Differential effects of social isolation in adolescent and adult mice on behavior and cortical gene expression.
Intact function of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) function relies on proper development of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations and on integral myelination processes. Social isolation (SI) affects behavior and brain circuitry in adulthood, but previous rodent studies typically induced prolonged (post-weaning) exposure and failed to directly compare between the effects of SI in adolescent and adulthood. Here, we assessed the impact of a 3-week SI period, starting in mid-adolescence (around the onset of puberty) or adulthood, on a wide range of behaviors in adult male mice. Additionally, we asked whether adolescent SI would differentially affect the expression of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal markers and myelin-related genes in mPFC. Our findings indicate that mid-adolescent or adult SI increase anxiogenic behavior and locomotor activity. However, SI in adolescence uniquely affects the response to the psychotomimetic drug amphetamine, social and novelty exploration and performance in reversal and attentional set shifting tasks. Furthermore, adolescent but not adult SI increased the expression of glutamate markers in the adult mPFC. Our results imply that adolescent social deprivation is detrimental for normal development and may be particularly relevant to the investigation of developmental psychopathology.
Haifa University, Psychology Dept., 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
Sharon S
SS
Lander
Haifa University, Psychology Dept., 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
Donna
D
Linder-Shacham
Haifa University, Psychology Dept., 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Columbia University, Neuroscience Dept., 1051 Riverside Drive 10032, USA. Electronic address: igsalomon@psy.haifa.ac.il.
Inna
I
Gaisler-Salomon
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005972:Glutaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D030161:Avian Proteins; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D005972:Glutaminase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050598:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1; C432481:ZNF622 protein, chicken; C493465:Slc17a7 protein, mouse; C493393:Slc1a3 protein, mouse; C574238:GLS1 protein, mouse
GABA; Glutamate; Medial prefrontal cortex; Mouse; Psychiatric disorders; Social isolation