This study was supported by the American Heart Association (IRG 14330015, PRE 16850005, PRE 20380386, EIA 0740129N), and the National Institutes of Health (RR 2865AR; P20 RR 016477).

Todos os procedimentos descritos a seguir foram revistos e aprovados pelo Comitê de Cuidado e Uso do animal Institucional da West Virginia University Health Sciences Center. 1. Selecção do Modelo Animal NOTA: espécies mais utilizadas no modelo UCMS incluem Sprague Dawley, e ratos Wistar e da BALB / cJ rato; outros modelos de murino demonstraram eficácia limitada (DBA / 2, C57BL / 6). No entanto, a consideração cuidadosa deve ser dada ao mouse particular ou estirpe de rato de escolha, como a herança genética e susceptibilidade ao estresse ambiental variam muito entre as espécies e foram mostrados para ser fatores críticos que afetam os resultados do estudo 11,14,15, 19. <ol><li> Use animais da idade adequada (por exemplo, se o ponto final desejado deve ser avaliada em um de 17 semanas velho rato, em seguida, os ratos devem começar o protocolo UCMS em ~ 9 semanas de idade) como este protocolo leva pelo least 7-9 semanas para induzir totalmente sintomas depressivos. </li><li> Animais submetidos a única casa UCMS em gaiolas IACUC-aprovado e instalações, com alimentos e ração padrão ad libitum disponíveis (salvo outra indicação protocolo específico). </li><li> Tome especial cuidado para garantir controles estão alojados em uma sala silenciosa com atividade mínima para reduzir os efeitos de eventuais estressores ambientais desconhecidos. </li></ol> 2. crônico imprevisível Protocolo de estresse leve NOTA: Os animais submetidos a UCMS são transportados diariamente (&gt; 5 dias por semana) para um quarto limpo usadas para manipulações UCMS. Os animais são expostos a 1 ou 2 dos factores de stress listados abaixo de cada dia. Estressores são executados em uma programação randomizado, e cada stress é administrado por um período mínimo de 3-4 horas (ver Tabela 1). <ol><li> Umedeça a roupa de cama por vazamento 10-20 onça de água limpa em cada gaiola padrão. Ajustar a quantidade de água de acordo com o tamanho dogaiola, a fim de amortecer completamente a roupa de cama, mas não causar acumulação de água. Residem os animais na gaiola úmido para 3-4 horas. </li><li> Remova roupas de cama de cada gaiola para 3-4 horas, após o qual os animais são transferida para outro estressor exigindo uma gaiola vazia (banho superficial, gaiola de inclinação) ou colocado em uma gaiola limpa com camas frescas. </li><li> Gaiolas de inclinação para aproximadamente 45 ° (sem cama) durante 3-4 horas. As gaiolas podem ser inclinado com um objecto resistente que permanecerá no lugar enquanto o animal se move em torno da gaiola. </li><li> Alter normais / ciclos escuros de 12 horas de luz / 12 h em sucessões de 30 mínimo de períodos com duração de 8 horas. Depois, os animais voltar para o ciclo normal. </li><li> Transferir cada animal da sua gaiola para que a gaiola de animais de um vizinho que tenha sido removido durante 3 horas. </li><li> Remover todas as camas de cada gaiola e adicionar água a uma profundidade de 0,25 polegadas ~ para ratos ou ~ 0,5 polegadas para ratos durante aproximadamente 4 h. Usar a água que é mais quente que a temperatura ambiente (~ 30 ° C) para minimizar hypothermpotencial ia. Resumidamente animais secos com uma toalha macia na conclusão da exposição à água antes da colocação em gaiolas limpas. </li><li> Expor animais para predador cheira / sons adicionando tufos de amostras distribuídas aleatoriamente de pele ou urina (10-20 ml) de uma espécie de predadores naturais na gaiola por 3-4 horas. Alternativamente, jogar rosnar ou ruídos predatórias de espécies de predadores naturais nas proximidades de gaiolas para 3 hr. </li><li> No final de cada período de stress diário, colocar todos os animais em gaiolas limpas e devolvê-las para a instalação de alojamento. </li></ol> 3. Monitoramento animal / Beleza Pontuações <ol><li> Inspeccionar cada animal diariamente para o desenvolvimento de feridas ou feridas que podem exigir o tratamento veterinário. Animais que desenvolvem lesões leves podem continuar no protocolo UCMS sobre o consentimento do médico veterinário. <ol><li> Dois investigadores treinados na avaliação casaco aliciamento inspecionar cada animal e atribuir uma pontuação casaco semanal em uma escala de 0-1. Esta pontuação é dissuadirminado, atribuindo notas individuais (0- limpo, 1-sujo) para cada um dos cabeça 8 regiões- corpo, pescoço, revestimento dorsal, casaco ventral, cauda, ​​membros anteriores, membros posteriores, e na região genital. Os mesmos investigadores estão a realizar esta tarefa ao longo do protocolo UCMS para manter a consistência na atribuição de escores casaco. </li><li> Qualquer animal que experimenta uma forte redução no peso corporal (ou seja,&gt; 15%) devem ser relatados ao pessoal veterinário e deve ser removido a partir do protocolo. </li></ol></li></ol> 4. Behavioral Testes e avaliações de resultados NOTA: Vários métodos de avaliação pode ser utilizado para quantificar as alterações comportamentais do protocolo UCMS em roedores. <ol><li> Cumulativa Score Brasão Grooming. <ol><li> Como descrito acima, uma preparação semanal pontuação revestimento é atribuído para cada animal. </li></ol></li><li> Sacarose respingo Teste: <ol><li> Colocar o animal em uma gaiola limpa forrado com uma almofada de algodão ou uma toalha para evitar camade aderir ao seu casaco. Pulverize uma solução a 10% de sacarose na cabeça e casaco dorsal de cada animal e registrar o comportamento total de aliciamento por 5 min. </li><li> Actividade (definida como a limpeza da pele ao lamber ou coçar) Grooming é medido pela latência (tempo ocioso entre o primeiro spray e início de aliciamento) ea freqüência (número de vezes que preparam uma parte específica do corpo). </li></ol></li><li> Sacarose teste de preferência: <ol><li> Animais habituar a beber a solução de sacarose a 1% (w / v) 72 h antes do ensaio e, em seguida, fornecer a exposição para duas garrafas (solução de sacarose a 1% em relação a água da torneira em garrafas diferentes). Depois de habituação, fornecer animais com acesso ad libitum a solução e torneira de água de sacarose durante 3 horas. Após 3 h recorde o volume de consumo de solução de sacarose e água da torneira e calcular a preferência da sacarose como: [(consumo de sacarose) / (consumo de água + consumo de sacarose)] × 100. </li></ol></li><li> Cauda Teste de suspensão (Só Mice): <ol><li> Supassar pela cauda os ratos a partir de uma haste estável (20 cm do chão) utilizando uma fita adesiva (2 cm da ponta da cauda). Tempo de imobilidade Grave mais de 5 min. Camundongos são considerados imóvel apenas quando eles ficam passivamente e completamente imóvel. </li></ol></li><li> O Teste de Natação Forçada: <ol><li> Animais coloque em um recipiente (~ 15-20 cm de diâmetro para os ratos; ~ 55-60 cm de diâmetro para ratos) enchidos com água a uma temperatura de 26 ± 0,5 ° C. Grave a latência para o primeiro turno de mobilidade eo tempo gasto imóvel durante o período de teste de 5 min. No final de um ensaio, colocar o animal por via húmida numa gaiola de retenção numa almofada de aquecimento (30-35 ° C) com roupa de cama normal, coberta por uma toalha de papel absorvente até à secura. </li></ol></li><li> Labirinto em cruz elevado: <ol><li> Permitir que cada animal para explorar livremente o labirinto durante 5 min. Entradas totais registro em cada braço, e tempo total gasto em cada braço, de acordo com um critério a priori 20. </li></ol></li><li> Locomotor Atividade: <ol><li> Níveis de atividade de registro, definido como o movimento global, movimentos de belas artes, movimentos de criação, e inatividade, tanto aguda (30 min) e / ou crônica (12 hr) períodos de tempo. Faça isso usando a gaiola casa ou um novo ambiente, dependendo do ambiente indivíduo (embora coerência deve ser mantida) em tempo real por um observador ou post-hoc por repetir e analisar imagens da câmera. </li></ol></li></ol> 5. Expansão / Variação do Protocolo UCMS <ol><li> Administrar agentes ou desafios terapêuticos adequados para estudar a sua capacidade de atenuar tanto o desenvolvimento de resultados induzidas UCMS (se iniciado mais cedo) ou para inverter gravidade dos resultados induzidas UCMS estabelecidos (se iniciado tarde). Isto é dependente do laboratório individual ou protocolo 11. </li></ol> 6. As avaliações resultado final <ol><li> Na sequência da celebração de protocolos UCMS e testes comportamentais, utilizar animais em exper subsequenteiments de uma forma que aborda as hipóteses específicas, objetivos ou metas do laboratório individual. NOTA: Como exemplos, o que pode incluir, respostas inflamatórias ou endócrinas cardiovasculares ao estresse crônico. Como alternativa, intervenções terapêuticas podem ser introduzidas neste momento a avaliar a sua eficácia e bases mecanicistas. </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Extensive clinical and epidemiological evidence has indicated that chronic stress is one of the most potent precipitating factors for depression. Repeated exposure to stressors may potentiate individual vulnerability to depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders as a consequence of the psychological and physical demands within the body that accumulate over time. The use of validated preclinical animal models offers a valuable translational tool for studying depression and comorbid diseases. Firstly, an ideal animal ...

