Social Behavior In Rats Research Articles

Distinct effects of d-amphetamine and phencyclidine on the social behaviour of rats

d-Amphetamine and phencyclidine (PCP) can induce a model psychosis in humans that resembles schizophrenia. Both drugs reproduce the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but apparently only PCP mimics the negative symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacological profiles of d-amphetamine and PCP in the social interaction test, and to determine if they have disruptive effects on social behaviour in rats that may be comparable to the social isolation characteristic of negative symptoms. Acute and subchronic (daily for 5 days) administration of d-amphetamine (0.7-22µmol/kg) produced stereotyped behaviour at dosages of 10.4µmol/kg and upwards without any consistent effects on social behaviour. In contrast, acute and subchronic PCP (0.9-29µmol/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in stereotyped behaviour and ataxia as well as dose-dependent reductions in the social behaviour at dosages of 3.6µmol/kg and upwards. Thus, d-amphetamine and PCP had distinct effects on the social behaviour of rats. Both drugs produced stereotyped behaviour and locomotor hyperactivity, but only PCP dose-dependently disrupted social behaviour. This raises the possibility that PCP-induced social isolation in rats corresponds to the social isolation reported in humans under the influence of PCP, and that it can be used as an animal model of negative symptoms.

The effects of haloperidol and clozapine on PCP- and amphetamine-induced suppression of social behavior in the rat

Previous work has shown that phenycyclidine (PCP) and amphetamine decrease social behavior in rats. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of the dopamine antagonists clozapine and haloperidol on PCP- and amphetamine-induced changes in rat social behavior. An intruder paradigm was used, in which rats were injected with drug and placed into a stable home colony of three other rats. Social behaviors were recorded for 30 min. Both amphetamine (4.0 mg/kg) and PCP (4.0 mg/kg) substantially reduced social behavior. Haloperidol and clozapine did not produce a general reversal of the effects of amphetamine or PCP on the total number of social behaviors. Nevertheless, 0.025 mg/kg haloperidol did reverse the effects of PCP and amphetamine on some of the specific social behaviors observed (side threats, mounting, crawling under). Clozapine had no effect on reversing the actions of amphetamine on social behavior, but 2.0 mg/kg clozapine did reverse the effect of PCP on side threats and mounting. These results indicate that DA antagonists do not restore normal social behavior in animals treated with PCP or amphetamine, but can reverse some of the effects of PCP or amphetamine on specific social behaviors.

Acute and chronic antidepressant drug treatments induce opposite effects in the social behaviour of rats

Clinical studies indicate that the behavioural responses/reactions of depressed patients to environmental and social stimulation are modified during remission from depressive illness, and require continuous (at least 3 weeks) drug treatment. In order to determine whether antidepressant drugs modify the behavioural patterns of experimental animals in ways that may be related to their ability to modify human reactive behaviour, we have examined the effects of acute and chronic treatment with clomipramine, fluoxetine, iprindole, mianserin and phenelzine (antidepressants with markedly different acute pharmacology) on the behaviour exhibited by rats during social interaction (SI). Acute treatment of short-term isolated resident rats with non-sedative doses of each antidepressant drug selectively and dose-relatedly reduced aggressive behaviour exhibited during SI. Conversely, haloperidol (antipsychotic) or diazepam (anxiolytic) only reduced aggressive behaviour at sedative doses. In comparison, following chronic treatment, all antidepressants examined, but not haloperidol or diazepam, increased aggressive behaviour exhibited by resident rats during SI which returned to the pre-treatment level by 7 or (after phenelzine) 14 days after the cessation of treatment. It is concluded that the antidepressants examined induce selective, diametrically opposite effects on rodent aggressive behaviour following acute and chronic treatment which is indicative of antidepressant efficacy. Furthermore, it is argued that the increased aggressive behaviour following chronic antidepressant drug treatment may indicate a disinhibition of social behaviour in the rat that mirrors the externalization of emotions associated with the remission of depressive illness.

Behavioural effects of deltorphins in rats

When given i.c.v. in rats deltorphins induced a syndrome of behavioural stimulation consisting of increased locomotion rearing and sniffing. The increased locomotor activity and rearing were dose-related over the range of 0.13 to 3.8 nmol/rat for [D-Ala 2]deltorphin II (DADELT II) and 1.04 to 20.8 nmol/rat for deltorphin. The δ-selective antagonist, naltrindole (10 mg/kg i.p.), completely abolished the behavioural stimulation induced by 1.3 nmol/rat of DADELT II and shifted the dose-response curve to the right, without decreasing the maximum effect. The μ-preferring antagonist, naloxone, was able to antagonize the DADELT II-induced locomotor activity but only at very high doses (10 and 20 mg/kg i.p.). The i.v. administration of a large dose (10 mg/kg) of the μ 1-selective antagonist, naloxonazine, did not affect the DADELT II response. At doses up to 38 nmol/rat, the i.c.v. injection of DADELT II never induced analgesia. At doses over 20.8 nmol/rat, deltorphin always induced spontaneous controlateral barrel rotations and circling, responses which were not blocked by prior administration of naloxone or haloperidol. In studies performed on the social behaviour of rats, i.c.v. administration of 0.38 nmol/rat of DADELT II was ineffective, while 1.3 nmol/rat increased the number of social contacts. Regression analysis showed that the increase in social contacts was a primary effect of the peptide, not correlated with the increased locomotor activity.

