title: Spontaneous failure of the estrous cycle induces anxiogenic-related behaviors in middle-aged female mice.
abstract: Clinical studies have shown that women during perimenopause and menopause have a higher incidence in the diagnoses of psychiatric problems compared with men. However, little literature information about the influence of spontaneous perimenopause on anxiety- and mood-related behaviors in mice is available. To this aim, we compared the behavioral responses of middle-aged and young adult female mice both in the diestrus phase in the elevated plus-maze, open field and forced swimming tests. In middle-aged mice, the duration of the estrous cycle was significantly prolonged compared to young adults, thus indicating that our middle-aged mice are in the perimenopausal period. In the elevated plus-maze test, middle-aged mice explored less the open arms when compared to young adults, suggesting an anxiogenic-like phenotype. No significant differences were observed in the estrogen plasma levels and emotional behavior in the forced swim and open field tests. In conclusion, the spontaneous failure of the estrous cycle increased anxiety in middle-aged females. These data suggest that the perimenopausal period has a significant influence on anxiety-related behaviors in female mice.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rebecca A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asth
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Physiology Department, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rovena C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Engelberth
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Physiology Department, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeferson de Souza
authors.initials: Jde S
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa de Paula
authors.initials: Vde P
authors.lastname: Soares-Rachetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Physiology Department, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: egavioli@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gavioli
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens
keywords: Anxiety; Emotional behavior; Mood disorder; Mouse; Perimenopause; Psychopathology