Anxiolytic-like effect of group housing on stress-induced behavior in rats.
Social support is proposed to attenuate behavioral consequences of exposure to uncontrollable stressors. To test this possibility, we compared the effects of two post-stress housing conditions, in pairs or in groups of 10-12 animals per cage, on the behavior of rats tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) 24 hr after stress. We also included positive control groups to compare the effects of a standard anxiolytic, diazepam, with those of vehicle. Confirming previous results, diazepam increased the percentage of entries and time spent in the open arms (vehicle, % open entries: 37.0+/-2.7, % time spent in open arms: 17.6+/-1.9; diazepam, % open entries: 46.7+/-2.7, % time spent in open arms: 39.1+/-3.9). Group housing after restraint significantly prevented the anxiogenic effect of restraint (group housing, % open entries: 32.0+/-5.2, % time spent in open arms: 17.6+/-5.0; pair housing, % open entries: 18.7+/-2.2, % time spent in open arms: 6.5+/-1.0). These results suggest that housing conditions could be an important factor in the development of behavioral consequences of stress exposure.
Andrade
Carolina Souza
CS
Department of Pharmacology, FMRP, Campus USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Guimarães
Francisco Silveira
FS
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012919:Social Behavior; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam