0000000000559231
AUTHOR
Marja Van Kampen
The Chronic Psychosocial Stress Paradigm in Male Tree Shrews: Evaluation of a Novel Animal Model for Depressive Disorders
To improve our knowledge of the causal mechanisms of stress-related disorders such as depression, we need animal models that mirror the situation in patients. One promising model is the chronic psychosocial stress paradigm in male tree shrews, which is based on the territorial behaviour of these animals that can be used to establish naturally occurring challenging situations under experimental control in the laboratory. Co-existence of two males in visual and olfactory contact leads to a stable dominant-subordinate relationship, with subordinates showing distinct stress-induced behavioural and neuroendocrine alterations that are comparable to the symptoms observed during episodes of depress…
Diazepam has no beneficial effects on stress-induced behavioural and endocrine changes in male tree shrews.
Abstract VAN KAMPEN, M., U. SCHMITT, C. HIEMKE AND E. FUCHS. Diazepam has no beneficial effects on stress-induced behavioural and endocrine changes in male tree shrews. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM BEHAV 65 (3) 539–546, 2000.—The present study evaluated the effect of subchronic oral treatment of psychosocially stressed male tree shrews with diazepam on locomotor activity, marking behavior, avoidance behavior, and urinary cortisol and noradrenaline. To mimic a realistic situation of anxiolytic intervention, the treatment started 14 days after the beginning of psychosocial stress; at that time, the stress-induced behavioral and endocrine alterations had been established. The drug (5 mg/kg/day) was admin…