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Differential sensitivity to amphetamine’s effect on open field behavior of psychosocially stressed male rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Studies of socially housed rodents have provided significant information regarding the mechanisms of stress and of stress-related disorders.

Objective

Since psychosocial stress is known to alter the functional activity of dopaminergic system, we employed amphetamine (AMP) to evaluate the involvement dopamine in mediating the behavioral consequences of psychosocial stress.

Methods

Male rats housed two per cage were designated as dominant (DOM) or subdominant (Sdom) based on initial evaluations of agonistic behaviors and body weight changes. Diad-housed rats and a group of single-housed (SiH) rats were tested in an open field after injections of saline or amphetamine (0.9 or 2.7 mg/kg IP) prior to and again while diad-housing.

Results

Compared to future DOM rats, saline-injected future Sdom rats entered the open field center less frequently, spent less time in rearing behavior and groomed less. At the pre-diad test AMP treatment elevated locomotor activity of all rats, while stimulation of center entries was more marked in future DOM rats. At the diad test, AMP’s locomotor stimulant effect was evident in all experimental groups with DOM rats showing higher effects compared to Sdom and SiH rats. Amphetamine’s stimulation of center entries in DOM rats was similar to the pre-diad test, but it was diminished in Sdom rats, while stimulation of rearing behavior was most evident in diad-housed rats.

Conclusion

The dopaminergic system modulates the psychosocial stress-induced differences in explorative and emotional behaviors. Furthermore, behavioral traits like frequency of grooming behavior and of center entries were predictive of future hierarchical status.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported in part by funds from the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Grant 1RO1AA10124 and the Center of Alcohol Studies.

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  1. Center of Alcohol Studies, Rurgers University, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-1100, USA

    Larissa A. Pohorecky, April Sweeny & Patricia Buckendahl

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  1. Larissa A. Pohorecky
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  2. April Sweeny
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  3. Patricia Buckendahl
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Correspondence to Larissa A. Pohorecky.

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Pohorecky, L.A., Sweeny, A. & Buckendahl, P. Differential sensitivity to amphetamine’s effect on open field behavior of psychosocially stressed male rats. Psychopharmacology 218, 281–292 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2339-8

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