Download or read book Sex Differences in Anxiety and Depressive Like Behaviors in Rats written by Nicole Carrier and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABSTRACT: Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common of all psychiatric disorders; however, current human and animal research has yet to provide a clear understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying their etiology. Demographic analyses illustrate not only the enormous prevalence and incidence of these affective disorders, but also the pervasive gender discrepancy seen worldwide in patients suffering from anxiety and depression. There are largely documented sex differences in mood disorders, where females are more than twice as likely as men to be afflicted with depression and anxiety. Overall, sexually dimorphic aspects of anxiety and depression are well documented but poorly understood, warranting additional research delving into the mechanisms behind these sex differences. Considerable sex differences occur in the incidence and prevalence of anxiety disorders where women are more anxious than men, particularly in situations where social interaction is required. In preclinical studies, the social interaction test represents a valid animal model to study sex differences in social anxiety. Indeed, female rats engage less in conspecific interactions than their male counterparts, which are behaviors indicative of higher social anxiety in female rats. Given both the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in women and the fact that little is known about the mechanisms of gender differences in anxiety, our primary aim in our first study was to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in social anxiety-like behavior in rats. We investigated the activation of several brain areas using the neuronal marker zif268 and discovered sexually dimorphic zif268 expression, increased in the male, specifically within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Through the use of zif268 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (zif ASO), we induced a temporary downregulation of zif268 expression in the mPFC of male and female rats and found that zif268 ASO male rats show more social anxiety-like behaviors when compared with control male rats in the social interaction test. In fact, zif268 ASO males displayed social anxiety-like behaviors, which were similar to control females. Thus, downregulation of zif268 expression in the mPFC of male rats eliminated sex differences previously found in the social anxiety-like behavior tests. Interestingly, zif268 ASO in female rats had no effect on their social interaction. In our second study, we investigated the role of extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), an upstream regulator of zif268, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Indeed, female rats' had lower ERK2 expression compared to male rats, and overexpression of ERK2 in the mPFC increases their social interaction to the level xii seen in their male counterparts. Our novel findings have led us to ascertain that sexually dimorphic zif268 and ERK2 expression in the mPFC are key molecular factor in mediating sex-specific anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test. Human and animal studies suggest that testosterone may have antidepressant effects. In our third study, we sought to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of testosterone within the hippocampus, an area that is fundamental in the etiology of depression. The effects of testosterone replacements in gonadectomized adult male rats were investigated using the sucrose preference and forced swim tests. We explored possible effects of testosterone on hippocampal neurogenesis and gene expression of stress-related molecules. Through the use of viral vectors, we pursued the antidepressant molecular mechanism(s) of testosterone in mediating anhedonia and manipulated ERK2 expression in the dentate gyrus in gonadectomized rats with testosterone replacements. Testosterone had antidepressant effects, likely mediated by aromatization to estrogen metabolites, in the sucrose preference and forced swim tests despite having no effects on hippocampal cell proliferation or survival. We found a testosterone-dependent regulation of hippocampal ERK2 expression. Functionally, reducing ERK2 activity within the dentate gyrus induced anhedonia in gonadectomized rats receiving testosterone supplementation, whereas the overexpression of ERK2 rescued this behavior in gonadectomized rats. These results implicate a role for ERK2 signaling within the dentate gyrus area of the hippocampus as a key mediator of the antidepressant effects of testosterone. In our fourth study, we investigated the antidepressant effects and interactions between testosterone and imipramine in both male and female rats subjected to stressful conditions in order to model a depressive-like state. A chronic social isolation model was used to induce an anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in adult gonadectomized male and ovariectomized female rats receiving chronic testosterone and imipramine treatments. Their anxiety and depression-like behaviors were examined using the light-dark box, elevated plus maze, open field, sucrose preference and novelty induced hypophagia tests. In socially isolated rats, the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of testosterone and imipramine were limited to male rats. Additionally, testosterone enhanced the neurogenic effect of imipramine on hippocampal cell proliferation in male rats. Although female rats exhibited signs of anxiety and depressive-like behaviors following social isolation, testosterone and/or imipramine administration had no anxiolytic or xiii antidepressant effects in ovariectomized females. These results suggest that testosterone and imipramine had anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in socially isolated male, but not female rats, and that testosterone enhances the effect of imipramine on cell proliferation in the hippocampus of male rats only. These studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying sex differences in the incidence and prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders. We concentrated on the influence of gonadal hormones and several molecular targets on anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Overall, these studies underscore the importance of gonadal hormones in mediating sexually dimorphic behavior and gene expression within areas of the brain fundamental to anxiety and depressive disorders.

Download or read book Sex Differences in Anxiety Behavior in Rats written by Megan Joyce Farley and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Methods of Behavior Analysis in Neuroscience written by Jerry J. Buccafusco and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2000-08-29 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using the most well-studied behavioral analyses of animal subjects to promote a better understanding of the effects of disease and the effects of new therapeutic treatments on human cognition, Methods of Behavior Analysis in Neuroscience provides a reference manual for molecular and cellular research scientists in both academia and the pharmaceutic

Download or read book Effects of Prolonged Social Isolation written by Elisa Mrackova and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clinically, prolonged social isolation in adolescence is regarded as a risk factor for the development of anxiety. The purpose of this research project was to determine whether the duration of social isolation, sex of the animal, or the housing condition would affect the development of depressive-like behaviors. Overall, the data from open field, conditioned place preference, appetitive conditioning, and social interaction tests revealed that prolonged social isolation affected the sociability behavior as well as increased the anxiety behavior. Future research will focus on determining possible sex differences in the Basolateral Amygdala using the deltaFosB marker for chronic stress neuronal activation.

Download or read book Handbook of Ultrasonic Vocalization written by Stefan M Brudzynski and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-04-27 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook of Ultrasonic Vocalization: Window into the Mammalian Brain, Volume 25, is an exhaustive resource on ultrasonic vocalizations in vertebrates, providing full coverage of all aspects of these vocalizations. The book also demonstrates the usefulness of ultrasonic vocalizations in studies of animal communication, sociobiological states, and in mammalian models of affective disorders, addictions and neurodevelopmental disorders, making it an indispensable resource for researchers using animal models. The book begins with the evolution of vocal communication before discussing mechanisms of ultrasound production, perception and the brain systems involved in emotional arousal that are responsible for the generation of vocalization and emotional states. In addition, the book covers studies of neuroactive agents and sociopsychological conditions that can regulate the outcome of ultrasonic vocalization and provide clues about animals’ internal states. Critically, the book also includes thorough coverage of pharmacological investigations using ultrasonic vocalizations, increasingly being utilized for studies in affective disorders, psychoses, addiction and alcoholism. No other book provides such extensive coverage of this rapidly growing field of study. Represents a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates evolution, communication, behavioral homeostasis, emotional expression and neuropsychiatric dysfunction Provides a systematic review of ultrasonic vocalizations in major groups of rodents widely used in laboratory research Discusses numerous other species across vertebrates that emit ultrasounds

Download or read book Biological Basis of Sex Differences in Psychopharmacology written by Jo C. Neill and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-07-20 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sex matters! Are there differences between the sexes when it comes to brain function and the behaviours that result? This volume attempts to answer this fundamental question. If the answer is ‘yes’ then this should impact upon our approach to treating mental illness in humans, and to modelling it in animals, as we look for aetiological and pharmacological solutions.

Download or read book Effects of Prolonged Social Isolation written by Eliska Mrackova and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clinically, prolonged social isolation in adolescence is regarded as a risk factor for the development of anxiety. The purpose of this research project was to determine whether the duration of social isolation, sex of the animal, or the housing condition would affect the development of depressive-like behaviors. Overall, the data from open field, conditioned place preference, appetitive conditioning, and social interaction tests revealed that prolonged social isolation affected the sociability behavior as well as increased the anxiety behavior. Future research will focus on determining possible sex differences in the Basolateral Amygdala using the deltaFosB marker for chronic stress neuronal activation.

Download or read book Sex Differences in the Effects of Mild Stress on Behaviors and Neuroadaptations in Rats written by Ritu Chadda Khurana and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social stress generally results from a sense of lack of control over one's environment and interactions. It is a common occurrence in our society that can negatively impact health. Also of interest is the increasing evidence that men and women may respond differently to stressors. Therefore, the effects of a mild stressor designed to model social stress on behaviors and brain in male and female rats were studied. While it is difficult to separate extrinsic factors (such as external expectations) from intrinsic factors (brain function and hormonal effects), it is suspected that neurobiology has a major role in sex-selective responses to stress. This project was designed to begin to address the role of corticotrophin releasing factor, GABAergic systems, and neuronal circuitry in sex-selective responses to stress by comparing and contrasting behavioral and neurochemical effects of stress on male and female rats. Our results suggest that there are complex, sex-selective effects of mild repeated stress on behaviors (general activity, anxiety, seizure risk), physiology (corticosterone/cortisol), and brain (activation and neurotransmission). Gaining a better understanding of mechanisms underlying interactions between sex and stress has important implications for addressing health concerns about stress in men and women.

Download or read book Clinical Implications of Attachment written by Jay Belsky and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-11-17 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1987. This study records findings of a study group set up to explore a variety of issues related to attachment, including the predictive utility of Strange Situation assessments, the conditions under which insecurity is related to subsequent difficulties, the origins of individual differences in attachment security, and intervention strategies that might prove useful in ameliorating the developmental risks that appeared to be associated with insecure attachment relationships

Download or read book Frozen in Fear written by Nancy Jo Smith-Vickery and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Females are twice as likely as males to be diagnosed with anxiety-related disorders, yet they are underrepresented in preclinical research. We investigated fear responses in female and male Long Evans rats to understand the boundaries surrounding fear. Anxiety and fear, as motivational factors, prompt animals to engage in defense responses that maximize chances for survival. Predatory Imminence Continuum (PIC) theory provides a framework for understanding defensive behavior and organizing behaviors according to threat proximity: pre-encounter, post-encounter, and circa-strike, representing anxiety, fear, and panic states. However, a limited understanding remains of the specific thresholds where anxiety transforms into fear and vice versa. In Experiment 1, we induced increased anxiety and fear, exposing female and male rats to varying foot shock intensities as punishment for freezing behavior to investigate reactions to threats. We hypothesized that rats experiencing lower fear levels would learn the avoidance response. Our findings showed male rats punished for freezing reduced freezing behavior compared to females at the same low intensity. We interpreted these findings as females did not reduce freezing because they were positioned higher on the PIC, specifically in the post-encounter mode, where defensive freezing dominates. Experiment 2 aimed to establish the gradation of fear in the post-encounter mode and determine its boundaries. Traditional fear assessment methods oversimplify freezing behavior as binary. Differentiating qualitative aspects of freezing postures can offer a deeper insight into fear, even when freezing durations are similar. We employed markerless pose estimation and developed a custom unsupervised machine learning (UML) algorithm to analyze freezing postures. We hypothesized the postures in which females freeze indicate their fear level. Our UML grouped freezing postures into eight distinct clusters; two were enriched with females punished for freezing. Female enrichment was not due to sexual dimorphism or shock reactivity. Analysis revealed that the animal's orientational, postural, and positional features also influenced clustering. Furthermore, animals engaged in different behaviors before and after each freezing bout, providing further insights into their fear levels. By understanding fear and its impact on females, we aim to focus on this understudied population and contribute to improving anxiety-related disorder diagnostics and treatment.

Download or read book Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-04-10 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific advances in our understanding of animal physiology and behavior often require theories to be revised and standards of practice to be updated to improve laboratory animal welfare. This new book from the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) at the National Research Council, Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals, focuses on the stress and distress which is experienced by animals when used in laboratory research. This book aims to educate laboratory animal veterinarians; students, researchers, and investigators; animal care staff, as well as animal welfare officers on the current scientific and ethical issues associated with stress and distress in laboratory animals. It evaluates pertinent scientific literature to generate practical and pragmatic guidelines. Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals focuses specifically on the scientific understanding of the causes and the functions of stress and distress, the transformation of stress to distress, and the identification of principles for the recognition and alleviation of distress. This book discusses the role of humane endpoints in situations of distress and principles for the minimization of distress in laboratory animals. It also identifies areas in which further scientific investigation is needed to improve laboratory animal welfare in order to adhere to scientific and ethical principles that promote humane care and practice.

Download or read book Neurological Differential Diagnosis written by Roongroj Bhidayasiri and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-15 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neurology is primarily characterized by a variety of diseases which seem very similar and are therefore difficult to distinguish between. Skill at differential diagnosis is therefore absolutely paramount. Neurological Differential Diagnosis is a streamlined handbook of prioritized differential diagnosis, to be used both in clinical practice and for exam review. By presenting differential diagnosis in order of frequency and importance, this book provides a practical handbook for clinicians in training, as well as a potential resource for quick board review. Whilst the book covers the most important syndromes and disease entities, readers are referred to other texts for more exhaustive differentials. By limiting differentials in this way - to the most likely and most serious diagnoses - the reader can more easily recall relevant disease processes when faced with a particular clinical situation, whether it be a patient in the emergency room or a difficult question on the board examination. The book specifically targets neurology residents and fellows, with overlap to neurosurgery and psychiatry. Internal medicine physicians with an interest in neurological problems and medical students looking for an edge in clinical neuroscience would also benefit from this text. The content is primarily mid-level material, in a pedagogic format. In order to organize the students' thought processes concise tables and line drawing templates are included. The book is organized into broad chapters by type of disorder and some overlap occurs between particular chapters.

Download or read book The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience written by Jorge Armony and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-01-21 with total page 983 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neuroscientific research on emotion has developed dramatically over the past decade. The cognitive neuroscience of human emotion, which has emerged as the new and thriving area of 'affective neuroscience', is rapidly rendering existing overviews of the field obsolete. This handbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date and authoritative survey of knowledge and topics investigated in this cutting-edge field. It covers a range of topics, from face and voice perception to pain and music, as well as social behaviors and decision making. The book considers and interrogates multiple research methods, among them brain imaging and physiology measurements, as well as methods used to evaluate behavior and genetics. Editors Jorge Armony and Patrik Vuilleumier have enlisted well-known and active researchers from more than twenty institutions across three continents, bringing geographic as well as methodological breadth to the collection. This timely volume will become a key reference work for researchers and students in the growing field of neuroscience.

Download or read book Mood and Anxiety Related Phenotypes in Mice written by Todd D. Gould and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Women and Mental Health written by Dora Kohen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We know that gender traits and mental disorders are based on social, cultural, personal and physiological background. In order to formulate the best management plan for the patient, the mental health practitioner needs to incorporate all available information. Women and Mental Health provides a comprehensive overview of the most prominent mental health problems in women today. Examining the physiological, social and psychological factors of mental illness, and providing an up-to-date perspective on the etiology of different disorders, the book will help mental health professionals formulate the best management plan for the individual. Covering issues including perinatal psychiatric disorders, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and alcohol and drug abuse - from a female perspective - Women and Mental Health will prove a valuable tool for all those working in the fields of mental health.

Download or read book Trauma and Stressor related Disorders written by Frederick J. Stoddard and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trauma, stress, and disasters are impacting our world. The scientific advances presented address the burden of disease of trauma- and stressor-related disorders. This book is about their genetic, neurochemical, developmental, and psychological foundations, epidemiology, and prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. It presents evidence-based psychotherapeutic, psychopharmacological, public health, and policy interventions.

Download or read book Behavioral Genetics of the Mouse Volume 1 Genetics of Behavioral Phenotypes written by Wim E. Crusio and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-04-25 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first volume in the new Cambridge Handbooks in Behavioral Genetics series, Behavioral Genetics of the Mouse provides baseline information on normal behaviors, essential in both the design of experiments using genetically modified or pharmacologically treated animals and in the interpretation and analyses of the results obtained. The book offers a comprehensive overview of the genetics of naturally occurring variation in mouse behavior, from perception and spontaneous behaviors such as exploration, aggression, social interactions and motor behaviors, to reinforced behaviors such as the different types of learning. Also included are numerous examples of potential experimental problems, which will aid and guide researchers trying to troubleshoot their own studies. A lasting reference, the thorough and comprehensive reviews offer an easy entrance into the extensive literature in this field, and will prove invaluable to students and specialists alike.