Levels Of Exploratory Behavior Research Articles

Effect of Subchronic Alcoholization on the Behavior and Monoaminergic Systems of the Brain of Mice with a Predisposition to Depression-Like Behavior

Depressive disorders and alcohol dependence are among the most common psychopathologies. It is known that disorders in the serotonergic and dopaminergic brain systems functioning lie in the pathogenesis of alcoholism and affective disorders. In this work, we studied the effects of prolonged administration of ethanol (1.5 g/kg, 20%, 10 days, i.p.) on behavior, functional activity of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors and expression of genes encoding serotonin (Htr1a, Htr2a) and dopamine (Drd1, Drd2) receptors in brain structures in mice of ASC strain (with the genetic predisposition to depressive-like behavior) and mice of the parental (“non-depressive”) CBA strain. It has been shown that alcoholization leads to an increase in motor activity in animals of both lines and an increase in the level of exploratory behavior in ASC mice. No significant effect of ethanol on social and depression-like behavior was found. The functional activities of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors (determined by the response to the administration of corresponding receptor agonists) were reduced by ethanol only in ASC animals. A decrease in 5-HT2A receptor gene expression was found in the frontal cortex of CBA mice treated with alcohol. At the same time, ethanol led to an increase in the mRNA levels of the 5-HT1A receptor gene in the striatum and the DRD1 receptor gene in the hypothalamus, as well as a decrease in the expression of the DRD2 receptor gene in the hippocampus of ASC mice. Thus, changes in the serotonergic and dopaminergic brain systems induced by chronic ethanol were more significant in ASC mice with a genetic predisposition to depression-like behavior.

Effects of bisphenol S, a major substitute of bisphenol A, on neurobehavioral responses and cerebral monocarboxylate transporters expression in mice

Bisphenol A has been restricted in a large variety of products. Bisphenol S (BPS) is its major substitute. Yet, the impacts of BPS on the central nervous system are unknown, especially in vulnerable populations like children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BPS on behavioral performances and the expression of cerebral monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). Male Swiss mice were exposed to BPS at 100 μg/kg in drinking water for 10 weeks. The protocol started after the lactation period, which is a sensitive period of early social-emotional development. Elevated T-maze and open field tests were used to measure respectively, anxiety-related and activity-related behaviors. Molecular expressions of MCTs isoforms (MCT1, MCT2, MCT4) were determined in the frontal cortex. Data showed that BPS does not affect mRNA expression of MCTs. However, BPS decreases the number of entries into the open arms and the time spent on them for BPS-treated mice. These data reveal an anxiogenic effect of BPS. For locomotor activity and exploratory behavior levels, differences did not reach a statistically significant level in the BPS-exposed group. The effect of BPS on behavioral performances unravels a putative risk for psychopathology development in early childhood and calls for more attention.

Exploratory wine consumer behavior in a transitional market: The case of Poland

This paper investigates exploratory behavior among wine consumers in Poland where the country's wine culture is in a state of rapid change. This study investigates the extent to which demographics, values, and wine preferences relate to exploratory behavior.Data obtained from 198 Polish wine consumers was used in the analysis. Exploratory behavior was measured using the VARSEEK scale adapted to wine. Other measures included the Schwartz Value Inventory, wine knowledge and involvement, and measures relevant for wine purchasing behavior. Demographic variables were also used to profile consumers.The findings show that Polish wine consumers’ level of exploratory behavior is not related to demographics, but is influenced by personal values. The consumers who were most likely to engage in exploratory behavior valued creativity, fun, and risk taking and were less concerned about behaving properly. They also had more global outlook as they were more likely to purchase wine in other countries and desired more wines from regions outside Poland.The findings are useful for wine marketers when developing strategies for wine consumers in transitional markets based on their unique needs and expectations.This is the first known research conducted in Poland focusing on wine consumers’ exploratory behavior and subsequent wine preferences.