Doença mental depressivo é uma desordem neurológica complexa que é atualmente reconhecido como uma das principais causas de incapacidade e doença carga em todo o mundo. O NIMH relata que cerca de 12% dos americanos sofrem de depressão clínica, com o dobro de mulheres afectadas contra homens 1. Em os EUA sozinhos, a depressão é responsável por bilhões de dólares os custos diretos de cuidados de saúde e um valor estimado de $ 193.000.000.000 mais em custos indiretos (lucro reduzido e perda de produtividade) 2. Os sintomas da depressão incluem anedonia, mudanças nos ciclos de peso e sono, diminuição da atividade física e higiene pessoal, sentimentos de desesperança ou culpa, e / ou pensamentos recorrentes de morte ou suicídio. Durante a última década, estudos epidemiológicos e clínicos indicaram que a depressão é um fator de risco independente para doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) morbidade e mortalidade 3, e é preditivo de prognóstico mais grave de patologias cardiovasculares, incluindo umtherosclerosis, hipertensão, infarto do miocárdio e doença arterial coronariana, independentemente da história prévia de DCV ostensiva 4. Apesar do aumento da prevalência e impacto adverso para a saúde pública da depressão, a etiologia e relacionado fisiopatologia da doença é mal compreendida ea heterogeneidade da doença devido a vários fatores (por exemplo,,, e componentes ambientais biológicas genéticas) fez o diagnóstico clínico difícil definir. As evidências indicam que o estresse psicológico irresolvable é um fator importante que contribui para o desenvolvimento de doenças depressivas e também pode ser um fator potente patogénico que liga depressão e doenças cardiovasculares, em parte devido ao rompimento e desregulação do eixo hipotálamo-pituitária-adrenal (HPA) 5,6. A disfunção do eixo HPA é um dos principais mecanismos que tem sido associada às alterações fisiológicas e comportamentais observados na depressão e o desenvolvimento de diversos factores de risco de DCV, incluindodislipidemia, obesidade e diabetes 7. Vários modelos pré-clínicos de depressão têm sido desenvolvidos na tentativa de replicar o mecanismo de alteração HPA atividade do eixo característica de depressão clínica; tais modelos fornecem um meio para investigar validadas as mudanças comportamentais, neurológicas e fisiológicas associadas ao estresse crônico e agudo em animais. A validade de um modelo animal da doença é baseado na relevância de a etiologia e progressão do design do modelo e sua capacidade de recapitular anatômico, neurofisiológica, e características comportamentais observadas na doença humana. Além disso, as respostas aos tratamentos pré-clínicos (tais como SSRIs) devem produzir resultados semelhantes aos observados em situações clínicas. Diversos modelos animais de depressão induzida pelo estresse são atualmente utilizados em pesquisa, tais como o desamparo aprendido, estresse precoce, estresse e derrota social. No entanto, cada um destes modelos tem desvantagens inerentesque diminuir sua eficácia translacional 8. Nas últimas décadas, o estresse leve (UCMS) protocolo crônico imprevisível surgiu como um dos modelos mais traducionalmente relevantes para o estudo da fisiopatologia da depressão em roedores 9. Este modelo baseia-se no conceito fundamental que a exposição crónica a estressores interrompe sistemas de resposta ao stress e, finalmente, conduz ao desenvolvimento de distúrbios depressivos. Durante o protocolo UCMS, os animais são expostos a uma série de factores de stress ambientais randomizados e sociais suaves numa base diária. Um factor importante que aumenta a relevância deste modelo para situações humanos reside no alto grau de imprevisibilidade e incontrolabilidade dos factores de stress, bem como o momento em que eles são introduzidos. Além disso, o protocolo UCMS usa apenas estressores suaves, em vez de confiar no início da vida ou estímulos físicos agressivos. Ao longo de um período de exposição UCMS, comportamentos depressivos desenvolver e são comparáveis ​​aos clinsintomas iCal, incluindo diminuição de resposta às recompensas (anedonia), mudanças na atividade física e comportamento investigativo (desamparo e desespero), a deterioração do estado casaco e atividade sexual alterada 10. Quase todos os sintomas de depressão demonstráveis ​​foram reportados utilizando este modelo, e estudos têm demonstrado que estes comportamentos persistem por várias semanas após a cessação do sofrimento. Além disso, esses comportamentos depressivos induzidos por UCMS pode gradualmente ser reverenciado pelas crônica, mas não aguda, o tratamento com antidepressivos específicos, sugerindo efeitos neurológicos semelhantes de melhoria terapêutica que espelha de perto a ação e eficácia clínica variável destes agentes nos seres humanos 11,14- 18. Aqui, nós relatamos uma descrição detalhada do protocolo UCMS e descrever resultados típicos de comportamento e vasculares em ratos.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Temporary animal cages with lids</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>Provided by your animal care facility</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rodent bedding</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>Provided by your animal care facility</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Predator fur or urine</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>Provided by your animal care facility</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rodent cage drinking bottles</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>Provided by your animal care facility</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1000 ml graduated cylinder</td>
			<td>variable</td>
			<td>variable</td>
			<td>This is optional.&#160; Any container from which a known quantiity of water can be poured will be appropriate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wooden blocks cut from 2x4</td>
			<td>variable</td>
			<td>variable</td>
			<td>8 inch sections are cut to facilitate cage tilt procedures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Soft paper towels</td>
			<td>n/a</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>Provided by your institution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small spray bottle&#160;</td>
			<td>Walmart</td>
			<td>n/a&#160;</td>
			<td>100-200 ml volume is sufficient, used for sucrose splash test</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Medium (mice) or large (rats) plastic tubs for swim testing</td>
			<td>Walmart</td>
			<td>variable</td>
			<td>Should be of sufficient depth that the animals cannot touch bottom (e.g., 2 feet)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol for instigating depressive symptoms, behavioral changes and negative health outcomes in rodents

Crônica, estresse não resolvido é um importante fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de depressão clínica. Enquanto muitos modelos pré-clínicos de depressão induzida pelo estresse têm sido relatados, o estresse leve crônico imprevisível (UCMS) protocolo é um estabelecido modelo traducionalmente relevante para induzir sintomas comportamentais comumente associados com a depressão clínica, como anedonia, o comportamento de limpeza alterada, e desamparo aprendido em roedores. O protocolo UCMS também induz fisiológico (por ex., Hipercortisolemia, hipertensão) e neurológico (por exemplo, anedonia, desamparo aprendido) as alterações que são clinicamente associados com a depressão. É importante ressaltar que os sintomas depressivos induzidos por UCMS podem ser melhorados através crônica, mas não aguda, o tratamento com ISRS comuns. Como tal, o protocolo UCMS oferece muitas vantagens sobre os protocolos de tensão aguda ou protocolos que utilizam factores de stress mais extremas. Nosso protocolo envolve, exposições diárias randomizados para 7 stre distintassors: cama úmida, remoção de roupas de cama, gaiola de inclinação, alteração dos ciclos de luz / escuridão, tensões sociais, de banho em águas rasas, e predador sons / odores. Submetendo roedores 3-4 horas por dia para esses estressores suaves durante 8 semanas, demonstramos as duas mudanças comportamentais significativas e maus resultados de saúde para o sistema cardiovascular. Esta abordagem permite interrogatório em profundidade das alterações neurológicas, comportamentais e fisiológicos associados com a depressão induzida pelo estresse crônico, bem como para os testes de novos agentes terapêuticos potenciais ou estratégias de intervenção.

