Sex matters in neuroscience and neuropsychopharmacology

et al. 2023

Eur J of Neuroscience

Self Cite

Environmental factors interact with biological and genetic factors influencing the development and well‐being of an organism. The interest in better understanding the role of environment on behavior and physiology led to the development of animal models of environmental manipulations. Environmental enrichment (EE), an environmental condition that allows cognitive and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction, improves cognitive function, reduces anxiety and depressive‐like behavior and promotes neuroplasticity. In addition, it exerts protection against neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive aging and deficits aggravated by stressful experiences. Given the beneficial effects of EE on the brain and behavior, preclinical studies have focused on its protective role as an alternative, non‐invasive manipulation, to help an organism to cope better with stress. A valid, reliable and effective animal model of chronic stress that enhances anxiety and depression‐like behavior is the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The variety of stressors and the unpredictability in the time and sequence of exposure to prevent habituation, render CUMS an ethologically relevant model. CUMS has been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, elevation in the basal levels of stress hormones, reduction in brain volume, dendritic atrophy and alterations in markers of synaptic plasticity. Although numerous studies have underlined the compensatory role of EE against the negative effects of various chronic stress regimens (e.g. restraint and social isolation), research concerning the interaction between EE and CUMS is sparse. The purpose of the current systematic review is to present up‐to‐date research findings regarding the protective role of EE against the negative effects of CUMS.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Τhe neuroprotective role of environmental enrichment against behavioral, morphological, neuroendocrine and molecular changes following chronic unpredictable mild stress: A systematic review

Dandi

Spandou

et al. 2023

Eur J of Neuroscience

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“…Sex-related differences in psychiatric disorders have been well documented with women being more vulnerable and characterized by higher prevalence of stressrelated mental disorders than men (Dalla et al, 2010;Pawluski et al, 2020).…”

Section: Effects Of Ee and Cums On Emotional Behavior And Cognitive F...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Τhe neuroprotective role of environmental enrichment against behavioral, morphological, neuroendocrine and molecular changes following chronic unpredictable mild stress: A systematic review

Dandi

Spandou

et al. 2022

Preprint

Environmental factors interact with biological and genetic factors influencing the development and well-being of an organism. The interest to better understand the role of environment on behavior and physiology led to the development of animal models of environmental manipulations. Environmental Enrichment (EE), an environmental condition that allows cognitive and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction, improves cognitive function, reduces anxiety and depressive-like behavior, and promotes neuroplasticity. In addition, it exerts protection against neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive aging and deficits aggravated by stressful experiences. Given the beneficial effects of EE on brain and behavior, preclinical studies focus on its protective role as an alternative, non-invasive manipulation, to help an organism to cope better with stress. A valid, reliable and effective animal model of chronic stress that enhances anxiety and depression-like behavior is the Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS). The variety of stressors and the unpredictability in the time and sequence of exposure to prevent habituation, render CUMS an ethologically relevant model. CUMS has been associated with dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, elevation in the basal levels of stress hormones, reduction in brain volume, dendritic atrophy and alterations in markers of synaptic plasticity. Although numerous studies have underlined the compensatory role of EE against the negative effects of various chronic stress regimens (e.g., restraint, social isolation), research concerning the interaction between EE and CUMS is sparse. The purpose of the current systematic review is to present up-to-date research findings regarding the protective role of EE against the negative effects of CUMS.

“…Multiple attempts have been made to overcome this issue, but even efforts in which experimental conditions were fully standardized between laboratories have not been completely successful. This may not be surprising given that behavioral testing, for example, is sensitive to environmental factors such as housing conditions (background noise, olfactory cues), experimenter interactions, and the sex or strain of the animal under investigation ( Sousa et al, 2006 ; Bohlen et al, 2014 ; Riedel et al, 2018 ; Pawluski et al, 2020 ; Butlen-Ducuing et al, 2021 ). Many multi-laboratory studies have also observed significant differences between mouse strains and interactions of genotype ∗ laboratory despite efforts to rigorously standardize both housing conditions and experimental design ( Wolfer et al, 2004 ; Richter et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introduction and Rationalementioning

confidence: 99%

PEERS — An Open Science “Platform for the Exchange of Experimental Research Standards” in Biomedicine

Sil

Bespalov²,

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

et al. 2021

Self Cite

Laboratory workflows and preclinical models have become increasingly diverse and complex. Confronted with the dilemma of a multitude of information with ambiguous relevance for their specific experiments, scientists run the risk of overlooking critical factors that can influence the planning, conduct and results of studies and that should have been considered a priori. To address this problem, we developed “PEERS” (Platform for the Exchange of Experimental Research Standards), an open-access online platform that is built to aid scientists in determining which experimental factors and variables are most likely to affect the outcome of a specific test, model or assay and therefore ought to be considered during the design, execution and reporting stages. The PEERS database is categorized into in vivo and in vitro experiments and provides lists of factors derived from scientific literature that have been deemed critical for experimentation. The platform is based on a structured and transparent system for rating the strength of evidence related to each identified factor and its relevance for a specific method/model. In this context, the rating procedure will not solely be limited to the PEERS working group but will also allow for a community-based grading of evidence. We here describe a working prototype using the Open Field paradigm in rodents and present the selection of factors specific to each experimental setup and the rating system. PEERS not only offers users the possibility to search for information to facilitate experimental rigor, but also draws on the engagement of the scientific community to actively expand the information contained within the platform. Collectively, by helping scientists search for specific factors relevant to their experiments, and to share experimental knowledge in a standardized manner, PEERS will serve as a collaborative exchange and analysis tool to enhance data validity and robustness as well as the reproducibility of preclinical research. PEERS offers a vetted, independent tool by which to judge the quality of information available on a certain test or model, identifies knowledge gaps and provides guidance on the key methodological considerations that should be prioritized to ensure that preclinical research is conducted to the highest standards and best practice.