Deficits in exploratory behaviour in socially isolated rats are not accompanied by changes in cerebral cortical adrenoceptor binding.
Social isolation of rats produces marked deficits in exploratory behaviour in a novel environment. To test our hypothesis that adrenoceptors are modified by social isolation we have measured alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding in the cerebral cortex of rats isolated for 21 days starting immediately after weaning. After this period the animals showed a significant reduction in exploration in the elevated X-maze and increased avoidance of bright light in a two-compartment shuttlebox. There were no changes in adrenoceptor binding at this time, however. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Stanford
S C
SC
Department of Pharmacology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, University College London, U.K.
Parker
V
V
Morinan
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D012934:Social Isolation
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta