Impact of Early Stress on Social Skills in Mice
Author Information
Author(s): Franklin Tamara B., Linder Natacha, Russig Holger, Thöny Beat, Mansuy Isabelle M.
Primary Institution: Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of the University of Zürich
Hypothesis
Does early stress affect social abilities and serotonergic functions across generations in mice?
Conclusion
Early stress impairs social interaction and cognition across generations in mice, while also leading to stress resilience.
Supporting Evidence
- Social anxiety and altered social recognition memory were induced in adult mice by early stress.
- These social defects were transmitted to offspring across two generations.
- Impaired serotonergic signaling was associated with the observed social defects.
Takeaway
If a mouse has a tough start in life, it might struggle to make friends, and this can affect its children and grandchildren too.
Methodology
Mice were subjected to unpredictable maternal separation and stress, and their social behaviors were assessed across generations.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in behavioral assessments due to observer effects.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on male mice, and the mechanisms of transmission are not fully understood.
Participant Demographics
C57Bl/6J mice were used in the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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