title: The anxiogenic-like effects of dehydration in a semi-desert rodent Meriones shawi indicating the possible involvement of the serotoninergic system.
abstract: Dehydration is a powerful stimulus causing disequilibrium in homeostasis of water and electrolytes resulting from depletion in total body water. Most studies have focused on domestic and laboratory animals; however, the study of desert animals allows improved understanding about water balance and resistance to dehydration and associated behavioral changes, including those related to mood disorders. Meriones shawi (Shaw's Jird) is a desert rodent characterized by its resistance to long periods of thirst that can extend for several months. In the present study, M. shawi were subjected to water deprivation for 1 and 3 months. We used 5-HT immunohistochemistry to evaluate the effects of prolonged dehydration on the serotoninergic system in both dorsal and median raphe nuclei (DRN, MRN), which are the main sources of 5-HT input to several brain areas. In addition, a dark/light box was used to evaluate the anxiolytic-like or anxiogenic-like effects of dehydration on M. shawi. The results showed a reduction in the 5-HT immunolabelling in both DRN and MRN following 1 and 3 months of dehydration. This diminution of serotonin immunoreactivity was accompanied by noticeable changes in anxiety behavior of Meriones, with animals spending more time in the light box, suggesting anxiogenic-like effects caused by dehydration. Overall, the results indicate that dehydration is able to reduce serotoninergic neurotransmission, which might be involved in generating anxiety behavior in this desert animal.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, Pharmacologie et Environnement, Cadi Ayyad University, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Marrakech, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdeljalil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elgot
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El hiba
authors.forename: Halima
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gamrani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism*; D003889:Desert Climate; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin