DOI: 10.1097/01.yic.0000405757.42940.cf

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Issn Print: 0268-1315

Publication Date: 2011/09/01


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Isolation reared rats have behavioural and neurochemical dopamine related alterations in several brain areas

Katrine Fabricius; B. Steiniger-Brach; Lone Helboe

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Summary: Isolated reared rats show behavioural and histological findings that are indicative of an overactive mesocorticolimbic system. These results indicate that at least some traits of schizophrenia can be mimicked in the rat isolation rearing model.
Introduction: Isolation rearing of weaned rats has been suggested as an animal model of schizophrenia. It is a non-pharmalogical non-lesion manipulation that leads to several behavioural and neurochemical alterations associated with schizophrenia.
Materials and methods: In this study we isolated several batches of Lister-hooded male rats for 12 week (isolated postnatal day 25) and looked at multiple behavioural, neurochemical and morphological changes.
Results: Behavioural alterations included a pre-pulse inhibition deficit in isolated rats and a consistent hyper-activity to a novel environment. Further, a low dose of d-amphetamine resulted in an increased level of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. Golgi staining of pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex and dentate gyrus of hippocampus revealed a decreased number of spine density in the apical tree, predominantly on the mature spines, which are the most stable spines
Conclusion: The behavioural and histological findings are indicative of an overactive mesocorticolimbic system in the isolated rats. These results indicate that at least some traits of schizophrenia can be mimicked in the rat isolation rearing model.
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