Um exemplo de agendamento para uma semana após o procedimento UCMS é mostrada na Tabela 1. A cada semana, factores de stress foram randomizados para evitar aclamação e para assegurar imprevisibilidade do desafio estresse cada dia. Medidas de Depressive como Comportamentos Seguindo 8 semanas de UCMS, houve alterações significativas para ambos os resultados fisiológicos e comportamentais em roedores cronicamente estressados ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents at JoVE.com

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

The unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol is a validated method for studying behavioral and physiological changes associated with chronic stress and depressive symptoms. Eight weeks of imposition of the UCMS protocol induces behavioral changes and poor health outcomes in rodents of either gender.

Uma crônica Protocolo de estresse leve Imprevisível para sintomas depressivos Instigando, mudanças de comportamento e resultados negativos de saúde em Roedores

Chronic, unresolved stress is a major risk factor for the development of clinical depression. While many preclinical models of stress-induced depression ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

22.2K visualizações.  West Virginia University Health Sciences Center. The unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol is a validated method for studying behavioral and physiological changes associated with chronic stress and depressive symptoms. Eight weeks of imposition of the UCMS protocol induces behavioral changes and poor health outcomes in rodents of either gender.

Vídeo: An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Using Chronic Social Stress to Model Postpartum Depression in Lactating Rodents

Exposure to chronic stress is a reliable predictor of depressive disorders, and social stress is a common ethologically relevant stressor in both animals and humans. However, many animal models of depression were developed in males and are not applicable or effective in studies of postpartum females. Recent studies have reported significant effects of chronic social stress during lactation, an ethologically relevant and effective stressor, on maternal behavior, growth, and behavioral neuroendocrinology. This manuscript will describe this chronic social stress paradigm using repeated exposure of a lactating dam to a novel male intruder, and the assessment of the behavioral, physiological, and neuroendocrine effects of this model. Chronic social stress (CSS) is a valuable model for studying the effects of stress on the behavior and physiology of the dam as well as her offspring and future generations. The exposure of pups to CSS can also be used as an early life stress that has long term effects on behavior, physiology, and neuroendocrinology.

This article describes the use of chronic resident intruder social stress as an ethologically relevant paradigm to model postpartum depression and anxiety in lactating rodents.

Usando Social Stress Crônico ao Modelo depressão pós-parto em lactação Roedores

Exposure to chronic stress is a reliable predictor of depressive disorders, and social stress is a common ethologically relevant stressor in both animals ...

Comportamento

Nest Building as an Indicator of Health and Welfare in Laboratory Mice

The minimization and alleviation of suffering has moral and scientific implications. In order to mitigate this negative experience one must be able to identify when an animal is actually in distress. Pain, illness, or distress cannot be managed if unrecognized. Evaluation of pain or illness typically involves the measurement of physiologic and behavioral indicators which are either invasive or not suitable for large scale assessment. The observation of nesting behavior shows promise as the basis of a species appropriate cage-side assessment tool for recognizing distress in mice. Here we demonstrate the utility of nest building behavior in laboratory mice as an ethologically relevant indicator of welfare. The methods presented can be successfully used to identify thermal stressors, aggressive cages, sickness, and pain. Observation of nest building behavior in mouse colonies provides a refinement to health and well-being assessment on a day to day basis.

