Role of social encounter-induced activation of prefrontal serotonergic systems in the abnormal behaviors of isolation-reared mice

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013 Jul;38(8):1535-47. doi: 10.1038/npp.2013.52. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

Abstract

Isolation-reared male rodents show abnormal behaviors such as hyperlocomotion, aggressive behaviors, deficits of prepulse inhibition, and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, but the neurochemical mechanism for the effects of psychological stress in these animals is not fully understood. This study examined the effects of social interactions between isolation-reared mice and intruder mice on brain monoaminergic systems. A cage was divided into two compartments by a mesh partition to prevent direct physical interactions. The 20-min encounter with an intruder elicited a restless and hyperexcitable state (hyperactivity) in male, but not in female, isolation-reared mice, whereas encounters with a sleeping intruder or a novel object did not. Although the encounter did not affect prefrontal neuronal-activity-marker c-Fos expression, dopamine (DA) levels, or serotonin (5-HT) levels in male group-reared mice or female isolation-reared mice, it increased prefrontal c-Fos expression, DA levels, and 5-HT levels in male isolation-reared mice. Furthermore, encounter-induced increases in c-Fos expression in the dorsal raphe nucleus and ventral tegmental area, but not in the nucleus accumbens shell, were much greater in isolation-reared than group-reared male mice. A 5-HT1A receptor agonist, a metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptor agonist, and a gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor agonist attenuated isolation-induced aggressive behaviors and encounter-induced hyperactivity, c-Fos expression in the prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphe nucleus, and increases in prefrontal 5-HT levels. These findings suggest that the prefrontal DA and 5-HT systems are activated by encounter stimulation in male isolation-reared mice, and the encounter-induced activation of 5-HT system triggers the induction of some abnormal behaviors in male isolation-reared mice. Furthermore, this study implies that the encounter stimulation-induced signal has a pharmacological significance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / pharmacology
  • Dioxanes / pharmacology
  • Dioxoles / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Social Isolation / psychology*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • Dioxanes
  • Dioxoles
  • LY 379268
  • Serotonin
  • osemozotan