ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION INDUCED BY SOCIAL ISOLATION IN MICE
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Abstract
Background: Social isolation is one of several methods used to induce anxious-depressivelike behavior in mice. However, the model is rarely used in domestic research due to lacking of information to establish such as conditions, isolation length of time and how to measure behavioral alterations. The model is valuable for preclinical experiments on evaluating the effectiveness of anxiety and depression treatment. Objectives: To determine the conditions, requirements and procedures to build an anxiety-depression model in mice and evaluate the function of the model. Materials and methods: Swiss albino male mice weighed 20 2 g at 5 to 6 weeks old were kept in the same conditions of dietary, light-dark cycle, temperature and quiet background. In the isolated group, each mouse was caged separately, while the control group was put together as 5 mice per cage. Anxious-depressive-like behaviors as well as locomotor activities were assessed via some behavioral tests such as forced swimming test, tail-suspension test, rota-rod test and activity meter test at several time points (at the beginning and at every 7 days). Results: After four weeks, socially isolated (SI) mice showed significantly higher immobility time in the forced swimming test and in the tail suspension test compared to group-housed (GH) mice. Withdrawal from exploring and movement habit was also the sign of anxiety or depression status. The time spent on the rota-rod and the vertical and horizontal movements were reduced in the SI mice compared to the GH mice. Treating with diazepam ameliorated the anxious-depressive-like behavior in isolated mice after 7 and 14 days of treatment. Conclusion: In the study condition, mice that were isolated for at least 4 weeks manifested anxiety and depression signs. The effective treatment of diazepam in the socially isolated group suggested that the anxious-depressive-like behaviors were the subsequence of the stress induced by isolation, i.e. the anxious-depressive-like model was established successfully and could be applied in further preclinical studies.
Article Details
Keywords
Anxiety, depression, social isolation, behavioral test
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