We demonstrate the utility of nest building behavior in laboratory mice as an indicator of welfare. Nest scoring is a sensitive technique that is altered by temperature, illness, and aggression. The time to integrate into nest test (TINT) is a simple cage-side assessment that can detect postoperative pain.

The minimization and alleviation of  suffering has moral and scientific implications. In order to mitigate this  negative experience one must be able to ...

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

The goal of the present protocol is to describe the forced swim test (FST), which is one of the most commonly used assays for the study of depressive-like behavior in rodents. The FST is based on the assumption that when placing an animal in a container filled with water, it will first make efforts to escape but eventually will exhibit immobility that may be considered to reflect a measure of behavioral despair. This test has been extensively used because it involves the exposure of the animals to stress, which was shown to have a role in the tendency for major depression. Additionally, the FST has been shown to share some of the factors that are influenced or altered by depression in humans, including changes in food consumption, sleep abnormalities and drug-withdrawal-induced anhedonia. The main advantages of this procedure are that it is relatively easy to perform and that its results are easily and quickly analyzed. Moreover, its sensitivity to a broad range of antidepressant drugs that makes it a suitable screening test is one of the most important features leading to its high predictive validity. Despite its appeal, this model has a number of disadvantages. First, the issue of chronic augmentation is problematic in this test because in real life patients need to be treated for at least several weeks before they experience any relief from their symptoms. Last, due to the aversiveness of the FST, it is important to take into account possible influences it might have on brain structure/function if brain analyses are to be carried out following this procedure.

This protocol describes the forced swim test, which is used for the study of depressive-like behavior in rodents. This procedure involves placing an animal in a container filled with water that eventually will lead to the exhibition of immobility behavior, which is considered to reflect behavioral despair.

O Teste de Natação Forçada como um modelo de Depressive-like Comportamento

The goal of the present protocol is to describe the forced swim test (FST), which is one of the most commonly used assays for the study of depressive-like ...

The Double-H Maze: A Robust Behavioral Test for Learning and Memory in Rodents

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their behavioral flexibility and required memory duration, the number of goals and pathways, and also the overall task complexity. A confounding feature in many of these tasks is the lack of control over the strategy employed by the rodents to reach the goal, e.g., allocentric (declarative-like) or egocentric (procedural) based strategies. The double-H maze is a novel water-escape memory task that addresses this issue, by allowing the experimenter to direct the type of strategy learned during the training period. The double-H maze is a transparent device, which consists of a central alleyway with three arms protruding on both sides, along with an escape platform submerged at the extremity of one of these arms.
Rats can be trained using an allocentric strategy by alternating the start position in the maze in an unpredictable manner (see protocol 1; &#167;4.7), thus requiring them to learn the location of the platform based on the available allothetic cues. Alternatively, an egocentric learning strategy (protocol 2; &#167;4.8) can be employed by releasing the rats from the same position during each trial, until they learn the procedural pattern required to reach the goal. This task has been proven to allow for the formation of stable memory traces.
Memory can be probed following the training period in a misleading probe trial, in which the starting position for the rats alternates. Following an egocentric learning paradigm, rats typically resort to an allocentric-based strategy, but only when their initial view on the extra-maze cues differs markedly from their original position. This task is ideally suited to explore the effects of drugs/perturbations on allocentric/egocentric memory performance, as well as the interactions between these two memory systems.

The goal of this protocol is to investigate spatial cognition in rodents. The double-H water maze is a novel test, which is particularly useful to elucidate the different components of learning, consolidation and memory, as well as the interplay of memory systems.

O Double-H labirinto: um teste comportamental robusto para Aprendizado e Memória em roedores

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their ...

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

Stressful life events often increase the incidence of depression in humans. To study the mechanisms of depression, the development of animal models of depression is essential. Because there are several types of depression, various animal models are needed for a deeper understanding of the disorder. Previously, a mouse model of subchronic and mild social defeat stress (sCSDS) using a modified chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) paradigm was established. In the paradigm, to reduce physical injuries from aggressors, the duration of physical contact between the aggressor and a subordinate was reduced compared to in the original CSDS paradigm. sCSDS mice showed increased body weight gain, food intake, and water intake during the stress period, and their social behaviors were suppressed after the stress period. In terms of the face validity of the stress-induced overeating and overdrinking following the increased body weight gain, the sCSDS mice may show some features related to atypical depression in humans. Thus, a mouse model of sCSDS may be useful for studying the pathogenic mechanisms underlying depression. This protocol will help establish the sCSDS mouse model, especially for studying the mechanisms underlying stress-induced weight gain and polydipsia- and hyperphagia-like symptoms.

Here, methods for developing a mouse model of subchronic and mild social defeat stress are described and used to investigate the pathogenic features of depression including hyperphagia- and polydipsia-like symptoms following increased body weight.

Um modelo de mouse subcrónica e Mild Derrota social Estresse para Compreender déficits comportamentais e fisiológicas induzida por estresse

Stressful life events often increase the incidence of depression in humans. To study the mechanisms of depression, the development of animal models of ...

Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Food intake measurements are essential for many research studies. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel solution for measuring food intake in mice: the Feeding Experimentation Device (FED). FED is an open-source system that was designed to facilitate flexibility in food intake studies. Due to its compact and battery powered design, FED can be placed within standard home cages or other experimental equipment. Food intake measurements can also be synchronized with other equipment in real-time via FED's transistor-transistor logic (TTL) digital output, or in post-acquisition processing as FED timestamps every event with a real-time clock. When in use, a food pellet sits within FED's food well where it is monitored via an infrared beam. When the pellet is removed by the mouse, FED logs the timestamp onto its internal secure digital (SD) card and dispenses another pellet. FED can run for up to 5 days before it is necessary to charge the battery and refill the pellet hopper, minimizing human interference in data collection. Assembly of FED requires minimal engineering background, and off-the-shelf materials and electronics were prioritized in its construction. We also provide scripts for analysis of food intake and meal patterns. Finally, FED is open-source and all design and construction files are online, to facilitate modifications and improvements by other researchers.

Feeding Experimentation Device FED: Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Feeding Experimentation Device (FED) is an open-source device for measuring food intake in mice. FED can also synchronize food intake measurements with other techniques via a real-time digital output. Here, we provide a step-by-step tutorial for the construction, validation, and usage of FED.

Alimentando Dispositivo Experimentação (FED): construção e validação de um dispositivo de código aberto para medição Food Intake em roedores

Food intake measurements are essential for many research studies. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel solution for measuring food intake in ...

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in  Free Moving Rodents

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper understanding of the neurobiological causes underlying the decision-making problems. A cost-benefit based T-maze task is used for measuring decision making in which rodents choose between a high reward arm (HRA) and a low reward arm (LRA). There are two paradigms of the T-maze decision-making task, one in which the cost is a time delay and the other in which it is physical effort. Both paradigms require a tedious and labor-intensive management of experimental animals, multiple doors, pellet reward, and arm choice recordings. In the current work, we invented an apparatus based on traditional T-maze with full automation for pellet delivery, door management and choice recordings. This automated setup can be used for the evaluation of both delay- and effort-based decision making in rodents. With the protocol described here, our lab investigated the decision-making phenotypes of multiple genetically modified mice. In the representative data, we showed that the mice with ablated medial habenular showed aversions of both delay and effort and tended to choose the immediate and effortless reward. This protocol helps to decrease the variability caused by experimenter intervention and to enhance experiment efficiency. In addition, chronic silicon probe or microelectrode recording, fiber-optic imaging and/or manipulation of neural activity can be easily applied during the decision-making task using the setup described here.

This article introduces an automated T-maze apparatus that we invented, and a protocol based on this apparatus for analyzing delay-based decision making and effort-based decision making in free moving rodents.

Uma ZIF automatizado baseado aparelhos e protocolo para análise de tomada de decisão baseada em atraso e esforço em roedores em movimento livre

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper ...

