Persistent anxiety-like behavior in marmosets following a recent predatory stress condition: reversal by diazepam.
Initial investigations indicated the use of the Marmoset Predator Confrontation Test (MPCT) as an experimental procedure to measure fear/anxiety-related behaviors in non-human primates. However, possible long-term habituation effects and re-use of experimental subjects need to be verified. This study, therefore, compared the behavioral response of experienced versus naïve adult black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) in the MPCT, with/without diazepam administrations. Subjects were tested in the figure-8 maze and confronted with a taxidermized wild-cat predator stimulus. After four initial 20-min maze habituation sessions, each subject was submitted to two randomly-assigned 20-min predator confrontation sessions: vehicle and 2 mg/kg of diazepam. Confrontation with the predator induced significant behavioral changes; i.e., proximic avoidance and tsik-tsik alarm call. Diazepam administration, concomitant to predator exposure, reversed the behavioral changes observed. In both the experienced and naïve marmosets a similar behavioral profile and response pattern to diazepam was detected, corroborating the important selective pressure that felines seem to have on marmoset behavioral ecology. Therefore, during a more naturalistic-like regimen--i.e., recurring intermittent predator encounters--the general response pattern remains highly consistent, regardless of prior experience. One may consider the re-use of marmoset subjects in the MPCT, particularly under these specific conditions (i.e. repeated 20-min confrontations, 72-h apart).
Barros
Marilia
M
Primate Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, CEP 70910-900 Brasilia, DF, Brazil. mbarros@unb.br
Giorgetti
Marco
M
Souto
Anna América Vieira
AA
Vilela
Gabriela
G
Santos
Katarina
K
Boas
Naiá Vilas
NV
Tomaz
Carlos
C
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002144:Callithrix / Q000523:psychology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam