Grooming Behavior Research Articles

Temporal alterations of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and its receptors in a rat model induced by recurrent chemical stimulations: Relevant to chronic migraine.

Background: Migraine is a common type of primary headache with disabling brain dysfunction. It has been found that pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is involved in the pathogenesis of migraine, however, the role of PACAP and its receptors in chronic migraine remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the changes of PACAP and its receptors in different duration after recurrent dural inflammation soup stimulations and to investigate the co-expression between PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Methods: Adult male rats were implanted with cannula surrounding superior sagittal sinus, which was followed by dural infusion of inflammatory soup (IS) or normal saline (NS). The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 for each group): IS stimulation for seven days (IS-7 group), IS stimulation for 14days (IS-14 group), IS stimulation for 21days (IS-21 group), and NS control for 21days (CON group). The facial mechanical withdrawal threshold was daily measured during the whole experiment. The behavioral changes (ipsilateral and bilateral face grooming behavior) in a plastic cage of rats were observed and recorded. The expression of PACAP, its receptors (PAC1, VPAC1, VPAC2), and CGRP in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) and the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) was examined by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence was used to explore the co-expression of PACAP, PAC1 receptor, and CGRP after repeated IS administration in the TG. Results: The ipsilateral facial grooming time of IS-21 group displayed an apparent increase than CON group after repeated stimulation on day 2, while significant differences were observed on day 14. No differences were found between the IS-21 and CON group in bilateral facial grooming. Dural IS stimulation induced a significantly decrease in facial mechanical withdrawal thresholds. PACAP positive cells in the regions of TNC were gradually decreased with the IS days increasing. PACAP and PAC1 receptor expression in the TG had a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. There was no significant difference in expression of VPAC1 and VPAC2 in the TG and the TNC. Immunofluorescence showed that PACAP was mainly expressed in TG neurons. PACAP and PAC1 receptor co-expression decreased gradually after repetitive IS stimulation. While the co-expression between PACAP and CGRP reached the peak in IS-7 group after repetitive IS stimulation, and then decreased. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that repetitive chemical stimulations induced a gradual decrease of PACAP in the TNC, while the PACAP and PAC1 receptor expression in TG showed dynamical changes of increasing first and then decreasing after repeated IS administration. These results suggested exhaustion of PACAP could be involved in the duration of chronic migraine and implied PACAP may contribute to the pathology of migraine through the PAC1 receptor, which was associated with CGRP.

Child Sexual Grooming of Catholic Clergy: A Comparison between Victims Allegedly Abused by Clergy with Single versus Multiple Victims

ABSTRACT There is evidence that clergy who commit child sexual abuse (CSA) may utilize sexual grooming behaviors in the offense process consistent with a content-validated model (Sexual Grooming Model; SGM). Although research has examined differences in characteristics between clergy with single versus multiple CSA victims, little is known about how sexual grooming behaviors may vary between these groups. The present study utilized a large sample of alleged clergy sexual abuse incidents (n = 10,667) to examine the differences in reported sexual grooming behaviors for victims who experienced abuse by an individual who had a single (V-SVOs) or multiple (V-MVOs) victims. As part of a larger study, files of victim reports of CSA were reviewed from 195 dioceses/eparchies and 140 religious institutes in the United States; these data were analyzed based on behaviors in the SGM for the present study. Overall, the findings showed that the two groups (V-SVOs and V-MVOs) experienced similar tactics throughout the sexual grooming process outlined by the SGM. However, there were some differences for certain tactics within the gaining access and isolation, trust development, and desensitization to sexual contact and physical touch stages of sexual grooming. The implications for prevention, policy, and treatment, as well as future directions of research, are discussed.

Relationships between hygienic and grooming behaviour in Yıgılca Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Ecotype

The aim of the study to investigate the relationships between hygienic (HB) and grooming (GB) behaviours on Yığılca honey bee colonies which is known to have rapid colonial development before main nectar flow and mid-range resistance to Varroa destructor. The hygienic behaviour of colonies was initially evaluated with a well-tested assay utilizing pin-killed brood. Subsequently, grooming behaviour was evaluated using the natural fall of Varroa mites. It was observed, negative and positive linear correlations emerged subsequently from early spring to end of the summer. Results of the experiments showed that the correlations occur depend on seasonal periods. This is the first study in which HB and GB were evaluated for Anatolian honey bee.