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Depression is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition, only partially addressed by current pharmacotherapies. The lack of response to treatment by many patients prompts the need to develop new therapeutic alternatives and to better understand the etiology of the disorder. Pre-clinical models with translational merits are rudimentary for this task. Here we present a protocol for the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) method in mice. In this protocol, adolescent mice are chronically exposed to interchanging unpredictable mild stressors. Resembling the pathogenesis of depression in humans, stress exposure during the sensitive period of mice adolescence instigates a depressive-like phenotype evident in adulthood. UCMS can be used for screenings of antidepressants on the variety of depressive-like behaviors and neuromolecular indices. Among the more prominent tests to assess depressive-like behavior in rodents is the sucrose preference test (SPT), which reflects anhedonia (core symptom of depression). The SPT will also be presented in this protocol. The ability of UCMS to induce anhedonia, instigate long-term behavioral deficits and enable reversal of these deficits via chronic (but not acute) treatment with antidepressants strengthens the protocol&#39;s validity compared to other animal protocols for inducing depressive-like behaviors.

Here we present the unpredictable chronic mild stress protocol in mice. This protocol induces a long-term depressive-like phenotype and enables to assess the efficacy of putative antidepressants in reversing the behavioral and neuromolecular depressive-like deficits.

O protocolo de estresse suave crônico imprevisível para induzir Anhedonia em ratos

Depression is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition, only partially addressed by current pharmacotherapies. The lack of response to treatment by ...

Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, a Robust Rodent Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fear behaviors are important for survival, but disproportionately high levels of fear can increase the vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To understand the biological mechanisms of fear dysregulation in PTSD, it is important to start with a valid animal model of the disorder. This protocol describes the methodology required to conduct stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) experiments, a preclinical model of PTSD, in both rats and mice. SEFL was developed to recapitulate critical aspects of PTSD, including long-term sensitization of fear learning caused by an acute stressor. SEFL uses aspects of Pavlovian fear conditioning but produces a distinct and robust sensitized fear response far greater than normal conditional fear responses. The trauma procedure involves placing a rodent in a conditioning chamber and administering 15 unsignaled shocks randomly distributed over 90 minutes (for rat experiments; for mouse experiments, 10 unsignaled shocks randomly distributed over 60 minutes are used). On day 2, rodents are placed in a novel conditioning context where they receive a single shock; then, on day 3 they are placed back in the same context as on day 2 and tested for changes in freezing levels. Rodents that previously received the trauma display enhanced levels of freezing on the test day compared to those that received no shocks on the first day. Thus, with this model, a single highly stressful experience (the trauma) produces extreme fear of the stimuli associated with the traumatic event.

Here we describe the detailed methodology required to conduct stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) experiments, a preclinical model of post-traumatic stress disorder, in both rats and mice. The model utilizes aspects of Pavlovian fear conditioning and freezing as an index of enhanced fear in rodents.

Aprendizagem avançada stress medo, um modelo robusto de roedor do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático

Fear behaviors are important for survival, but disproportionately high levels of fear can increase the vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders ...

Novel Object Recognition and Object Location Behavioral Testing in Mice on a Budget

Ethologically relevant behavioral testing is a critical component of any study that uses mouse models to study the cognitive effects of various physiological or pathological changes. The object location task (OLT) and the novel object recognition task (NORT) are two effective behavioral tasks commonly used to reveal the function and relative health of specific brain regions involved in memory. While both of these tests exploit the inherent preference of mice for the novelty to reveal memory for previously encountered objects, the OLT primarily evaluates spatial learning, which relies heavily on hippocampal activity. The NORT, in contrast, evaluates non-spatial learning of object identity, which relies on multiple brain regions. Both tasks require an open-field-testing arena, objects with equivalent intrinsic value to mice, appropriate environmental cues, and video recording equipment and the software. Commercially available systems, while convenient, can be costly. This manuscript details a simple, cost-effective method for building the arenas and setting up the equipment necessary to perform the OLT and NORT. Furthermore, the manuscript describes an efficient testing protocol that incorporates both OLT and NORT and provides typical methods for data acquisition and analysis, as well as representative results. Successful completion of these tests can provide valuable insight into the memory function of various mouse model systems and appraise the underlying neural regions that support these functions.

Here we provide a protocol which includes comprehensive instructions for the economical establishment of murine object location and novel object recognition behavioral testing, including the design, cost, and construction of required equipment as well as execution of behavioral testing, data collection, and analysis.