EFFECT OF IMMUNE CELLS ON THE BEHAVIORAL ACTIVITY LEVEL OF MICE (СВАхC57BI/6)F1 DURING ONTOGENESIS

The features of forming of the orientation and exploratory behavior level (OEB) was established on sexually immature animals – mice (CBAxC57/Bl)F1, which underwent triple transplantation of splenocytes from adult syngeneic animals with a certain level of OEB during ontogenesis. Obtained data testifies an increase the part of passive animals in recipients group receiving splenocytes from low-level in behavior donors and an increase the part of animals with average level of OEB in recipients group receiving cells from donors with high OEB level and immature control group. The associations of recipients behavioral activity level with structural and functional features of donor cells was revealed: a relative increase in the OEB level under splenocytes transfer from donors with activated monocyte-macrophage link of immune system and a supression of OEB – from donors with activated T-cells.

Behavior of rat neonates with inherited stress induced arterial hypertension

The hypertensive status of the mother can affect the behavioral traits of its offspring in early ontogeny. Rats with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH) exhibit a delay in locomotor activity development as compared with WAG rats during the first week of life, but they show a higher locomotor activity in the open field test during the second week of development. Using the method of principal components, a higher level of exploratory behavior and a higher adaptability of ISIAH rat neonates as compared to WAG neonates were shown in the third week of postnatal development. Vibrissa growth and hair coat formation did not differ between the strains by the end of the second week.

Locomotor play of veal calves in an arena: Are effects of feed level and spatial restriction mediated by responses to novelty?

When calves are placed in an open arena, they perform locomotor play, which provides a time-efficient means of assessing playfulness. To use this as a method of assessing welfare, we need to relate playfulness to other welfare indicators and understand what factors influence results. The novelty of the arena, the ages of the calves, and the size of the enclosure relative to the calf's home pen can have important effects. We placed veal calves for 15min in a novel (11m×3.2m) arena and measured the frequency of jumping and the duration of running. To determine whether fearfulness or exploratory behaviour mediates changes in locomotor play, we measured vocalization, defecation, sniffing and latency to enter the arena. In exp. 1, 24 calves were assigned to two feed levels. At about 6 weeks of age, calves on the high feed level did less jumping and running (P<0.05) but there were no differences in sniffing, defecating or latency to enter the arena. Sniffing was correlated (P<0.05) with both jumping (r=0.46) and running (r=0.56) while the latency to enter the arena was negatively correlated (P<0.05) with jumping (r=−0.64) and running (r=−0.58). Defecation was not correlated with either running or jumping. There were no effects of feed level at week 10. In exp. 2, 48 calves were housed either in pens (2.1×1.8m) or in stalls (0.65×1.8m) to examine the effects of spatial restriction. When released into the arena, calves in stalls did more running and jumping than those in pens (P<0.05) with no differences in sniffing, defecating or mooing. When calves in stalls were placed in a pen for 15min before being placed in the arena, there was a reduction in running and jumping which resulted in calves in stalls running less than calves in pens (P<0.05). Running and jumping increased with age, and this was associated with increased sniffing. The effect of novelty and age on locomotor play is mediated by the calves’ levels of exploratory behaviour, with calves that show more exploration doing more play. Among younger calves, fear tends to reduce playfulness, but the effects are not strong. Spatial restriction in the home pen results in a rebound in locomotor play in the arena, which is not related to exploration or fearfulness.

Maternal Immune Challenge During Early Embryo Development Affects Blastocyst Cell Lineage Ratio and Postnatal Phenotype.

Maternal infection during gestation is an established cause of abortion, premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction. In addition, there is a strong association between activation of the maternal immune response during mid-gestation and neurological abnormalities in the offspring. At present little is known about the consequences of maternal immune activation during early gestation. The preimplantation embryo has been identified as a critical developmental stage during which environment can program changes to postnatal phenotype. Here, we investigated the sensitivity of preimplantation mouse embryos to maternal immune challenge in the short- and long-term. Virgin female MF-1 mice were mated and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups; control (saline only), 10, 50 or 150µg/kg of bodyweight lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Salmonella enterica enteritidis ). On gestational day 0.5 (GD0.5), successfully mated females were injected intraperitoneally with saline or LPS dose. Mice were either culled at GD3.5 to assess short-term consequences in blastocysts or allowed to go to term to investigate potential long-term changes in offspring body mass, behaviour and systolic blood pressure (SBP). All postnatal data were analysed using a multilevel random effects regression model (SPSS) which takes into account the hierarchical nature of the dataset. Blastocysts were differentially labelled to assess inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers. Blastocysts from 10µg/kg LPS mothers had more TE cells than those from control mothers (p<0.05). Blastocysts from 50 and 150µg/kg LPS mothers had fewer ICM cells than blastocysts from control mothers (p<0.05). These effects lead to a reduced ICM:TE cell ratio at each LPS dose compared with control (p<0.05). At birth, pups were weighed and litter size adjusted to 3 males and 3 females where possible. Offspring were weighed weekly thereafter and underwent a series of behavioural tests and SBP measurements (tail cuff) until 30 weeks of age. No difference in gestation length or male:female offspring ratio was observed between treatment groups. Interestingly, 10µg/kg LPS mothers had larger litters than control mothers (p<0.01). Body weight was not different between treatment groups at any time point. In the open field behavioural test, both male and female offspring from LPS treated mothers displayed reduced levels of exploratory behaviour compared with controls. For example, male offspring from 150µg/kg LPS mothers displayed fewer rears and jumps than control males at 20 weeks (p<0.05). Furthermore, males from 10µg/kg LPS mothers had elevated SBP at 28 weeks (p<0.05), but females showed no difference in SBP at any time point. These data indicate the sensitivity of the preimplantation mouse embryo to maternal immune activation in vivo leading to altered blastocyst cell allocation, increased litter size (in the lowest dose LPS treatment group) and altered developmental potential; including abnormal behaviour and elevated blood pressure in adult life (also in the lowest dose LPS treatment group). This work serves to highlight maternal immune activation during preimplantation developmentas an important route by which adverse changes in postnatal phenotype can potentially arise; and emphasises the importance of further study into this emerging area of research. This research is funded by a BBSRC studentship (to CLW) and by NIH and MRC grants (to TPF).

Associations between behavior, hormones, and Fos responses to novelty differ in pre- and post-pubertal grass rats

As animals progress from one developmental stage to the next, the nature of the challenges they face can change in systematic ways, as do the mechanisms that enable them to deal effectively with them. Here we examined the changes in the behavioral patterns and neuroendocrine mechanisms associated with exposure to a novel environment before and after the transition from a pre- to a post-pubertal stage of development in the unstriped Nile grass rat ( Arvicanthis niloticus), a murid rodent that appears to live in family groups in the wild. We introduced juvenile (28 days old) and adult (60 days old) grass rats to a novel glass aquarium where they were kept for 1 h; controls were maintained in their home cages during this time. Animals were then killed, blood was sampled, and plasma corticosterone and testosterone were measured. Brains were collected and processed for immunohistochemical detection of Fos. Although behavior in the novel environment did not differ as a function of age, corticosterone secretion and Fos expression in a variety of stress-related brain regions were increased by the manipulation to a greater extent in the juveniles compared to the adults. The data suggest a pattern of development in which a novel environment that elicits the same levels of exploratory behaviors in young and adult animals triggers a greater response in stress-related brain regions as well as corticosterone secretion in the more vulnerable young ones.

A Theoretical Approach to the Treatment of Work Difficulties in Borderline Personalities

This paper reviews the psychodynamic basis of borderline personality disorder with special reference to work difficulties. The model of human occupation is reviewed, and its use as a theoretical framework model for a formulation of borderline occupational functioning is proposed. A hypothetical model is conceptualized and the expected deficits in the volitional, habituation, and performance subsystems described. The primary occupational dysfunction of the borderline patient is shown to occur at the level of exploratory behavior, or play, and to manifest itself in the inability to perform autonomous adult roles. A treatment approach derived from this formulation is delineated, emphasizing the need for a context of exploration and curiosity. A specific treatment program is described and the therapeutic change process is illustrated through clinical case examples.