Pengamatan Perilaku Grooming pada Monyet Ekor Panjang (Macaca fascicularis) di Taman Wisata Tlogo Putri Kaliurang dan Kaitannya dengan Isu Eksploitasi

Long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) are primate animals that carry out social interactions with other individuals in their group. One of the social behaviors carried out by long-tailed monkeys is grooming or probing. There are two types of long-tailed monkey grooming behavior, namely auto-grooming and allo-grooming which can be influenced by their habitat. This study aims to determine the pattern of grooming behavior of long-tailed monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in the Tlogo Putri Kaliurang nature tourism area and its relation to the issue of exploitation. The method used in this study is the ad libitum method and behavior sampling which was carried out in 2022 November in the morning at 08.00-10.00 WIB. The results showed that the frequency of grooming on Macaca fascicularis was more allogrooming than autogrooming, the duration of grooming was higher in allogrooming, grooming hours in the morning started from 08.00 to 10.00, the majority of grooming was done by parent to child, and female to male, as well as grooming behavior strongly influenced by the presence of humans. It is hoped that this research will determine the grooming behavior of Macaca fascicularis and determine the relationship between grooming behavior and other daily behavior and exploitation issues, so that it can support the success of conservation activities.

Sex differences in depression-like behaviours in young adult Swiss mice subjected to the sucrose splash test

Background: Although animal models are powerful tools for understanding the mechanism of depression, there are limitations that make it difficult to translate the results obtained in preclinical studies. Methods: Male and female mice (n = 12/group) were submitted to the forced swimming and splash tests. Results: There was no difference between the immobility time of females and male animals in the forced swimming test. In the splash test, females showed lower latency for the first grooming behaviour and lower grooming time when compared to male animals. Conclusions: The findings indicate that male and female Swiss mice may exhibit different behaviours in experi- mental models of depression. However, due to the variation in protocols between laboratories, the results cannot be considered conclusive.

Preference of Escaped Mice for Live Capture or Glue Traps and Relevance to Pest Control Programs.

Insects are potential disease vectors for research animals. Therefore, implementing an effective pest control program is an essential component of any animal care and use program. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals emphasizes the humane use of traps; however, insect traps commonly use glue that can entrap escaped research mice, leading to their potential distress and injury. This situation is challenging for research facilities attempting to identify insect populations. In an effort to improve pest control in animal facilities, we sought to characterize the behavioral interactions of mice with common vermin traps. Three experiments using different combinations of traps (glue trap, live mouse trap with a clear viewing window, and live mouse trap with a red-tinted viewing window) were used in multiple behavioral testing arenas to address these questions. Experiments 1 and 2 were performed in a small arena, and Experiment 3 was performed in a simulated mouse housing room. Dependent measures included exploration of the test environment, grooming behavior, time spent near each trap, and latency to capture. Results indicate that mice were captured significantly more quickly by live traps than by glue traps, and were far more likely to enter a live trap as compared with a glue trap. Mice did not appear to differentiate between clear or red-tinted window live traps. Taken together, the results indicate that deploying both a live trap and a glue trap will allow humane capture of escaped mice yet will also capture insects in the same environment.

Administration of Stephania tetrandra to Drosophila melanogaster to create obsessive compulsive disorder model

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric condition that affects 2-3% of the world population, with more research needed to better understand its mechanisms. Theories positing the involvement of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate in OCD have gained traction, however no specific cause has been identified. There are currently no research models of OCD in invertebrates, and existing vertebrate models fail to accurately model the disorder. Often, these existing models exhibit abnormal behaviors not associated with OCD, or do not respond appropriately to OCD treatments. The current study aimed to create a model of OCD in Drosophila melanogaster through administration of Stephania tetrandra extract. S. tetrandra extract is a plant extract with antiserotonergic and antidopaminergic properties similar to those of second-generation antipsychotics, a class of drugs that can induce obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS). We hypothesized that flies administered the extract would display more OCS than control flies. We determined the highest non-lethal dose of S. tetrandra in Drosophila and administered it in two assays for OCS: a locomotion assay that measured movement as a metric of anxiety, and a grooming assay that quantified repetitive grooming behavior. These two assays were selected because OCD is characterized by repetitive behaviors and anxiety. Administration of the S. tetrandra extract significantly increased both anxiety and repetitive behavior, suggesting that flies administered the extract had increased OCS and that S. tetrandra treatment could serve as a potential model of OCD in Drosophila.

