Name: assessing dominant-submissive behavior in adult rats following traumatic brain injury
Uploaded: 2022-12-16T13:35:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessing Dominant-Submissive Behavior in Adult Rats Following Traumatic Brain Injury at JoVE.com

The work done are part of Dmitry Frank&#39;s PhD thesis.

The experiments were approved by the Animal Care Committee of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.The experiments were performed following the recommendations of the Declarations of Helsinki and Tokyo and the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the European Community. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-350 g, were used in the present study. The animals were housed at a room temperature of 22 &#176;C &#177; 1 &#176;C and a humidity of 40%-60% with light-dark cycles.
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<ol>
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D., Tovey, C., Spangler-Martin, D., Manfredonia, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Individual+differences+versus+social+dynamics+in+the+formation+of+animal+dominance+hierarchies.">Individual differences versus social dynamics in the formation of animal dominance hierarchies.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 99 (8), 5744-5749 (2002).</li><li>Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. , (2019).</li><li>De Vries, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+improved+test+of+linearity+in+dominance+hierarchies+containing+unknown+or+tied+relationships.">An improved test of linearity in dominance hierarchies containing unknown or tied relationships.</a> Animal Behaviour. 50 (5), 1375-1389 (1995).</li><li>Appleby, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+probability+of+linearity+in+hierarchies.">The probability of linearity in hierarchies.</a> Animal Behaviour. 31 (2), 600-608 (1983).</li><li>Drent, P. J., Oers, K. v., Noordwijk, A. J. v. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Realized+heritability+of+personalities+in+the+great+tit+(Parus+major).">Realized heritability of personalities in the great tit (Parus major).</a> Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 270 (1510), 45-51 (2003).</li><li>Sapolsky, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endocrinology+alfresco:+psychoendocrine+studies+of+wild+baboons.">Endocrinology alfresco: psychoendocrine studies of wild baboons.</a> Recent Progress in Hormone Research. 48, 437-468 (1993).</li><li>Shively, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Social+subordination+stress,+behavior,+and+central+monoaminergic+function+in+female+cynomolgus+monkeys.">Social subordination stress, behavior, and central monoaminergic function in female cynomolgus monkeys.</a> Biological Psychiatry. 44 (9), 882-891 (1998).</li><li>Shively, C. A., Grant, K. A., Ehrenkaufer, R. L., Mach, R. H., Nader, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Social+stress,+depression,+and+brain+dopamine+in+female+cynomolgus+monkeys.">Social stress, depression, and brain dopamine in female cynomolgus monkeys.</a> Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 807, 574-577 (1997).</li><li>Tse, W. S., Bond, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Difference+in+serotonergic+and+noradrenergic+regulation+of+human+social+behaviours.">Difference in serotonergic and noradrenergic regulation of human social behaviours.</a> Psychopharmacology. 159 (2), 216-221 (2002).</li><li>Malatynska, E., Knapp, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dominant-submissive+behavior+as+models+of+mania+and+depression.">Dominant-submissive behavior as models of mania and depression.</a> Neuroscience &amp; Biobehavioral Reviews. 29 (4-5), 715-737 (2005).</li><li>Malatynska, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reduction+of+submissive+behavior+in+rats:+A+test+for+antidepressant+drug+activity.">Reduction of submissive behavior in rats: A test for antidepressant drug activity.</a> Pharmacology. 64 (1), 8-17 (2002).</li><li>Frank, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+life+stress+induces+submissive+behavior+in+adult+rats.">Early life stress induces submissive behavior in adult rats.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 372, 112025 (2019).</li><li>Knapp, R. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antidepressant+activity+of+memory-enhancing+drugs+in+the+reduction+of+submissive+behavior+model.">Antidepressant activity of memory-enhancing drugs in the reduction of submissive behavior model.</a> European Journal of Pharmacology. 440 (1), 27-35 (2002).</li><li>Malaty&#324;ska, E., Kostowski, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effect+of+antidepressant+drugs+on+dominance+behavior+in+rats+competing+for+food.">The effect of antidepressant drugs on dominance behavior in rats competing for food.</a> Polish Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacy. 36 (5), 531-540 (1984).</li><li>Kabadi, S. V., Hilton, G. D., Stoica, B. A., Zapple, D. N., Faden, A. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluid-percussion-induced+traumatic+brain+injury+model+in+rats.">Fluid-percussion-induced traumatic brain injury model in rats.</a> Nature Protocols. 5 (9), 1552-1563 (2010).</li><li>Boyko, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Traumatic+brain+injury-induced+submissive+behavior+in+rats:+Link+to+depression+and+anxiety.">Traumatic brain injury-induced submissive behavior in rats: Link to depression and anxiety.</a> Translational Psychiatry. 12 (1), 239 (2022).</li><li>Jones, N. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+traumatic+brain+injury+induces+a+pervasive+hyperanxious+phenotype+in+rats.">Experimental traumatic brain injury induces a pervasive hyperanxious phenotype in rats.</a> Journal of Neurotrauma. 25 (11), 1367-1374 (2008).