Effects of isolated housing and chronic antidepressant treatment on cooperative social behaviour in rats

Effects of isolated housing and chronic antidepressant treatment on cooperative social behaviour in rats

Effects of isolated housing and chronic antidepressant treatment on cooperative social behaviour in rats.

Pair-housed, water-deprived rats were trained to run in a two-way shuttle box, using water reinforcement. Animals were tested either singly or in pairs; in the paired condition, the animals were required to shuttle in close physical proximity. Paired performance, but not single performance was severely disrupted by single housing for 3-7 weeks. Performance of singly-housed animals could be restored either by re-housing in pairs (30 days) or by chronic (30 day) treatment with the antidepressants imipramine or fluoxetine. Chronic imipramine was also prophylactically active in preventing the deterioration in performance of singly-housed animals. The superior paired performance of pair-housed animals and of imipramine-treated singly-housed animals, was abolished by the 5-HT antagonist metergoline. Metergoline had relatively little effect on single running: the DA antagonist pimozide disrupted paired and single running equally. The results suggest a role for 5-HT in cooperative performance and in the action of antidepressant drugs in this paradigm.

Olfactory discrimination of individual littermates in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Adult male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were trained in a Y-maze to discriminate the presence of a littermate from its absence. Transfer of training in subsequent tests indicated that (a) the animals were capable of distinguishing among individuals when relatedness and familiarity were held constant, (b) this ability was not due to training, and (c) their performance was based solely on odor cues. The results are discussed in relation to social behavior in rats.

Open-field social behavior in rats as a function of septal lesions in infancy and group versus isolated rearing conditions

Normal rat pups and pups with septal lesions produced at 7 days of age were reared after weaning under group and isolated housing conditions. Contact time between pairs of animals in the open field was observed at 90-110 days of age. Gregariousness was increased by both septal lesion treatment and isolated rearing conditions. The housing condition variable accounted for a greater proportion of treatment variance than did the lesion variable. These results stress the importance of housing conditions as a confounding variable in studies of recovery from infant brain damage.

Normalizing effect of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (4-9) analog ORG 2766 on disturbed social behavior in rats.

Short-term isolation increased the frequency of social interactions in rats tested in pairs, while pairs of rats placed in an unfamiliar test cage and subjected to a high level of illumination spent less time in active social contact. These changes in social behavior elicited by environmental manipulations were counteracted by treatment with the adrenocorticotropic hormone (4-9) analog ORG 2766. The peptide's normalizing effect may be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

Changes in social behaviour of rats following chronic treatment with γ-endorphin antiserum injected into the nucleus accumbens

Treatment with γ-endorphin antiserum twice daily for 12 days, by injection into the nucleus accumbens did not change the basal level of social activity or explorative behaviour when pairs of rats were tested in a social interaction test. The decrease in social interactions due to increased light level as observed in placebo-treated rats, was not present in animals treated with γ-endorphin antiserum. Significantly more freezing and fly-responses were observed in the rats treated with antiserum, as reactions to penetrating sound stimuli. These changed responses to light and sound stimuli persisted for at least 3 days following discontinuation of treatment. It is concluded that treatment with γ-endorphin antiserum, injected into the nucleus accumbens results in disturbances in the integration of environmental stimuli in social behaviour and in enhanced responsiveness to stressful stimuli. It is suggested that these effects may be related to increased dopaminergic transmission in some dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens, implicating these systems in the environmental control over social behaviour.

Social behaviour in rats and mice: An ethologically based model for differentiating psychoactive drugs

Aggressive BehaviorVolume 8, Issue 2 p. 163-168 Article Social behaviour in rats and mice: An ethologically based model for differentiating psychoactive drugs Berend Olivier, Berend Olivier Pharmacological Laboratory, Duphar B.V., 1380 AA Weesp, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorDicks van Dalen, Dicks van Dalen Pharmacological Laboratory, Duphar B.V., 1380 AA Weesp, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author Berend Olivier, Berend Olivier Pharmacological Laboratory, Duphar B.V., 1380 AA Weesp, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorDicks van Dalen, Dicks van Dalen Pharmacological Laboratory, Duphar B.V., 1380 AA Weesp, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1982 https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-2337(1982)8:2<163::AID-AB2480080219>3.0.CO;2-ACitations: 80AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume8, Issue21982Pages 163-168 RelatedInformation

Social behaviour of rats following pre- and early postnatal undernutrition

The social behaviour of adult male rats which had been undernourished at some stage before weaning was investigated. Litters were cross-fostered at birth between well fed and underfed dams. Thus, some were undernourished only during gestation, others only during the suckling period and others throughout both periods. After weaning all animals had free access to food and were grouped with two or three littermates. Each adult previously undernourished rat was allocated its own control partner which had been well fed throughout life. Four measures of social interaction were recorded during five 10 min tests. Postnatal undernutrition increased the frequency of allogroom and walk over and pre with postnatal undernutrition had a similar effect. Rearing and mount were unaffected by either treatment. Prenatally growth restricted rats did not differ from controls on any measure. Thus, adult social behaviour was more affected by the postnatal than by the prenatal experience. In another experiment smaller control rats were found not to differ in their social behaviour from larger control rats, indicating that size is not an important factor in these studies.

Frontolimbic lesions and social behavior in the rat

The social behavior of rats with chronic lesions to the medial frontal cortex, orbital frontal cortex, hippocampus, septum or amygdala was studied in four different situations: large open field, small open field, shock induced aggression and muricide. All lesions altered social behavior but the effects of the different lesions could be dissociated from one another. Lesions to the hippocampus dramatically reduced contact in open field tests and almost totally eliminated shock induced aggression. Lesions to the amygdala and septum also reduced the level of shock induced aggression but whereas amygdala lesions significantly decreased contact, septal lesions did not. Rats with lesions to the medial or orbital aspects of the prefrontal cortex differed from one another as the rats with orbital lesions exhibited consistently low contact scores and the rats with medial lesions did not, while both groups showed increased levels of shock induced aggression. None of the lesions significantly altered muricide.

Social behavior of rats with chronic prefrontal lesions.

Social behavior of rats with chronic prefrontal lesions.

Effect of protein-calorie malnutrition on the development of social behavior in rats.

AbstractThe effect of early protein‐calorie malnutrition on the development of social behavior was studied during the first weeks of postnatal life. Activity and social interaction were recorded in groups of young rats either in the rearing cage or in a novel enviornment. The malnourished group had a delayed development of social behavior and smaller number of social contacts in all tests. During the suckling period, the nutritionally deprived pups were also more dependent on the mother, showed no social grooming, but were also more aggressive. On the 49th day, the normal rats showed increased exploration of the social stimulus whereas the malnourished rats were markedly inhibited. Apparently, early nutritional deficiency altered the social structure of the litter and of all individuals from the beginning by disturbing behavior and interactions of all members of the “family”.

Social behaviour in rats during escape from shock.

Social behaviour in rats during escape from shock.

Alterations of social behavior in rats and hamsters following lesions of the septal forebrain

Septal lesions alter the nature of social behavior in rats and hamsters. Rats were hyperemotional and more gregarious (contact time) in the open field following septal lesions. Hamsters were neither hyperemotional nor more gregarious after septal lesions. A marked increase in number of aggressive encounters was observed between hamsters.

Partial Reinforcement of Social Behavior in Rats

The effects of partial reinforcement on a social response were studied in 2 groups of rats. One group was trained to follow other rats on a continuous schedule and the other on a partial (50%) schedule. Animals having partial reinforcement training performed at a higher level during extinction than those trained under continuous reinforcement. The results were interpreted as extending reinforcement schedule effects to animal social behavior.

Bizarre social behaviour in rats induced by a combination of a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor and DOPA

Male rats given a combination of the peripheral DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor Ro 4-4602 and DOPA, showed motor excitation as well as a peculiar and bizarre pattern of social behaviour. The central excitation and bizarre social interaction could be abolished or interrupted by low doses of the dopamine antagonist haloperidol. The possible role of brain dopamine in this social behaviour is discussed.

Dominance Behavior as a Function of Infantile Stimulation in the Rat

In recent years there have been an increasing number of investigations concerned with effects of early experience on behavior and development in rats and mice. The relevant literature has been reviewed by a number of investigators.^1,2,4,7,15A series of studies have been concerned with the effects of tactual stimulation in the form of handling or gentling administered either prior to or immediately following weaning of the organism. It has been shown that rats which are gentled or handled gain more weight,^13,17are less emotionally reactive to novel stimuli,^6,11,17show greater resistance to a variety of Stressor agents,^9,13,16and exhibit greater learning ability^3,8than nonhandled controls. However, there has been a paucity of research concerned with the relationship between tactual stimulation and social behavior in rats and mice. Levine¹¹has shown that mice which are handled daily during infancy are more aggressive than unhandled