Effects of PAR2 Gene Knockout on Visceral Sensitivity, Stress Behaviors, and Colonic Electrical Activities in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could seriously affect the patient's health quality by its recurrence. There is a great medical and social need to explore the mechanisms and new treatment strategies of IBS. To explore the influence of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) gene knockout on IBS visceral sensitivity, stress behaviors, and colonic electrical activities. The PAR2 gene knockout and IBS model rats were generated and divided into PAR2+/+ wild control (WC) group, PAR2+/+ wild IBS model (WM) group, PAR2-/- knockout control (KC) group and PAR2-/- knockout IBS model (KM) group. The stress behaviors scores, minimum rectal fluid injection capacity threshold value of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) = 3, and the colonic electrical activities indexes were recorded and the experimental results were analyzed statistically. (1) PAR2 gene deletion and IBS models were successfully generated. (2) The scores of aggressive and exploratory behaviors in WM and KM groups were higher than WC and KC groups (p < 0.05). The grooming behavior scores in WC and KC groups were higher than the WM and KM groups (p < 0.05). WM group had the highest aggressive and exploratory behavior scores; WC group had the highest grooming behavior scores. (3) The minimum rectal fluid injection capacity threshold value of AWR = 3 in WM and KM groups were lower than WC and KC groups (p < 0.05); WM group had the lowest value. (4) The maximum amplitude and wave frequency of colonic fast and slow waves in WM and WC groups were greater than in the KM and KC groups, respectively (p < 0.05). The amplitude index and number of colonic contraction waves in WM and KM groups were greater than the WC and KC groups (p < 0.05). Colonic electrical activity indexes were highest in the WM group. The PAR2 gene deletion could have a beneficial effect on visceral sensitivity, stress behaviors and colonic electrical activities in rats with IBS.

Toe-biting in captive Pogona vitticeps

In this note, we describe the rare behaviour of toe-biting observed in captive Pogona vitticeps. This behaviour occurred in individually-housed lizards in both juveniles and adults, and in rare instances, resulted in the loss of several toes. Toe-biting was associated with loose substrates, hot substrates, and periods of ecdysis. In form, this behaviour is similar to grooming behaviours noted in other lizards. However, the function of toe-biting is difficult to discern, as it is not consistently related to any particular stimulus, occurs rarely and quickly, and occasionally resulted in significant injury. We therefore suggest that toe-biting may function to clean the back toes, but may also have no function or be caused by internal stressors.

Identification of red flag child sexual grooming behaviors

BackgroundSexual Grooming is the deceptive process wherein a would-be perpetrator prepares a child for sexual abuse (CSA) and prevents disclosure and detection. It is often difficult to detect sexual grooming because some grooming behaviors resemble normal adult-child interactions. To prevent CSA, it is vital to identify sexual grooming behaviors that can be considered “red flag” behaviors. ObjectiveThis study compared reported sexual grooming behaviors between adults who experienced CSA and those with no CSA history to identify which behaviors differed between the two groups. Further we explored whether the relationship to the adult male in the Non-CSA group impacted reported behaviors. Participants and settingParticipants were recruited online through Prolific and included adults who experienced CSA (n = 411) and those with no CSA history (n = 502). MethodsParticipants who reported CSA completed the Sexual Grooming Scale – Victim Version (SGS-V) about their CSA experience. Those with no CSA history were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (family member/non-family member/community member) and completed a modified version of the SGS-V about an adult male with whom they had the most interpersonal contact before age 18. ResultsNumerous sexual grooming behaviors that differentiated the behaviors of adults who engaged in CSA and those who did not were identified. The relationship to the adult was an important consideration. ConclusionsRed flag sexual grooming behaviors, specifically those related to desensitizing the child to physical contact and sexual content, can be identified in cases of CSA and have an important role in prevention.

Refining the reproducibility of a murine model of stress-induced reversible cardiomyopathy.

Despite the many advantages of isoproterenol (Iso)-induced models of cardiomyopathy, the extant literature suggests that the reproducibility of the Iso-induced stress cardiomyopathy phenotype varies considerably depending on the dose of Iso used, the mode of administration of Iso (subcutaneous vs. intraperitoneal), and the species of the animal that is being studied. Recently, we have shown that a single injection of Iso into female C57BL/6J mice provokes transient myocardial injury that is characterized by a brisk release of troponin I within 1 h, as well as a self-limited myocardial inflammatory response that is associated with increased myocardial tissue edema, inferoapical regional left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities, and a transient decrease in global LV function, which were completely recovered by day 7 after the Iso injection (i.e., stress-induced reversible cardiomyopathy). Here we expand upon this initial report in this model by demonstrating important sexually dimorphic differences in the response to Iso-induced tissue injury, the ensuing myocardial inflammatory response, and changes in LV structure and function. We also provide information with respect to enhancing the reproducibility in this model by optimizing animal welfare during the procedure. The acute Iso-induced myocardial injury model provides a low-cost, relatively high-throughput small-animal model that mimics human disease (e.g., Takotsubo cardiomyopathy). Given that the model can be performed in different genetic backgrounds, as well as different experimental conditions, the acute Iso injury model should provide the cardiovascular community with a valuable nonsurgical animal model for understanding the myocardial response to tissue injury.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study highlights the importance of sexual dimorphism with respect to isoproterenol injury, as well as the importance of animal handling and welfare to obtain reproducible results from investigator to investigator. Based on serial observations of animal recovery (locomotor activity and grooming behavior), troponin I release, and inflammation, we identified that the method used to restrain the mice for the intraperitoneal injection was the single greatest source of variability in this model.

Attitudes and practices associated with pubic hair grooming behaviours: A cross-sectional study.

Female pubic hair grooming (PHG) habits have changed in the last 20 years. Most studies present findings around female PHG attitudes, practices, and behaviours, lacking data on male attitudes and practices. We explored the attitudes and practices of PHG from male and female perspectives. A cross-sectional convenience survey was conducted online with 1560 male and female young adult participants aged 18 to 25 years. The study was conducted over two time periods (2014 and 2021). The survey explored attitudes, practices, and behaviours around PHG. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and proportions for categorical variables and the median for continuous variables. Males and females were compared using the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. We used logistic regression to explore independent factors of PHG. Seventy-two percent (n=471/728) of females and 64.7% (n=257/728) of males were likely to engage in PHG. Participants were more likely to groom their pubic hair for reasons associated with religion (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 9.01, 95% CI: 2.87-28.2), comfort when wearing clothing (aOR: 3.85, 95% CI: 1.52-9.71), a neater and cleaner genital appearance (aOR: 3.90, 95% CI: 1.62-9.41) and before attending a healthcare consultation (aOR: 4.79, 95% CI: 2.27-10.09). Moreover, twice as many females compared with male groomers reported watching pornography (69.7% vs 30.3%). Several factors can influence PHG. Our findings demonstrate that the reasons participants engage in PHG practices are for hygiene, aesthetics, comfort, and sexual satisfaction.

Spinophilin Limits Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Scaffolding to the Postsynaptic Density and Cell Type Specifically Mediates Excessive Grooming

BackgroundGrooming dysfunction is a hallmark of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder trichotillomania. Numerous preclinical studies have utilized SAPAP3-deficient mice for understanding the neurobiology of repetitive grooming, suggesting that excessive grooming is caused by increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) activity in striatal direct- and indirect-pathway medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, the MSN subtype–specific signaling mechanisms that mediate mGluR5-dependent adaptations underlying excessive grooming are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the MSN subtype–specific roles of the striatal signaling hub protein spinophilin in mediating repetitive motor dysfunction associated with mGluR5 function. MethodsQuantitative proteomics and immunoblotting were utilized to identify how spinophilin impacts mGluR5 phosphorylation and protein interaction changes. Plasticity and repetitive motor dysfunction associated with mGluR5 action were measured using our novel conditional spinophilin mouse model in which spinophilin was knocked out from striatal direct-pathway MSNs and/or indirect-pathway MSNs. ResultsLoss of spinophilin only in indirect-pathway MSNs decreased performance of a novel motor repertoire, but loss of spinophilin in either MSN subtype abrogated striatal plasticity associated with mGluR5 function and prevented excessive grooming caused by SAPAP3 knockout mice or treatment with the mGluR5-specific positive allosteric modulator VU0360172 without impacting locomotion-relevant behavior. Biochemically, we determined that the spinophilin-mGluR5 interaction correlates with grooming behavior and that loss of spinophilin shifts mGluR5 interactions from lipid raft–associated proteins toward postsynaptic density proteins implicated in psychiatric disorders. ConclusionsThese results identify spinophilin as a novel striatal signaling hub molecule in MSNs that cell subtype specifically mediates behavioral, functional, and molecular adaptations associated with repetitive motor dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.

