Effect of Aggressive Experience in Female Syrian Hamsters on Glutamate Receptor Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens

Borland, Johnathan M.; Kim, Ellen; Swanson, Samuel P.; Rothwell, Patrick E.; Mermelstein, P.; Meisel, Robert L.

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2020.583395

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 123 publications

(182 reference statements)

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“…Aggression among male laboratory mice is a complex issue. Aggression is a natural component of rodent behaviour and has rewarding properties [ 139 ], so providing mice with the freedom to express some of this behaviour (so long as subordinates can escape without harm) could be considered to provide welfare benefits. It is possible that previous studies have failed to provide sufficient quantities of enrichment to mitigate competition [ 140 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

Ratuski

Weary

2022

Animals

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Environmental enrichment has been widely studied in rodents, but there is no consensus on what enrichment should look like or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment, which may slow housing improvements for laboratory animals. Many review articles have addressed environmental enrichment for laboratory rats and mice (Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus). We conducted a metareview of 29 review articles to assess how enrichment has been defined and what are commonly described as its goals or requirements. Recommendations from each article were summarised to illustrate the conditions generally considered suitable for laboratory rodents. While there is no consensus on alternative terminology, many articles acknowledged that the blanket use of the terms “enriched” and “enrichment” should be avoided. Environmental enrichment was most often conceptualised as a method to increase natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. Authors also commonly outlined perceived risks and requirements of environmental enrichment. We discuss these perceptions, make suggestions for future research, and advocate for the adoption of more specific and value-neutral terminology.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

Ratuski

Weary

2022

Animals

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“…Our gene enrichment analysis indicated dramatically down-regulation of RNA editing in specific gene functions and pathways in winners, especially biological processes related to the G protein–coupled glutamate receptor signaling pathway and high voltage–gated calcium channel activity. Aggressive experience in female Syrian hamsters resulted in an increased expression of postsynaptic density, AMPA receptors, and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors ( 54 ). Increased aggression was reported in knock-out mice of genes encoding voltage-gated calcium channels ( 55 , 56 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Repeated Winning and Losing Experiences in Chronic Social Conflicts Are Linked to RNA Editing Pattern Difference

Kong

Ren

et al. 2022

Front. Psychiatry

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Winner-loser effects influence subsequent agonistic interactions between conspecifics. Previous winning experiences could strengthen future aggression and increase the chance of winning the next agonistic interaction, while previous losing experiences could have the opposite effect. Although the role of A-to-I RNA editing has been recently implicated in chronic social defeat stress and aggressive behavior, it remains to be further elucidated in chronic social conflicts in agonistic interactions, especially in the repeated aggression (winners) and repeated defeat (losers) resulted from these conflicts. In the current study, transcriptome-wide A-to-I RNA editing in the dorsal striatum was investigated in a mouse model of chronic social conflicts, and compared between mice repeatedly winning and losing daily agonistic interactions. Our analysis identified 622 A-to-I RNA editing sites in the mouse dorsal striatum, with 23 to be differentially edited in 22 genes, most of which had been previously associated with neurological, psychiatric, or immune disorders. Among these differential RNA editing (DRE) sites four missense variants were observed in neuroligin 2 (Nlgn2), Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor 9 (Arhgef9) BLCAP apoptosis inducing factor (Blcap), and cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein 2 (Cyfip2), as well as two noncoding RNA sites in small nucleolar RNA host gene 11 (Snhg11) and the maternally expressed 3 (Meg3) gene. Moreover, significant changes were observed in gene functions and pathways enriched by genes with A-to-I RNA editing in losers and especially winners compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that repeated winning and losing experiences in chronic social conflicts are linked to A-to-I RNA editing pattern difference, underlining its role in the molecular mechanism of agonistic interactions between conspecifics.

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“…There is also an appetitive component of aggression (for the aggressor); Golden et al demonstrated that aggressive mice developed a conditioned place preference for a location where they were able to attack an intruder mouse 45 . In another study using female Syrian hamsters, aggressive encounters resulted in behavioural and neurological changes associated with rewarding effects 46 . In the current study, the playpen allowed for expression of more agonistic behaviours, notably chasing initiated by C57 mice, which cannot occur to the same extent in shoebox cages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice

Ratuski

Makowska

Dvorack

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to document mouse behaviour during playpen access. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice were provided temporary access to a large enriched playpen three times per week; control mice remained in their home cages. We measured latency to enter playpens and anticipatory behaviour to determine if access was rewarding, and recorded mouse behaviour during playpen sessions. Over time, playpen mice entered the playpen more quickly; latency declined from 168 ± 22 to 13 ± 2 s over the 14-d trial. As expected, playpen mice showed an increase in anticipatory behaviour before playpen access (mean ± SE = 19.7 ± 2.6 behavioural transitions), while control mice showed no change in anticipatory behaviour relative to baseline values (2.4 ± 1.6 transitions). Mice in the playpen performed more ambulatory behaviours than control mice who remained in home cages (21.5 ± 0.7 vs 6.9 ± 1.1 observations of 25 total observations). We conclude that conventionally-housed mice find voluntary playpen access rewarding, and suggest this as a useful option for providing laboratory mice with access to more complex environments.

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Effect of Aggressive Experience in Female Syrian Hamsters on Glutamate Receptor Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens

Cited by 17 publications

References 123 publications

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

Repeated Winning and Losing Experiences in Chronic Social Conflicts Are Linked to RNA Editing Pattern Difference

Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice

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