</li><li>Frank, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+histological+technique+to+assess+severity+of+traumatic+brain+injury+in+rodents:+Comparisons+to+neuroimaging+and+neurological+outcomes.">A novel histological technique to assess severity of traumatic brain injury in rodents: Comparisons to neuroimaging and neurological outcomes.</a> Frontiers in Neuroscience. 15, 733115 (2021).</li><li>Frank, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+metric+test+for+assessing+spatial+working+memory+in+adult+rats+following+traumatic+brain+injury.">A metric test for assessing spatial working memory in adult rats following traumatic brain injury.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (171), e62291 (2021).</li><li>Frank, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induction+of+diffuse+axonal+brain+injury+in+rats+based+on+rotational+acceleration.">Induction of diffuse axonal brain injury in rats based on rotational acceleration.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (159), e61198 (2020).</li><li>Zlotnik, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=&#946;2+adrenergic-mediated+reduction+of+blood+glutamate+levels+and+improved+neurological+outcome+after+traumatic+brain+injury+in+rats.">&#946;2 adrenergic-mediated reduction of blood glutamate levels and improved neurological outcome after traumatic brain injury in rats.</a> Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology. 24 (1), 30-38 (2012).</li><li>Frank, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+histological+technique+to+assess+severity+of+traumatic+brain+injury+in+rodents:+Comparisons+to+neuroimaging+and+neurological+outcomes.">A novel histological technique to assess severity of traumatic brain injury in rodents: Comparisons to neuroimaging and neurological outcomes.</a> Frontiers in Neuroscience. 15, 733115 (2021).</li><li>Marinkovic, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prognosis+after+mild+traumatic+brain+injury:+Influence+of+psychiatric+disorders.">Prognosis after mild traumatic brain injury: Influence of psychiatric disorders.</a> Brain Sciences. 10 (12), 916 (2020).</li><li>Robert, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Traumatic+brain+injury+and+mood+disorders.">Traumatic brain injury and mood disorders.</a> Mental Health Clinician. 10 (6), 335-345 (2020).</li><li>Sabaz, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prevalence,+comorbidities,+and+correlates+of+challenging+behavior+among+community-dwelling+adults+with+severe+traumatic+brain+injury:+A+multicenter+study.">Prevalence, comorbidities, and correlates of challenging behavior among community-dwelling adults with severe traumatic brain injury: A multicenter study.</a> The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 29 (2), 19-30 (2014).</li><li>Aaronson, A., Lloyd, R. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aggression+after+traumatic+brain+injury:+A+review+of+the+current+literature.">Aggression after traumatic brain injury: A review of the current literature.</a> Psychiatric Annals. 45 (8), 422-426 (2015).</li><li>Koolhaas, J. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+resident-intruder+paradigm:+A+standardized+test+for+aggression,+violence+and+social+stress.">The resident-intruder paradigm: A standardized test for aggression, violence and social stress.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (77), e4367 (2013).</li><li>Bhatnagar, S., Vining, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Facilitation+of+hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal+responses+to+novel+stress+following+repeated+social+stress+using+the+resident/intruder+paradigm.">Facilitation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to novel stress following repeated social stress using the resident/intruder paradigm.</a> Hormones and Behavior. 43 (1), 158-165 (2003).</li><li>Boyko, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effect+of+depressive-like+behavior+and+antidepressant+therapy+on+social+behavior+and+hierarchy+in+rats.">The effect of depressive-like behavior and antidepressant therapy on social behavior and hierarchy in rats.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 370, 111953 (2019).</li><li>Gruenbaum, B. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+complex+diving-for-food+Task+to+investigate+social+organization+and+interactions+in+rats.">A complex diving-for-food Task to investigate social organization and interactions in rats.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (171), e61763 (2021).</li><li>Grasmuck, V., Desor, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioural+differentiation+of+rats+confronted+to+a+complex+diving-for-food+situation.">Behavioural differentiation of rats confronted to a complex diving-for-food situation.</a> Behavioural Processes. 58 (1-2), 67-77 (2002).</li><li>Pinhasov, A., Crooke, J., Rosenthal, D., Brenneman, D., Malatynska, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reduction+of+Submissive+Behavior+Model+for+antidepressant+drug+activity+testing:+Study+using+a+video-tracking+system.">Reduction of Submissive Behavior Model for antidepressant drug activity testing: Study using a video-tracking system.</a> Behavioural Pharmacology. 16 (8), 657-664 (2005).</li><li>Nesher, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+responses+to+distinct+psychotropic+agents+of+selectively+bred+dominant+and+submissive+animals.">Differential responses to distinct psychotropic agents of selectively bred dominant and submissive animals.</a> Behavioural Brain Research. 236 (1), 225-235 (2013).</li></ol>

Clinical studies indicate that brain injury may increase the risk of psychiatric disorders26,27. Moreover, TBI affects the development of social behavior28,29. In this protocol, the TBI model had an effect on the presentation of dominant-submissive behavior. Dominant-submissive behavior manifested itself in terms of time spent on the feeder and who came first to the feeder.
In ...