Disruption of Astrocyte-Dependent Dopamine Control in the Developing Medial Prefrontal Cortex Leads to Excessive Grooming in Mice

BackgroundAstrocytes control synaptic activity by modulating perisynaptic concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters including dopamine (DA) and, as such, could be involved in the modulating aspects of mammalian behavior. MethodsWe produced a conditional deletion of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) specifically in astrocytes (aVMTA2cKO mice) and studied the effects of the lack of VMAT2 in prefrontal cortex (PFC) astrocytes on the regulation of DA levels, PFC circuit functions, and behavioral processes. ResultsWe found a significant reduction of medial PFC (mPFC) DA levels and excessive grooming and compulsive repetitive behaviors in aVMAT2cKO mice. The mice also developed a synaptic pathology, expressed through increased relative AMPA versus NMDA receptor currents in synapses of the dorsal striatum receiving inputs from the mPFC. Importantly, behavioral and synaptic phenotypes were rescued by re-expression of mPFC VMAT2 and L-DOPA treatment, showing that the deficits were driven by mPFC astrocytes that are critically involved in developmental DA homeostasis. By analyzing human tissue samples, we found that VMAT2 is expressed in human PFC astrocytes, corroborating the potential translational relevance of our observations in mice. ConclusionsOur study shows that impairment of the astrocytic control of DA in the mPFC leads to symptoms resembling obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders such as trichotillomania and has a profound impact on circuit function and behaviors.

Effects of water restriction and dirt on grooming behavior in neotropical rodents (Trinomys setosus and T. yonenagae) (Echimyidae)

Grooming in rodents presents an evolutionarily conserved behavioral pattern that may cause water loss since saliva is deposited during washing onto large body surfaces. Trinomys yonenagae and Trinomys setosus are sister species of spiny rats occurring in Brazil, the former inhabiting a paleodesert of fixed dunes in the Caatinga, the latter being found in mesic environments of the Atlantic Forest. Consequently, it is expected that both species evolved under different selective pressures related to water balance, with T. yonenagae presenting mechanisms for dealing with water deprivation not found in T. setosus. Reduction of self-cleaning expression seems to offer a possible way to save water, as previously suggested by studies of the sand-dwelling spiny rat. Therefore, we propose to investigate grooming under four conditions: 'control' (C), a regimen of 'water restriction' (WR), of 'dirt' (D), and the combination of both conflicting stimuli (WR + D), in T. setosus, T. yonenagae, and Rattus norvegicus to compare the behavioral responses of these species. The main differences are observed in the forest dweller: T. setosus expresses a low relative duration of face washing under C, whose value is intermediate between the ones found in the two other species. WR treatment does not alter this pattern, however, the addition of dirt (D, WR + D) significantly increases the relative duration of washing in relation to C. Locomotor activity is decreased both in T. setosus and Wistar rats when they are under WR, a situation that could jeopardize antipredatory performance. T. yonenagae, the sand dweller, maintains a significantly lower expression of washing under C, as previously suggested, and under WR, D and WR + D. In addition, differently from the other two species the sand dweller maintains a normal activity level during all treatments. This study suggests differences in grooming as a strategy alluding to water balance by the two spiny rats inhabiting different ecosystems. A significantly clear pattern that saves water is observed in T. yonenagae, which probably has contributed to his evolution in one of the hottest semiarid areas of the world.

