Cited by 196Stress Responses and CortisolNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Depression-like behavior and stressor-induced neuroendocrine activation in female prairie voles exposed to chronic social isolation

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Grippo, Angela J., Cushing, Bruce S., Carter, C Sue·2007·Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the responses of prairie voles to social stressors play a mechanistic role in the behavioral and physiological changes associated with affective disorders such as depression, as suggested in previous studies. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are socially monogamous rodents that share features of social behavior with humans; therefore, they may serve as useful models for examining social behavioral regulations and physiological responses related to depression. In this study, we hypothesized that social isolation in female prairie voles would induce depression-relevant behaviors and alter their neuroendocrine responses to an acute social stressor. METHODS: Twenty adult female prairie voles were exposed to either 60 days of social isolation or paired (control) housing. They were tested and observed for a depression-like behavior (anhedonia). The levels of corticotropin-releasing factor- and oxytocin-immunoreactive cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and circulating levels of hormones and peptide were measured in response to an acute social stressor (resident-intruder test). RESULTS: Chronic social isolation produced anhedonia, measured by reduced sucrose intake and sucrose preference relative to the control animals. Compared with the paired animals, the isolated prairie voles displayed increased plasma hormone and peptide levels (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, and corticosterone) after a 5-minute resident-intruder test, mirrored by an increased number of oxytocin- and corticotropin-releasing factor-immunoreactive cells in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that isolation in a socially monogamous rodent model induces both behavioral and neuroendocrine changes that are relevant to depression. These results may provide insight into the mechanisms that underlie the development and/or maintenance of depressive disorders in humans.

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Crossref · 10.1097/psy.0b013e31802f054b

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  • Female prairie voles that are socially isolated have higher plasma AVP levels than socially housed females.

    “For example, female prairie voles that are socially isolated have reduced sucrose intake, and higher plasma levels OT, AVP and corticosterone than socially housed females [41].”
  • When prairie voles are chronically isolated or separated from their pair bonded partner, they display behaviors similar to those found in depression.

    “When prairie voles are chronically isolated, or separated from their pair bonded partner, they display behaviors similar to those found in depression.”
  • Female prairie voles that are socially isolated have higher plasma OT levels than socially housed females.

    “For example, female prairie voles that are socially isolated have reduced sucrose intake, and higher plasma levels OT, AVP and corticosterone than socially housed females [41].”
  • Female prairie voles that are socially isolated have reduced sucrose intake compared to socially housed females.

    “For example, female prairie voles that are socially isolated have reduced sucrose intake, and higher plasma levels OT, AVP and corticosterone than socially housed females [41].”
  • Female prairie voles that are socially isolated have higher plasma corticosterone levels than socially housed females.

    “For example, female prairie voles that are socially isolated have reduced sucrose intake, and higher plasma levels OT, AVP and corticosterone than socially housed females [41].”

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Authors
Grippo, A. J., Cushing, B. S., & Carter, C. S.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Grippo, Angela J.
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Published
2007-02
Volume
69
Issue
2
Pages
149-157
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1990797163
Cited by
196
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 13
FWCI
4.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 01992, MH 73233, F32MH073233, K01MH001992)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 48390, P01HD038490)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
depression-like behavior, anhedonia, chronic social isolation, Microtus ochrogaster, social stress, neuroendocrine response, oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing factor, vasopressin, corticosterone, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, resident-intruder test, social monogamy, animal models of depression
MeSH terms
Animals, Arvicolinae, Depression, Disease Models, Animal, Feeding Behavior, Female, Neurosecretory Systems, Social Isolation, Stress, Psychological

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