title: Evaluation of social and nonsocial behaviors mediated by opioids in mouse pups.
abstract: The experimental approach to carry out a behavioral study involving opioids in mouse pups needs equipments and procedures different from those used for adult animals. Pups are immature at birth and only slowly acquire all the potentialities that characterize adult con-specifics. The standard and abnormal development of behavioral systems and their neural correlates can be followed during the first postnatal weeks, using appropriate methodologies that exploit characteristic pups' capabilities. Behavioral tests designed for pups to evaluate the activity and involvement of the opioid system, according to the well-known role of the system in adult animals, are described in this chapter.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Neurobiology Institute, CNR/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, Rome, 00143, Italy, francesca.damato@cnr.it.
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: D'Amato
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006702:Homing Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid