Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Danilo A. Moraes, Ricardo B. Machado, Michael Koban, Gloria E. Hoffman, Deborah Suchecki
Summary: This study compared the stress responses of animals exposed to different stressors to those of animals subjected to paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD). The results showed that the pituitary-adrenal response to PSD was similar to that induced by psychological stress.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Teresita Rocio Cruz-Hernandez, Daniel Cuauhtemoc Gomez-Jimenez, Rafael Campos-Rodriguez, Marycarmen Godinez-Victoria, Maria Elisa Drago-Serrano
Summary: The study found that chronic stress upregulated total antibody levels in the small intestine, but this effect was limited by bLf. High-dose bLf treatment in unstressed mice may increase corticosterone response and specific IgG levels.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Joana De Calheiros Velozo, Thomas Vaessen, Jens Pruessner, Ilse Van Diest, Stephan Claes, Inez Myin-Germeys
Summary: This study examined the efficacy of repeated Montreal Imaging Stress Test in reproducing stress reactivity patterns across two different designs. While stress reactivity was comparable between repeated sessions, differences in heart rate and cortisol response indicate that further adjustments to the task may be necessary for improved consistency. Task design was highlighted as an important factor in repeated stress reactivity.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Juliano Viana Borges, Vivian Naziaseno Pires, Betania Souza de Freitas, Gabriel Ruebensam, Vitoria Correa Vieira, Cristophod de Souza dos Santos, Nadja Schroder, Elke Bromberg
Summary: Social deprivation can cause stress in group-living mammals, but they have an amazing response of seeking social contact as a form of protection. This study explored the effects of social isolation and support on behavioral and epigenetic responses to chronic stress in middle-aged adult rats. The results showed that isolation led to decreased corticosterone levels, impaired long-term memory, and decreased BDNF gene expression, along with altered epigenetic markers. The chronic unpredictable stress protocol had different effects, mainly on epigenetic alterations, but social support prevented the adverse effects on HPA axis functioning and gene expressions.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Lucas Barretto-de-Souza, Ricardo Benini, Lilian Liz Reis-Silva, Carlos C. Crestani
Summary: This study investigated the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurotransmission in cardiovascular and anxiety responses. The findings suggest that CRF1 and CRF2 receptors within the lateral hypothalamus are involved in tachycardic and anxiogenic-like responses to aversive stimuli.
Article
Neurosciences
Luis Henrique Angenendt da Costa, Nilton Nascimento Santos-Junior, Carlos Henrique Rocha Catalao, Maria Jose Alves Rocha
Summary: The study findings demonstrate that microglial activation modulates the secretion of several hormones to varying degrees during sepsis, and this process is associated with inflammatory mediators produced both centrally and peripherally.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tristan J. Philippe, Lexia Bao, Maya E. Koblanski, Victor Viau
Summary: This study found that male and female rats showed region-specific changes in 5-HT 1A receptor function after repeated restraint, which may be explained by changes in receptor availability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Chung-Wei Hsu, Sabrina Wang
Summary: The study suggests that activation of OX-A neurons can promote resilient behaviors under stressful situations in a learned helplessness (LH) animal model of depression, and that OX-A and OX-B neuropeptides exhibit dissimilar functions in LH behaviors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Segelcke, Steven R. Talbot, Rupert Palme, Carmen La Porta, Esther Pogatzki-Zahn, Andre Bleich, Anke Tappe-Theodor
Summary: Rodent behavior is influenced by environmental conditions, including housing conditions and familiarization with the experimenter. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different housing conditions and experimenter familiarization on pain-related behavior in male mice with peripheral neuropathy. The results showed that housing conditions and experimenter familiarization had an impact on mechanical sensitivity, gait pattern, anxiety-like behavior, and stress levels in the mice. These findings highlight the importance of considering environmental conditions in preclinical pain studies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ramadan Bahrie, Cabeza Lidia, Cramoisy Stephanie, Houdayer Christophe, Andrieu Patrice, Millot Jean-Louis, Haffen Emmanuel, Risold Pierre-Yves
Summary: Chronic distress-induced deregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. This study found that 2phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) from rose essential oil can reverse the behavioral and neurobiological changes caused by chronic corticosterone (CORT) exposure, suggesting its therapeutic potential for anxiety and depression symptoms.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zainab Ahmed, Ahmed Tokhi, Mehreen Arif, Naeem Ur Rehman, Vahid Sheibani, Khalid Rauf, Robert D. E. Sewell
Summary: This study investigated the acute effects of fraxetin in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm. The results demonstrated that fraxetin decreased depression-like behavior and anxiety, improved memory deficits, and restored altered neurochemical levels. These findings suggest a potential application of fraxetin in managing anxiety and depression. However, further research is needed to explore the chronic effects of fraxetin.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Orie Muta, Minayu Odaka, Yasuyuki Fujii, Taiki Fushimi, Hiroki Sato, Naomi Osakabe
Summary: This study compared the stress response in metabolic cages between single- and paired-housing by assessing changes in urinary stress hormones and behavior. Results showed that single-housing led to weight loss and increased stress hormones in urine, while paired-housing did not. Therefore, it is suggested to house two mice together in metabolic cages to reduce stress-related interference.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Anderson Camargo, Ana Paula Dalmagro, Daiane B. Fraga, Julia M. Rosa, Ana Lucia B. Zeni, Manuella P. Kaster, Ana Lucia S. Rodrigues
Summary: Low doses of ketamine and/or guanosine have been shown to reverse corticosterone-induced anxiety-like behavior, but were not effective in counteracting disturbances in the hippocampal NLRP3 pathway.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rebecca B. Kann, Russell D. Romeo
Summary: The hormonal stress response changes significantly during puberty, with higher resting levels of ACTH and POMC in the pituitary and higher corticosterone concentrations in the adrenals of pre-pubertal rats compared to adults.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Paulo Eduardo Carneiro de Oliveira, Isabela Miranda Carmona, Mariana Casarotto, Lara Maria Silveira, Anna Cecilia Bezerra Oliveira, Azair Canto-de-Souza
Summary: Recognizing and sharing emotions are crucial for species survival. Living with a conspecific in distress may lead to negative emotional states through empathy-like processes. Studies have found that stressors increase the risk of psychiatric disorders in individuals who suffer directly and those who witness these aversive episodes, especially when social proximity is involved. However, the mechanisms underlying the harmful outcomes of emotional contagion, particularly in drug addiction-related behaviors, require further investigation.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Labad, Neus Salvat-Pujol, Antonio Armario, Angel Cabezas, Aida de Arriba-Arnau, Roser Nadal, Lourdes Martorell, Mikel Urretavizcaya, Jose Antonio Monreal, Jose Manuel Crespo, Elisabet Vilella, Diego Jose Palao, Jose Manuel Menchon, Virginia Soria
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2020)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Roser Nadal, Marina Gabriel-Salazar, Maria Sanchis-Olle, Humberto Gagliano, Xavier Belda, Antonio Armario
Summary: Through experiments on rats, it was found that the neuroendocrine response of individuals to different stressors is more dependent on the similarity in intensity rather than other characteristics, showing correlations between stressors of similar intensity. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the response to another stressor greatly differing in intensity based on the response to a particular stressor.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nuria Daviu, Jaideep S. Bains
Summary: The study suggests that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus play a traditional role in controlling the endocrine response to stress, but also have a new role in facilitating state transitions that enable organisms to engage in stress-related behaviors. Activation of these neurons allows organisms to enter a state permissive for motor action, but the specific motor behavior is not necessarily controlled by these cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. Florido, E. R. Velasco, C. M. Soto-Faguas, A. Gomez-Gomez, L. Perez-Caballero, P. Molina, R. Nadal, O. J. Pozo, C. A. Saura, R. Andero
Summary: Memory formation is crucial for brain function, and understanding the mechanisms behind it helps in understanding neural processes. The Tac2 pathway in the central amygdala plays a key role in fear memory consolidation, with opposite effects observed in male and female mice.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Antonio Armario
Summary: The forced swim test is a commonly used method for evaluating antidepressant treatments and depression-like states in rodents, but its theoretical and predictive validity have been questioned. The test mainly assesses coping strategies in an inescapable situation, and proper interpretation of the behavior depends on its relationship with other behavioral traits.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Ximena Goldberg, Carme Espelt, Daniel Porta-Casteras, Diego Palao, Roser Nadal, Antonio Armario
Summary: Chronic stress can lead to alterations in the stress-response system, impacting the development of non-communicable diseases. Survivors of intimate partner violence may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of prolonged threat exposure.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria Sanchis-Oll, Laura Sanchez-Benito, Silvia Fuentes, Humberto Gagliano, Xavier Belda, Patricia Molina, Javier Carrasco, Roser Nadal, Antonio Armario
Summary: Differences in behavioral and physiological characteristics between rat and mouse strains can explain discrepancies in research results. LongEvans (LE) rats show higher levels of ACTH and corticosterone, as well as a stronger HPA responsiveness to stressors. They exhibit hyperactive behavior in novel environments and are prone to passive-like behavior.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Marta Llorens, Maria Barba, Jordi Torralbas, Roser Nadal, Antonio Armario, Humberto Gagliano, Maria Betriu, Lara Urraca, Susana Pujol, Itziar Montalvo, Rebeca Gracia, Olga Gimenez-Palop, Diego Palao, Montserrat Pamias, Javier Labad
Summary: The study found that HPA axis hormone levels are associated with the severity of cognitive and inattention symptoms of patients with ADHD, and childhood maltreatment and sex exert distinct moderating effects depending on the symptom type.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Maria Sanchis-Olle, Xavier Belda, Humberto Gagliano, Joan Visa, Roser Nadal, Antonio Armario
Summary: A single exposure to some stressors can have long-term consequences similar to those seen in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the findings are often controversial. The single prolonged stress (SPS) model, which involves exposure to different stressors in a sequence, has been widely accepted as an animal model for PTSD. However, there is inconsistent evidence, particularly regarding the effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and it is unclear whether SPS is distinct from models using a single severe stressor. In this study, we compared the behavioral and neuroendocrine (HPA) effects of immobilization on boards (IMO) with a SPS-like model (SPSi) in male rats. Both procedures had similar effects on food intake, body weight, and sensitization of the HPA response to a novel environment. There were also similarities in the reduction of activity/exploration in a hole-board, although SPSi had a greater impact of sudden noise compared to IMO. Neither IMO nor SPSi significantly affected contextual fear conditioning acquisition, but there was a trend towards impaired fear extinction compared to controls. Additional stressors in the SPSi did not interfere with HPA adaptation to IMO. Overall, there were only modest differences between IMO and SPSi in terms of neuroendocrine and behavioral effects, highlighting the need for further studies comparing different PTSD models.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Patricia Molina, Raul Andero, Antonio Armario
Summary: This article discusses the use of restricted movement as a model for inducing stress in laboratory animals, which is widely used in stress-related disorder research. Despite the various methods available, few studies directly compare the differential impact of these protocols. Additionally, there is a lack of standardized language distinguishing between restraint and immobilization terms in the literature. This review provides evidence of physiological differences in the impact of distinct restraint and immobilization procedures in rats and mice, highlighting the need for standardized language and further systematic studies to determine the best methodology for specific research objectives.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jose Antonio Monreal, Neus Salvat-Pujol, Alexandre Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Mikel Urretavizcaya, Jose Manuel Crespo, Roser Nadal, Aida de Arriba-Arnau, Clara Massaneda, Diego Palao, Jose Manuel Menchon, Javier Labad, Virginia Soria
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine whether there are sex-based differences in the relationship between personality traits and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis measures. The study found that female sex was associated with an increased cortisol awakening response and a more flattened diurnal cortisol slope. However, a negative significant interaction between harm avoidance and female sex was found. Regarding the cortisol suppression ratio, perseverance was associated with increased cortisol suppression after dexamethasone; sex did not affect this association.
ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Patricia Molina, Xavier Belda, Silvia Fuentes, Humberto Gagliano, Roser Nadal, Raul Andero, Antonio Armario
JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION
(2021)
Review
Substance Abuse
Elena Diaz-Miranda, Roser Nadal, Antonio Armario, Javier Labad
Summary: The systematic review aimed to explore the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in humans. Results showed that PAE has long-term consequences on HPA axis activity, with infants/toddlers exhibiting a blunted response to painful stressors and children/adolescents experiencing altered cortisol circadian rhythm. The findings support the programming effects of alcohol on the HPA stress system.
CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS
(2021)