Odour conditioning of positive affective states: Rats can learn to associate an odour with being tickled

Bombail, Vincent; Jerome, Nathalie; Lam, Ho; Muszlak, Sacha; Meddle, Simone; Nielsen, Birte L.

doi:10.1101/549436

Cited by 6 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Makrolon cages containing sterile beddings made of wood shavings hosted the GF animals within the isolators. The CON rats were kept under standard laboratory environment (Bombail et al., 2019). GF rats were given free access to autoclaved tap water and a gamma‐irradiated (45 kGy) standard diet (R03; Scientific Animal Food and Engineering, Augy, France).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region‐specific sex modulation of central oxytocin receptor by gut microbiota: An ontogenic study

Effah

Silva

Camarini

et al. 2021

Developmental Neurobiology

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Oxytocin (OT) is a developmentally important neuropeptide recognized to play a dominant role in social functioning and stress‐related behaviors, in a sex‐dependent manner. Nonetheless, the underlining factors driving OT and OT receptor (OTR) early brain development remain unclear. Recent evidence highlight the critical influence of gut microbiota and its bidirectional interaction with the brain on neurodevelopment via the gut microbiota‐brain axis. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of gut microbiota on the OTR system of the rat brain at different developmental stages in a pilot study. Quantitative OTR [125I]‐OVTA autoradiographic binding was carried out in the forebrain of male and female conventional (CON) and germ‐free (GF) rats at postnatal days (PND) 8, 22, and 116–150. OTR binding was also assessed in the eyes of PND 1 and PND 4 GF female rats. Significant “microbiota × sex × region” interaction and age‐dependent effects on OTR binding were demonstrated. Microbiota status influenced OTR levels in males but not females with higher levels of OTR observed in GF versus CON rats in the cingulate, prelimbic, and lateral/medial/ventral orbital cortex, and septum across all age groups, while sex differences were observed in GF, but not in CON rats. Interestingly, OTRs present in the eyes of CON rats were abolished in GF rats. This is the first study to uncover a sex‐specific role of gut microbiota on the central OTR system, which may have implications in understanding the developmental neuroadaptations critical for behavioral regulation and the etiology of certain neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region‐specific sex modulation of central oxytocin receptor by gut microbiota: An ontogenic study

Effah

Silva

Camarini

et al. 2021

Developmental Neurobiology

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View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Makrolon cages containing sterile beddings made of wood shavings hosted the GF animals within the isolators. The CON rats were kept under a standard laboratory environment (Bombail et al, 2019). GF rats were given free access to autoclaved tap water and a gamma‐irradiated (45 kGy) standard diet (R03; Scientific Animal Food and Engineering, Augy, France).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex‐dependent impact of microbiota status on cerebral μ‐opioid receptor density in fischer rats

Effah

Silva

Katie

et al. 2022

Eur J of Neuroscience

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μ‐opioid receptors (MOPr) play a critical role in social play, reward and pain, in a sex‐ and age‐dependent manner. There is evidence to suggest that sex and age differences in brain MOPr density may be responsible for this variability; however, little is known about the factors driving these differences in cerebral MOPr density. Emerging evidence highlights gut microbiota's critical influence and its bidirectional interaction with the brain on neurodevelopment. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of gut microbiota on MOPr density in male and female brains at different developmental stages. Quantitative [3H]DAMGO autoradiographic binding was carried out in the forebrain of male and female conventional (CON) and germ‐free (GF) rats at postnatal days (PND) 8, 22 and 116–150. Significant ‘microbiota status X sex’, ‘age X brain region’ interactions and microbiota status‐ and age‐dependent effects on MOPr binding were uncovered. Microbiota status influenced MOPr levels in males but not females, with higher MOPr levels observed in GF versus CON rats overall regions and age groups. In contrast, no overall sex differences were observed in GF or CON rats. Interestingly, within‐age planned comparison analysis conducted in frontal cortical and brain regions associated with reward revealed that this microbiota effect was restricted only to PND22 rats. Thus, this pilot study uncovers the critical sex‐dependent role of gut microbiota in regulating cerebral MOPr density, which is restricted to the sensitive developmental period of weaning. This may have implications in understanding the importance of microbiota during early development on opioid signalling and associated behaviours.

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“…Moreover, conditioning horses to associate a certain odor with a pleasant experience could take the use of odors a step further. Odorant conditioning has barely been explored in livestock, but rats can learn to associate an odor with positive human tactile stimulation ( 94 ). Such positive odor conditioning has the potential to be used as an alternative to food rewards or as a calming addition in otherwise stressful situations.…”

Section: The Equine Sensory Apparatusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory Abilities of Horses and Their Importance for Equitation Science

Rørvang

Nielsen

McLean³

2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Vision, hearing, olfaction, taste, and touch comprise the sensory modalities of most vertebrates. With these senses, the animal receives information about its environment. How this information is organized, interpreted, and experienced is known as perception. The study of the sensory abilities of animals and their implications for behavior is central not only to ethology but also to animal welfare. Sensory ability, perception, and behavior are closely linked. Horses and humans share the five most common sensory modalities, however, their ranges and capacities differ, so that horses are unlikely to perceive their surroundings in a similar manner to humans. Understanding equine perceptual abilities and their differences is important when horses and human interact, as these abilities are pivotal for the response of the horse to any changes in its surroundings. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the sensory abilities of horses. The information is discussed within an evolutionary context and also includes a practical perspective, outlining potential ways to mitigate risks of injuries and enhance positive horse-human interactions. The equine sensory apparatus includes panoramic visual capacities with acuities similar to those of red-green color-blind humans as well as aural abilities that, in some respects exceed human hearing and a highly developed sense of smell, all of which influence how horses react in various situations. Equine sensitivity to touch has been studied surprisingly sparingly despite tactile stimulation being the major interface of horse training. We discuss the potential use of sensory enrichment/positive sensory stimulation to improve the welfare of horses in various situations e.g. using odors, touch or sound to enrich the environment or to appease horses. In addition, equine perception is affected by factors such as breed, individuality, age, and in some cases even color, emphasizing that different horses may need different types of management. Understanding the sensory abilities of horses is central to the emerging discipline of equitation science, which comprises the gamut of horse-human interactions. Therefore, sensory abilities continue to warrant scientific focus, with more research to enable us to understand different horses and their various needs.

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Odour conditioning of positive affective states: Rats can learn to associate an odour with being tickled

Cited by 6 publications

References 41 publications

Region‐specific sex modulation of central oxytocin receptor by gut microbiota: An ontogenic study

Region‐specific sex modulation of central oxytocin receptor by gut microbiota: An ontogenic study

Sex‐dependent impact of microbiota status on cerebral μ‐opioid receptor density in fischer rats

Sensory Abilities of Horses and Their Importance for Equitation Science

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