Intraspecies competition occurs when members of the same species compete for a limited resource at the same time1. In contrast, interspecies competition occurs between members of two different species2. Intraspecies competition is divided into two types, including interference (adapted) and exploitation (contest), and arises depending on the type of resource in contention, such as food and territory3.
The existence of social hierarchies is impossible without dominant-submissive relationships (DSRs). Dominance presents as &#34;winning&#34; and subordination as &#34;losing&#34; within pairs of animals4. However, DSRs appear not only in pairs but also in groups of three or more. In 1922, Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe described the dominance hierarchy in domestic chickens. The principal distinguishing signs between the dominant and subordinate animals were time spent at the feeder and aggressive behavior. The dominance hierarchy is divided into two forms: linear and nonlinear5. Linear dominance involves two groups, A and B. In this paradigm of transitive relationships6, group A dominates group B, or group B dominates group A. Nonlinear dominance occurs when there is at least one circular relationship: A dominates B, B dominates C, and C dominates A7.
Models for assessing dominant-submissive behavior exist for different species, including rodents, birds8, non-human primates9,10,11, and humans12. The dominant-submissive method is well represented in the literature and has been applied as a model to assess mania and depression13, as well as antidepressant drug activity14. This model has been used to investigate early life stress after maternal separation in adult rats15. The DSR paradigms can be divided into three models: the reduction of dominant behavior model13,16, the reduction of submissive behavior model14, and the clonidine-reversal of dominance model17.
This study demonstrates an investigation of DSR through tasks based on food competition. The advantages of this method are its easy reproducibility and the ability to observe and accurately analyze dominant-submissive behavior. In addition, the dominant-submissive behavioral task relies on food rather than territory, unlike comparable behavioral tasks, which makes this behavioral task lower cost and simpler and researchers do not need to undergo complicated training to perform the task and process the data.
The overall goal of the current study is to demonstrate the development of DSR after traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is associated with social impairments, depression, and anxiety. The model of inducing TBI is a simple and effective standard model that involves inducing traumatic brain injury with a fluid percussion device18,19.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol solution</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td>500 cc</td>
			<td>For general antisepsis of the skin in the operatory field</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4 boards of different thicknesses (1.5 cm, 2.5 cm, 5 cm and 8.5 cm)</td>
			<td>This is to evaluate neurological defect</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4-0 Nylon suture</td>
			<td>4-00</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bottles</td>
			<td>Techniplast</td>
			<td>ACBT0262SU</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bupivacaine 0.1 %</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diamond Hole Saw Drill 3 mm diameter</td>
			<td>Glass Hole Saw Kit</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Optional.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digital Weighing Scale</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td>Rs 4,000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting scissors</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td>Z265969</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol 99.9 %</td>
			<td>Pharmacy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>5%-10% solution used to clean equipment and remove odors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluid-percussion device</td>
			<td>custom-made at the university workshop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>No specific brand is recommended.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gauze Sponges</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gloves (thin laboratory gloves)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Optional.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heater with thermometer</td>
			<td>Heatingpad-1</td>
			<td>Model: HEATINGPAD-1/2</td>
			<td>No specific brand is recommended.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horizon-XL</td>
			<td>Mennen Medical Ltd</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isofluran, USP 100%</td>
			<td>Piramamal Critical Care, Inc</td>
			<td>NDC 66794-017</td>
			<td>Anesthetic liquid for inhalation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Logitech Webcam Software</td>
			<td>Logitech</td>
			<td>2.51</td>
			<td>Software for video camera</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operating forceps</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operating Scissors</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PC Computer for USV recording and data analyses</td>
			<td>Intel</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Intel core i5-6500 CPU @ 3.2GHz, 16 GB RAM, 64-bit operating system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plexiglass boxes linked by a narrow passage</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Two transparent 30 cm &#215; 20 cm &#215; 20 cm plexiglass boxes linked by a narrow 15 cm &#215; 15 cm &#215; 60 cm passage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purina Chow</td>
			<td>Purina</td>
			<td>5001</td>
			<td>Rodent laboratory chow given to rats,&#160; is a lifecycle nutrition that has been used in biomedical research</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rat cages (rat home cage or another enclosure)</td>
			<td>Techniplast</td>
			<td>2000P</td>
			<td>No specific brand is recommended</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel blades 11</td>
			<td>SIGMA - ALDRICH</td>
			<td>S2771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SPSS</td>
			<td>SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA</td>
			<td>A 20 package</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stereotaxic Instrument</td>
			<td>custom-made at the university workshop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>No specific brand is recommended</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Timing device</td>
			<td>Interval Timer:Timing for recording USV&#39;s</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Optional. Any timer will do, although it is convenient to use an interval timer if you are tickling multiple rats</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Video camera</td>
			<td>Logitech</td>
			<td>C920 HD PRO WEBCAM</td>
			<td>Digital video camera for high definition recording of rat behavior under dominant submissive test</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

