physiological stress response, specifically as measured by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. These studies support the possibility of hormonal pleiotropy underlying the presentation of behaviors that make up the proactive-reactive phenotype. However, recent research in wild populations is equivocal, with some studies reporting the same pattern as found in many controlled laboratory studies, whereas others do not. We tested the hypothesis that physiological and behavioral stress responses are correlated in wild adult North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). We used fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) as a non-invasive, integrated estimate of circulating glucocorticoids for our measurement of HPA axis activity. We found that FCM concentrations were not correlated with three measures of behavioral coping styles (activity, aggression, and docility) among individuals. This does not support the hypothesis that hormonal pleiotropy underlies a proactive-reactive continuum of coping styles. Instead, our results support the “two-tier” hypothesis that behavioral and physiological stress responses are independent and uncorrelated traits among individuals in wild populations that experience naturally varying environments rather than controlled environments. If also found in other studies, this may alter our predictions about the evolutionary consequences of behavioral and endocrine coping styles in free-living animals. Individuals vary in how they respond to stressors through behavior and physiology, but we find the two responses are independent in wild animals. Many laboratory studies find links between the behavioral and physiological stress responses; however, studies conducted with wild populations are less conclusive. In wild North American red squirrels, independence between the physiological response and behavioral response may allow adaptive responses to a changing environment without pleiotropic constraint.

Palatable food reduces anxiety-like behaviors and HPA axis responses to stress in female rats in an estrous-cycle specific manner

Eating tasty foods dampens responses to stress – an idea reflected in the colloquial term ‘comfort foods’. To study the neurobiological mechanisms by which palatable foods provide stress relief, we previously characterized a limited sucrose intake (LSI) paradigm in which male rats are given twice-daily access to 4 ml of 30% sucrose solution (vs. water as a control), and subsequently have reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis responsivity and anxiety-related behaviors. Notably, women may be more prone to ‘comfort feeding’ than men, and this may vary across the menstrual cycle, suggesting the potential for important sex and estrous cycle differences. In support of this idea, LSI reduces HPA axis responses in female rats during the proestrus/estrus (P/E), as opposed to the diestrus 1/diestrus 2 (D1/D2) estrous cycle stage. However, the effect of LSI on anxiety-related behaviors in females remains unknown. Here we show that LSI reduced stress-related behaviors in female rats in the elevated plus-maze and restraint tests, but not in the open field test, though only during P/E. LSI also decreased the HPA axis stress response primarily during P/E, consistent with prior findings. Finally, cFos immunolabeling (a marker of neuronal activation) revealed that LSI increased post-restraint cFos in the central amygdala medial subdivision (CeM) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis posterior subnuclei (BSTp) exclusively during P/E. These results suggest that in female rats, palatable food reduces both behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses in an estrous cycle-dependent manner, and the CeM and BSTp are implicated as potential mediators of these effects.

Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insights into Inbreeding Depression in Yesso Scallop Patinopecten yessoensis.

Inbreeding often causes a decline in biological fitness, known as inbreeding depression. In genetics study, inbreeding coefficient f gives the proportion by which the heterozygosity of an individual is reduced by inbreeding. With the development of high-throughput sequencing, researchers were able to perform deep approaches to investigate which genes are affected by inbreeding and reveal some molecular underpinnings of inbreeding depression. As one commercially important species, Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis confront the same dilemma of inbreeding depression. To examine how inbreeding affects gene expression, we compared the transcriptome of two experimentally selfing families with inbreeding coefficient f reached 0.5 as well as one natural population (f ≈ 0) of P. yessoensis. A total of 24 RNA-Seq libraries were constructed using scallop adductor muscle, and eventually 676.56M (96.85%) HQ reads were acquired. Based on differential gene analysis, we were able to identify nine common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the top-ranked 30 DEGs in both selfing families in comparation with the natural population. Remarkable, through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), five common DEGs were found enriched in the most significant inbreeding related functional module M14 (FDR = 1.64E-156), including SREBP1, G3BP2, SBK1, KIAA1161, and AATs-Glupro. These five genes showed significantly higher expression in self-bred progeny. Suggested by the genetic functional analysis, up-regulated SREBP1, G3BP2, and KIAA1161 may suggest a perturbing lipid metabolism, a severe inframammary reaction or immune response, and a stress-responsive behavior. Besides, the significant higher SBK1 and AATs-Glupro may reflect the abnormal cellular physiological situation. Together, these genetic aberrant transcriptomic performances may contribute to inbreeding depression in P. yessoensis, deteriorating the stress tolerance and survival phenotype in self-bred progeny. Our results would lay a foundation for further comprehensive understanding of bivalve inbreeding depression, which may potentially benefit the genetic breeding for scallop aquaculture.

