Social interaction attenuates stress responses following chronic stress in maternally separated rats

Reji BABYGIRIJA; Sazu YOSHIMOTO; Irena GRIBOVSKAJA-RUPP; Mehmet BÜLBÜL; Kirk LUDWIG; Toku TAKAHASHI

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2012.06.007

Back

Social interaction attenuates stress responses following chronic stress in maternally separated rats

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Social interaction attenuates stress responses following chronic stress in maternally separated rats

Reji BABYGIRIJA, Sazu YOSHIMOTO, Irena GRIBOVSKAJA-RUPP, Mehmet BÜLBÜL, Kirk LUDWIG and Toku TAKAHASHI

Brain research, Vol.1469, pp.54-62

2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.06.007

PMID: 22750582

View Online

Abstract

Early life stress has been implicated as a risk factor for functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Hypothalamic oxytocin (OXT) is well known to regulate social interactions and affiliative behaviors. We have shown that maternal separation (MS) induces GI dysmotility and impair hypothalamic OXT expression in response to chronic homotypic stress (CHS). We studied whether social interaction can improve GI dysmotility and OXT expression in MS rats. Male neonatal SD rats were exposed to MS for 180 min from postnatal day (PND)-2 to PND-14. After weaning, 3 MS rats were housed together (pure MS). In another group, 1 MS rat was housed with 2 control rats (mixed MS). Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated in elevated plus maze (EPM). Solid gastric emptying (GE) and colonic transit (CT) were measured following CHS loading. Expression of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and OXT in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were evaluated by real time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Pure MS rats demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors, which were significantly reduced in mixed MS rats. Delayed GE (31.5±2.8%, n=6) and accelerated CT [Geometric center (GC) =8.9±0.8, n=6] observed in pure MS rats were restored in mixed MS rats (GE=67.8±3.8%, GC=6.7±1.2, n=6, P<0.05) following CHS. OXT mRNA expression was upregulated, while CRF mRNA expression was downregulated in mixed MS rats, compared to pure MS rats. The number of OXT-immunoreactive cells was significantly increased following CHS at the PVN in mixed MS rats. Our study may contribute to the treatment strategies for GI motility disorders associated with early life stress.

Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

Biological and medical sciences

Behavioral psychophysiology

Hormones and behavior

Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry

Psychology. Psychophysiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Social interaction attenuates stress responses following chronic stress in maternally separated rats
Creators: Reji BABYGIRIJA - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Sazu YOSHIMOTO - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Irena GRIBOVSKAJA-RUPP - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Mehmet BÜLBÜL - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Kirk LUDWIG - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Toku TAKAHASHI - Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Brain research, Vol.1469, pp.54-62
Publisher: Elsevier; Amsterdam
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.06.007
PMID: 22750582
ISSN: 0006-8993
eISSN: 1872-6240
Language: English
Date published: 2012
Academic Unit: Surgery
Record Identifier: 9984051563302771

Metrics

13 Record Views

23 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details