assessing dominant-submissive behavior in adult rats following traumatic brain injury

Competition over resources such as food, territory, and mates significantly influences relationships within animal species and is mediated through social hierarchies that are often based on dominant-submissive relationships. The dominant-submissive relationship is a normal behavioral pattern among the individuals of a species. Traumatic brain injury is a frequent cause of social interaction impairment and the reorganization of dominant-submissive relationships in animal pairs. This protocol describes submissive behavior in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats after the induction of traumatic brain injury using a fluid-percussion model compared to naive rats through a series of dominant-submissive tests performed between 29 days and 33 days after induction. The dominant-submissive behavior test shows how brain injury can induce submissive behavior in animals competing for food. After traumatic brain injury, the rodents were more submissive, as indicated by them spending less time at the feeder and being less likely to arrive first at the trough compared to the control animals. According to this protocol, submissive behavior develops after traumatic brain injury in adult male rats.

Neurological severity score assessment 
Neurological deficits were assessed in male rats after TBI using the NSS. The rats were divided into two groups: one TBI group and one control group. The control group was subjected to sham surgery. The NSS allowed for the assessment of motor function and behavior alteration by a points system22,23; a score of 24 indicated a severe neurological dysfunction, and a score of 0 represented intact neurologi...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessing Dominant-Submissive Behavior in Adult Rats Following Traumatic Brain Injury at JoVE.com

Assessing Dominant-Submissive Behavior in Adult Rats Following Traumatic Brain Injury

The present protocol describes a rat model of fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury followed by a series of behavioral tests to understand the development of dominant and submissive behavior. Using this model of traumatic brain injury in conjunction with specific behavioral tests enables the study of social impairments following brain injury.

Competition over resources such as food, territory, and mates significantly influences relationships within animal species and is mediated through social ...

In this study, we would like to demonstrate an investigation of dominant-submissive relationship through tests based on food competition. The overall goal of the current study is to show the development of dominant-submissive relationship after traumatic brain injury. The advantages of this method are its easy reproducibility and the ability to observe and accurately analyze dominant-submissive behavior.The dominant-submissive method is well represented in the literature and has been applied as a model to assess mania and depression. This model has been used to investigate early life stress after maternal separation in adult rats as well. To begin, select 30 adult males randomly.Divide them into traumatic brain injury and sham groups. Provide chow and water ad libitum. Before the injury, perform baseline assessments of the neurological severity score in both groups of rats as described in the manuscript.After anesthetizing the rats, check for the immobilization of the rat by testing for lack of movement or pedal reflex in response to a stimulant. Perform craniotomy four millimeter posterior and four millimeter lateral of bregma. Using a fluid percussion device, induce traumatic brain injury over 21 to 23 milliseconds through the three-way stopcock.Perform craniotomy on the group of sham operated rats and infiltrate 0.1%bupivacaine before closing the wound. One week before the test, randomly divide the rats into cages. Use an apparatus made from two transparent acrylic glass boxes connected by a slender tunnel.Next, fill a feeder with sweetened milk and place it in the tunnel center. Place each rat in the apparatus for 15 minutes for habitation on the first two days. Randomly select one rat from the control group and one from the traumatic brain injury group and set them at equal distances from the feeder, allowing them to explore for five minutes.Allow the rats access to water ad libitum. Position a camera. Install the recommended computer software to capture, save, and process the data, and record the video while the rats are in the arena.The neurological severity score showed that 48 hours after surgery, the neurological deficits were sufficiently greater for the traumatic brain injury rats compared to the sham operated rats. However, 28 days after surgery, the differences between the traumatic brain injury and sham operated groups were insignificant. Time spent at the feeder was significantly lower for the traumatic brain injury rats compared to the sham operated rats.Fewer traumatic brain injury than sham operated rats came first to the feeder. The most important things are cleaning the apparatus before every session and performing the test in a room with proper air circulation. This technique paves the way for researchers to explore dominant-submissive behavioral in rats after brain injury.

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

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