Is Habituation Measurable in Lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus When Used as Cleaner Fish in Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar Aquaculture?

To investigate how lumpfish interact in Atlantic salmon aquaculture, physiological stress responses and changes in behaviour were analysed in experienced and naive lumpfish. Experienced lumpfish (30.2 ± 7.93 g, mean ± SD) coexisted with a commercial scale production unit of Atlantic salmon (1258.5 ± 152.12 g) for 30 to 60 days, while naive lumpfish (38.2 ± 12.37 g) were kept with conspecifics only. Ten trials from each background were tested. For each trial, 10 lumpfish were tagged and transferred to a video monitored experimental tank (2 × 2 × 0.7 m). In each trial, swimming behaviour was mapped for all lumpfish every 60 s in 20 min, 10 min before, and 10 min after the introduction of four Atlantic salmon. Naive lumpfish expressed significantly increased burst swimming activity and maintained longer interspecific distance to Atlantic salmon in comparison with experienced fish. In addition, mean plasma cortisol levels were significantly elevated in naive fish after exposure to Atlantic salmon. We argue that naive lumpfish expressed innate physiological and behavioural stress responses during first encounter with Atlantic salmon, while reduced responses in experienced individuals indicated habituation. The effect from behavioural and physiological stress in newly deployed naive lumpfish–before and during habituation–should be taken account for when lumpfish are introduced in commercial sea cages to improve welfare for the species. In addition, we suggest that habituation could be applicable during the rearing phase to moderate the transition from a simple tank environment with conspecifics only to interspecies interaction with Atlantic salmon in sea cages.

Winter Survival, Habitat Use, and Hypoxia Tolerance of Montana Arctic Grayling in a Winterkill‐Prone Lake

AbstractWinter hypoxia in shallow, ice‐covered lakes can be a significant limiting factor for overwintering fish populations. In this study we tested the hypothesis that low overwinter survival due to winter hypoxia is a limiting factor for a rare, adfluvial population of native Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus inhabiting Upper Red Rock Lake, Montana. We used a combined laboratory and telemetry study to document the extent of hypoxia over two winters and to assess the physiological tolerance, behavioral response, and winter survival in relation to hypoxia. In the laboratory, we observed a significant behavioral and physiological response to dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ≤ 4.0 mg/L and determined acute 24‐h LC50 values (concentration lethal to 50% of test fish) of 0.75 mg/L DO for adults and 1.50–1.96 mg/L for juveniles at temperatures of 1–3°C. In the field study, we observed dynamic DO concentrations (DO &lt; 1.0 to 10.0 mg/L) during winter ice cover, ranging from persistent near‐anoxic conditions near the bottom to DO concentrations &gt; 4.0 mg/L in the epilimnion. Radiotelemetry indicated adult winter survival rate was high (0.97 in 2014, 0.95 in 2015) and that telemetered fish selected deeper (&gt;1 m), more oxygenated habitat during ice cover. Our study demonstrated that Arctic Grayling have a high tolerance to acute hypoxia exposure and exhibit a physiological and behavioral stress response to DO concentrations ≤ 4.0 mg/L. Although hypoxia was present in parts of the lake, sufficient suitable habitat with DO &gt; 4.0 mg/L was available in the lake epilimnion in both study winters. However, winter conditions more severe than those observed during our 2‐year study occur periodically in the lake, and thus winterkill could still be a limiting factor for the population.

Haplotypes of coping behavior associated QTL regions reveal distinct transcript profiles in amygdala and hippocampus

Stress response and coping behavior in pigs are largely shaped by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympatho-adrenomedullary system action. However, the dynamic interaction between amygdala and hippocampus crucially modulates the behavioral response towards significant emotional events. While this functional relationship is well documented, the molecular underpinnings still remain insufficiently understood. Our study used transcriptome profiling of porcine amygdala and hippocampus to identify molecular pathways that are differentially activated depending on the haplotype of a significantly coping behavior-associated region on pig chromosome 12 (SSC12). The pigs were classified into two groups based on the haplotype information of this QTL-region discovered in our previous genome-wide association study. Ten each of high- (HR) and low- (LR) reactive pigs (n = 20) were selected for differential gene expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression analysis with subsequent pathway analysis. Differentially expressed genes identified in the amygdala include SELL, CXCR7 and NTS, while TRAF3, PTGS2 and CFI were detected in the hippocampus indicating a role of neuroinflammation and immunological processes. Pathway analysis revealed IL-8 signaling, NF-κB signaling, glutamate and GABA metabolism, glucocorticoid receptor signaling and chemokine signaling in the amygdala and ephrin receptor signaling, as well as NF-κB signaling in the hippocampus. We discovered candidate genes in regions detected by genome-wide association study including ARRB2, ADRBK2, THRB, NEK7 and ACVR2B, which relate to dopaminergic and other monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems, neuroimmunomodulation, neuroinflammation and GABA-ergic neurotransmission. These findings provide insights into the molecular underpinning of divergent coping behavior and associated haplotypes in limbic forebrain system in pig.

SAT-362 Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Dysregulation Alters Central and Peripheral Adaptation to Repeated Stress Exposure in Mice

Aims: The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is the key neuroendocrine mediator of the stress response and controls many aspects of physiology and behavior. We previously showed that experimentally disrupting normal HPA function in mice led to altered neural and behavioral responses to acute stress. When exposed to prolonged or repeated stress, organisms undergo adaptation in many processes of metabolism, endocrine function, and behavior. Further, many of these processes are thought to be driven by HPA secreted hormones. In this study, we aimed to test this hypothesis by disrupting normal HPA axis function and measuring metabolic, endocrine, and neural outcomes following repeated stress exposure. Methods: HPA axis function in male C57BL/6 mice was disrupted via noninvasive, oral corticosterone administration, which we have shown blunts hormonal and behavioral stress responses. Mice were then exposed to repeated immobilization stress (2h/d for 14d), during which time body weight was measured to assess metabolic adaptation to stress. Mice were euthanized and adipose tissue, adrenal glands, blood, and brain were collected for analysis. We evaluated the effects of HPA disruption on mass of white adipose tissue and adrenal glands, and determined plasma corticosterone concentrations as a measure of endocrine adaptation to stress. Using RTqPCR we investigated the effects of HPA disruption on the expression of genes related to synaptic excitability in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region known to regulate behavioral and emotional responses to stress. Results: Repeated stress led to body weight loss in all mice, however body weight loss was exaggerated by HPA disruption, suggesting increased sensitivity to stress. Additionally, this decrease in body weight could not be accounted for by decreased white adipose mass alone, suggesting effects on other tissues caused by HPA disruption. Repeated stress increased adrenal weight similarly in all mice, but only elevated levels of plasma corticosterone in Control mice, demonstrating altered endocrine adaptation to stress after HPA disruption. Finally, we observed increased gene expression of the astrocytic glutamate exchanger xCT in the mPFC following repeated stress only in HPA disrupted mice, suggesting that HPA disruption affects processes of neural adaptation. Conclusions: HPA axis disruption increased sensitivity to metabolic outcomes of repeated stress exposure and altered endocrine stress adaptation. Additionally, effects on mPFC gene expression suggest altered neural adaptation to stress. These results support the hypothesis that an intact HPA axis is crucial in mediating adaptive responses to stress, and that dysfunction of this system may be linked to negative health outcomes of stress exposure. Sources of Research Support: NSF 1553067 and NIA R21AG050054 to INK.