Detecting Grooming Behaviors in Same-Sex versus Opposite-Sex Child Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a prevalent concern that often leads to severe, life-long consequences. Grooming is an early indicator of CSA, and it is imperative to be able to recognize these behaviors in adult-child relationships to prevent abuse from occurring. Research on CSA and grooming has primarily focused on opposite-sex (male adult and female child) abuse while little research has focused on same-sex (male adult and male child) abuse. The current study examined how the sex of the adult-child pair might impact the identification of grooming behaviors. Participants in this study were presented with a series of vignettes depicting grooming and non-grooming behaviors in either same-sex or opposite-sex adult-child pairs. Participants were more likely to label the behaviors presented as grooming when shown situations involving an opposite-sex adult-child pair as opposed to a same-sex adult-child pair.

Midbrain dopamine neurons arbiter OCD-like behavior

The neurobiological understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes dysregulated frontostriatal circuitry and altered monoamine transmission. Repetitive stereotyped behavior (e.g., grooming), a featured symptom in OCD, has been proposed to be associated with perturbed dopamine (DA) signaling. However, the precise brain circuits participating in DA's control over this behavioral phenotype remain elusive. Here, we identified that DA neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) orchestrate ventromedial striatum (VMS) microcircuits as well as lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) during self-grooming behavior. SNc-VMS and SNc-lOFC dopaminergic projections modulate grooming behaviors and striatal microcircuit function differentially. Specifically, the activity of the SNc-VMS pathway promotes grooming via D1 receptors, whereas the activity of the SNc-lOFC pathway suppresses grooming via D2 receptors. SNc DA neuron activity thus controls the OCD-like behaviors via both striatal and cortical projections as dual gating. These results support both pharmacological and brain-stimulation treatments for OCD.

Chronic mild stress induces differential depression-like symptoms and c-Fos and 5HT1A protein levels in high-anxiety female Long Evans rats

Depression and anxiety disorders overlap in clinical populations, suggesting common mechanisms that may be further investigated in reliable animal models. We used filial 8 female Long-Evans rats bred for high (HAn; n = 19) and low anxiety (LAn)-like behavior (n = 21) to assess forced swim test mobility strategies and chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like symptoms. We measured (1) weight, (2) fur piloerection, (3) sweet food consumption, (4) grooming behavior, and (5) circulating estradiol (E2). One month after CMS terminated and following a terminal forced swim test, brains were processed for immunohistochemistry targeting c-Fos and serotonin 1 A receptor (5-HT1AR) protein in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. HAn female rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior (i.e., lower open to closed arm ratios, increased closed arm entries), more swimming (i.e., mobility), and less floating (i.e., immobility) behavior in the forced swim test. Overall, HAn females weighed less than their LAn counterparts. After chronic mild stress, HAn lines displayed even greater mobility and consumed fewer Froot Loops™. Fur and grooming analyses indicated no significant differences in mean counts across experimental groups. One month after CMS, cycling E2 concentrations (pg/ml) did not differ between HAn and LAn animals. Elevated c-Fos and 5-HT1AR expression were observed in the PVN, where HAn CMS rats expressed the most c-Fos and 5-HT1AR immunoreactivity. In summary, outbred HAn rats show robust anxiety-like behavior, exhibit more mobility in the forced swim test, and are more sensitive to chronic mild stress-induced grooming and decline in palatable food ingestion.

Impact of Lidocaine on Pain-Related Grooming in Cuttlefish.

Nociception is the neural process of encoding noxious stimuli and is typically accompanied by a reflex withdrawal response away from the potentially injurious stimulus. Studies on nociception in cephalopods have so far focused on octopus and squid, with no investigations to our knowledge on cuttlefish. Yet, these are an important species both in scientific and commercial use. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that a standard pain stimulus, acetic acid, induced grooming behaviour directed towards the injection site in cuttlefish and that the injection of lidocaine reduces grooming behaviours in acetic-acid-injected cuttlefish. Wound-directed behaviour demonstrates that the animal is aware of the damage; thus, when subjecting these animals to any painful treatments in the laboratory, researchers should consider alleviating pain by the administration of pain-relieving drugs.

Age-performance and intensity of grooming behavior toward Varroa destructor in resistant and susceptible Apis mellifera colonies

Age-performance and intensity of grooming behavior toward Varroa destructor in resistant and susceptible Apis mellifera colonies