Adolescent vulnerability to cardiovascular consequences of chronic social stress: Immediate and long-term effects of social isolation during adolescence.
It has been demonstrated that disruption of social bonds and perceived isolation (loneliness) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Adolescence is proposed as a period of vulnerability to stress. Nevertheless, the impact of chronic social stress during this ontogenic period in cardiovascular function is poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the impact in cardiovascular function of social isolation for 3 weeks in adolescent and adult male rats. Also, the long-term effects of social isolation during adolescence were investigated longitudinally. Social isolation reduced body weight in adolescent, but not in adult animals. Disruption of social bonds during adolescence increased arterial pressure without affecting heart rate and pulse pressure (PP). Nevertheless, social isolation in adulthood reduced systolic arterial pressure and increased diastolic arterial pressure, which in turn decreased PP without affecting mean arterial pressure. Cardiovascular changes in adolescents, but not adults, were followed by facilitation of both baroreflex sensitivity and vascular reactivity to the vasodilator agent acetylcholine. Vascular responsiveness to either the vasodilator agent sodium nitroprusside or the vasoconstrictor agent phenylephrine was not affected by social isolation. Except for the changes in body weight and baroreflex sensitivity, all alterations evoked by social isolation during adolescence were reversed in adulthood after moving animals from isolated to collective housing. These findings suggest a vulnerability of adolescents to the effects of chronic social isolation in cardiovascular function. However, results indicate minimal cardiovascular consequences in adulthood of disruption of social bonds during adolescence.
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.|Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Fábio C
FC
Cruz
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.|Joint UFSCar-UNESP Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Josiane O
JO
Duarte
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.|Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, US National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Rodrigo M
RM
Leão
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
Luiz F V
LF
Hummel
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.|Joint UFSCar-UNESP Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Cleopatra S
CS
Planeta
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.|Joint UFSCar-UNESP Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Carlos C
CC
Crestani
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy; D013995:Time
D009599:Nitroprusside; D010656:Phenylephrine
baroreflex; blood pressure; heart rate; ontogeny; stress; vascular reactivity