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Article
Post-weaning social isolation of rats leads to a diminution of LTP in the CA1 to subiculum pathway.
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Year: 2003

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Abstract

Post-weaning social isolation of rats produces psychological and physiological changes that are relevant to schizophrenia. Here, we report that long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 to subiculum pathway is lower by 34%, (P<0.0001) in brain slices from isolates compared with those from socially housed rats. We also report that LTP in this pathway is NMDA receptor-dependent. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved


Article
Is there a critical developmental 'window' for isolation rearing-induced changes in prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response?
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Year: 1999

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In a previous study, rats reared in isolation from weaning exhibited normal prepulse inhibition (PPI) before puberty, whilst after puberty (6-8 weeks post weaning) isolation reared rats exhibited deficits in PPI. The developmental timing of the onset of this isolation effect appears to be critical because similar isolation of adult rats has no effect on PPI. The present study examined the time and duration of the period or 'window' of isolation necessary to induce these behavioral changes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated for either only the first 2 weeks from weaning, only the first 4 weeks from weaning, only weeks 3 and 4, or continuously from weaning (ISO group), and compared with rats reared in normal social conditions (SOC group). Eight weeks after weaning, we compared acoustic and airpuff startle reactivity, acoustic and light PPI; and acoustic and airpuff startle habituation across the groups. There were no significant changes in any of the measures in the groups exposed to 2- or 4-week periods of isolation. In the ISO and SOC groups, acoustic or airpuff startle reactivity was similar, while acoustic PPI was reduced significantly in the ISO group. Airpuff startle habituation was increased significantly in the ISO group compared to SOC controls and there was a similar trend with acoustic startle habituation. These results indicate that only animals isolated for more than 4 weeks after weaning display deficits in PPI, and provide evidence that there is no critical pre-pubertal developmental window for inducing PPI deficits, rather, continuous post-weaning isolation is needed to induce the PPI deficit effect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved


Article
Effect of social isolation on stress-related behavioural and neuroendocrine state in the rat.

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The present study investigated the effects of post-weaning social isolation (SI) on behavioural and neuroendocrine reactivity to stress of male and female rats. Innate aspects of fear and anxiety were assessed in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. Spontaneous startle reflex and conditioned fear response were further investigated. The neuroendocrine response of isolates was examined by measuring basal and stress release of ACTH and corticosterone and by evaluating the mRNA expression of mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors using in situ hybridization. Locomotor activity in the open field was not modified by chronic SI. In males, but not females, SI produced an anxiogenic profile in the elevated plus maze. Male isolates showed a trend towards increased startle reflex amplitude relative to socially-reared controls. Moreover, SI in males produced alterations of the HPA axis functioning as reflected by higher basal levels of ACTH, and enhanced release of ACTH and corticosterone following stress. In contrast, startle response or HPA axis functioning were not altered in female isolates. Social isolates from both genders showed reduced contextual fear-conditioning. Finally, the mRNA expression of MR and GR was not modified by SI. The results of the present study suggest that chronic SI increases emotional reactivity to stress and produces a hyperfunction of the HPA axis in adult rats, particularly in males. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

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