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Role of subordination in nephritis of socially stressed mice.

A behavioral etiology of interstitial nephritis of male CBA mice chronically exposed to psychosocial stress is suspected. The blood urea nitrogen of these animals is inversely proportional to social status as measured by behavior and the appearance of fur. Blood pressure measurement tends toward an opposite relationship. Since subordinates have difficulty urinating in the presence of dominants and suffer from overfilled bladders, their fatal tubulointerstitial involvement may originate with repeated episodes of urinary reflux.

Animals↗

Sexual dimorphism in the activity of Olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) housed in monosexual groups.

In this study, responses to the formation of social groups were compared between adult male and female Papio cynocephalus anubis. Quantitative behavioral data based on systematic focal animal sampling were used to test the hypothesis that adult male and female olive baboons are similar in their behavioral response to (1) the formation of monosexual social groups and (2) the simultaneous reduction of social unit and habitat size. Males and females differed (t test, p less than 0.05) in performance of sexual, tension, and stereotypy behavior during large group formations. During small group formations, males and females differed in play, subordinate, locomotion, manipulation, sexual, tension, and stereotypy behavior. Our observations, clearly indicate that in captivity, under conditions of identical housing, social structure, and social unit history, males and females differ in their behavior performance. Our data suggest that some socioenvironmental conditions, such as the lack of heterosexual grouping, may exaggerate those differences.

Aggression↗

The effects of azaperone, a sedative neuroleptic of the butyrophenone series, on dominant-subordinate behaviour in wistar rats competing for food.

The effects of azaperone, a sedative neuroleptic of the butyrophenone series with outstanding anti-aggressive and anti-shock activity on dominant-subordinate relationship in pairs of rats, competing for food, are described. Treating the dominant rat of a pair with azaperone, a dose related weakening (at 0.16 and 0.31 mg/kg) and reversal (at 0.63 mg/kg and above) of the initial strong dominant-subordinate relationship is demonstratedmat 5 mg/kg the dominant-subordinate reversal is complete until the end of the test session. Dominant-subordinate relationships are modified by azaperone at doses far below those inducing gross behavioural changes. The present results point at a normalizing effect of azaperone on social interaction through inhibition of aggressive responsiveness.

Aggression↗

Experience-based agonistic behavior in female crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus.

Fighting behavior in male crickets is already well described, and some of the mechanisms underlying aggression and aggressive motivation have already been revealed. Much less is known about female/female interactions. Here, we report that adult female crickets that had been isolated for several days readily entered into agonistic interactions with conspecific individuals. Characteristic dyadic encounters between isolated females escalated in a stepwise manner and were concluded with the establishment of a dominant/subordinate relationship. For 15 to 30 minutes following an initial fight, former subordinate females showed a dramatic change in agonistic behavior. If they were paired with the former dominant opponent during this interval, a significant majority did not enter into any aggressive interaction but instead actively avoided the opponent. A similar experience-based and time-dependent increase in avoidance was observed when former subordinate females were paired with unfamiliar naïve opponents. However, when faced with an unfamiliar subordinate individual in the second encounter, no such increase in avoidance behavior was observed. We propose that the observed changes in the behavior of former subordinate females are the consequence of a change in the general state of arousal and of the recognition of dominance status, but not of individual recognition. The fact that former dominant individuals did not show similar experience-based changes in agonistic behavior suggests that dominant/subordinate relationships between pairs of female crickets are maintained mainly by the behavior of subordinate individuals.

Agonistic Behavior↗

[Rats with passive coping strategy have average, but not low social range].

Social ranks were determined in rats with different degrees of activity-passivity in coping style. The dominance status of rats was assessed by their behavior during social interaction and during competition for food and water. Coping styles were determined during initial trials of acquisition of active avoidance in a two-way shuttle box. Animals with passive behavior in a shuttle box had average scores of social ranks. Both dominant and subordinate rats displayed significantly more active behavior than subdominant animals. In additional experiment, the rats were caged as a one male-one female pairs. Two weeks later, the social ranks of males were determined during agonistic interactions. Males were caged in triads, and corticosterone levels were assayed in blood samples taken from the tail veins during the first five days. The corticosterone level was significantly higher in subdominants than in dominants. There was no significant difference between the dominants and subordinates in corticosterone levels. The obtained evidence suggests the passive coping in subdominant rats, whereas the dominant and subordinate animals were more "active" under aversive stimulation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Psychosocial stress induces molecular and structural alterations in the brain - How animal experiments help to understand pathomechanisms of depressive illnesses].

Affective disorders are accompanied by central nervous changes that may lead to diseases of brain and peripheral organs. To gain an insight into neurobiological mechanisms that underlie such diseases we are studying tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri). This animal model is based on the fact that male tree shrews are very territorial and that under laboratory conditions, two males establish a clear social rank order with a dominant and a subordinate animal. In the visual presence of the dominant, the subordinate shows all typical signs of stress with pronounced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and of the sympathetic nervous system. If there are daily confrontations with the dominant during a time period of several weeks, the subordinate experiences chronic psychosocial stress. Tree shrews can be regarded as a suitable animal model to investigate the neurobiological basis of affective disorders since (1) behavioral and endocrine symptoms of subordinates resemble those of depressive patients, (2) antidepressant treatments lead to an improvement of symptoms, and (3) also in humans chronic stress can lead to depression. Using this model we showed that chronic stress induces changes in the morphology of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, affects neurogenesis in the hippocampal formation, and changes the expression of glucocorticoid, serotonergic and noradrenergic receptors in the brain. These changes depend on the duration of the stress period with some of the alterations being reversible whereas others persist during a longer time period. Since the above receptors modulate neuronal activity, the stress induced alterations lead to an impairment of neuronal activity in distinct brain regions.

Animals↗

Social stress by repeated defeat: effects on social behaviour and emotionality.

The consequences of repeated defeat stress on social and non-social behaviours were assessed in male rats 24 h after the last defeat. Aggressive, defensive, introductory and affiliative items of both experimental animals and their opponents were recorded in a social behaviour test, while emotionality, exploration and general motor activity were scored in the Emergency, Hole-Board, and Elevated Plus-Maze tests. In addition to a dramatic loss of body weight, a selective inhibition of aggression was observed in the stressed experimental subjects, paralleled by decreased defence in their opponents. In the stressed animals, no change was found in other social and non-social behaviours; in particular, defence and emotionality were unaffected. This shows that, under our experimental conditions, the inhibition of aggression, which has often been reported to parallel an increase in defence after social and non-social aversive stimulation, was not dependent on a concomitant activation of a prevailing defensive motivational system, sustained by increased emotionality and fear. As the same result, namely a selective inhibition of aggression with no effect on defence, was obtained after exposure to a non-social stressor (restraint), the hypothesis is advanced that the threshold for stress-induced behavioural changes is lower for aggression than for any other behavioural and motivational system, including that leading to defence. The inhibition of aggression would therefore be a direct response to stress and not a by-product of the activation of a fear-based defensive system.

Aggression↗

Effects of repeated aggressive encounters on approach to a female and plasma testosterone in male mice.

Effects of repeated experience of aggression accompanied by social victories or social defeat in 10 daily agonistic confrontations on testosterone levels in and the behavioral response of CBA/Lac male mice exposed to a receptive female from behind a perforated transparent partition have been examined. Testosterone levels were not changed significantly in the mice that had consistently been victorious over 10 days (winners) or in the mice that had consistently been defeated over 10 days (losers). Losers and controls (mice that had been caged individually for 5 days) responded with increased levels of behavioral activity near the partition and elevated testosterone. Winners showed a significantly poorer behavioral and hormonal response. It is concluded that the repeated display of aggression by male mice led to a reduction in both their behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to an estrous female.

Aggression↗

On the validity of typologies of gay males.

The classical dichotomization of male homosexuals into passive and active or insertee and inserter types is tested against empirical evidence. Data on the sexual preferences of 243 male homosexuals are analyzed to determine the extent to which they fit the insertee-inserter dichotomy. The fit between the dichotomy and the data is found to be very poor. The most popular set of sexual preferences is for all roles combined, both active and passive anal and oral. It is suggested that the concepts of oral and anal may better characterize the sexual preferences of male homosexuals than those of insertee and inserter. A variety of complex interaction effects among sexual preferences are also reported.

Adult↗

Procedural Fairness, Managers' Self-Esteem, and Managerial Behaviors Following a Layoff.

The present research examined the predictors and consequences associated with managers' reactions to job layoffs. Whereas previous research suggests that procedural unfairness lowers self-esteem, we hypothesized that, in a downsizing context, the relationship between procedural unfairness and lower self-esteem would be more pronounced among managers than nonmanagers. The results of Study 1 supported the hypothesis and showed that the findings were attributable to managers' greater organizational commitment. Study 2 showed that managers who perceived procedures to be less fair were less likely to report practicing the behaviors needed from effective managers in times of change. Moreover, the relationship between procedural unfairness and managers' behaviors was mediated by their self-esteem. Subordinates of managers who engaged in less effective managerial behaviors, in turn, had more negative perceptions of their immediate work environments. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

Social stress in hamsters: defeat activates specific neurocircuits within the brain.

During an agonistic encounter, subordinate male hamsters display defensive and submissive postures and show increased secretion of glucocorticoids, whereas dominant males do not. To determine whether specific neuronal pathways are activated during the behavioral and neuroendocrine responses of subordinate males, expression of c-fos mRNA within the brains of subordinate males was compared with the pattern in dominant males after fighting. After 1 week of handling, pairs of hamsters were either swapped between cages (handled control males), or were allowed to interact for 30 min [dominant (DOM) males and subordinate (SUB) males]. A second group of control animals that received no handling or social stimulation (unhandled control males) were also included. After testing, all animals were killed by decapitation, their brains were removed for c-fos in situ hybridization, and trunk blood was collected for analysis of plasma cortisol and corticosterone levels. Exposure of males to their partner's cage for 30 min resulted in increased expression of c-fos mRNA in multiple brain regions. In addition, fighting increased c-fos expression in the medial amygdaloid nucleus of both DOM and SUB males as well as having more selective effects. In DOM males, c-fos expression was elevated within the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In SUB males, c-fos expression increased within a multitude of brain areas, including cingulate cortex, lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, several hypothalamic nuclei, central amygdaloid nucleus, amygdalohippocampal area, dorsal periaqueductal gray, dorsal raphe, cuneiform nucleus, and locus coeruleus. These findings are discussed in relation to neurocircuits associated with behavioral arousal and stress.

Aggression↗

Dominance behaviour and regulation of foraging in the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata (Lep.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Ropalidia marginata is a primitively eusocial, polistine wasp widely distributed in peninsular India. In spite of its primitively eusocial status, queens of R. marginata are surprisingly docile and behaviourally non-dominant (except during the first week or so of their careers as queens). Yet they successfully maintain reproductive monopoly throughout their careers, probably through the use of pheromones. Workers exhibit dominance-subordinate interactions but these behaviours are not involved in regulating reproductive competition among the workers because workers with high dominance ranks are not necessarily the ones who replace lost queens. We have speculated and provided correlational evidence before that dominance-subordinate interactions among the workers have been co-opted in this species for the workers to regulate each other's foraging. Here, we provide experimental evidence in support of the speculation, by reducing demand for food and showing that this results in a significant decrease in the frequency of dominance-subordinate interactions among the workers.

Agonistic Behavior↗

Can opposites attract? Personality heterogeneity in supervisor-subordinate dyads as a predictor of subordinate outcomes.

Unlike the majority of research hypothesizing that similarity between individuals results in positive individual outcomes, this article examines whether dissimilarity results in positive outcomes. On the basis of interpersonal interaction theory, the authors hypothesized that dissimilarity in the personality dimension of control within supervisor-subordinate dyads is positively associated with the subordinate's satisfaction with the supervisor; results obtained with polynomial regression techniques were supportive. However, for 2 other outcomes, organizational citizenship behaviors and work withdrawal, neither similarity nor dissimilarity within the dyad was important; subordinate level of control was related to organizational citizenship behaviors reported by subordinates, and supervisor level of control was related to work withdrawal reported by subordinates. These findings portray the importance of examining relationship complexities beyond similarity in organizational dyad research.

Adult↗

Social stress in tree shrews as an animal model of depression: an example of a behavioral model of a CNS disorder.

Animal models are invaluable in preclinical research on human psychopathology. Valid animal models to study the pathophysiology of depression and specific biological and behavioral responses to antidepressant drug treatments are of prime interest. In order to improve our knowledge of the causal mechanisms of stress-related disorders such as depression, we need animal models that mirror the situation seen in patients. One promising model is the chronic psychosocial stress paradigm in male tree shrews. Coexistence of two males in visual and olfactory contact leads to a stable dominant/subordinate relationship, with the subordinates showing obvious changes in behavioral, neuroendocrine, and central nervous activity that are similar to the signs and symptoms observed during episodes of depression in patients. To discover whether this model, besides its "face validity" for depression, also has "predictive validity," we treated subordinate animals with the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine and found a time-dependent recovery of both endocrine function and normal behavior. In contrast, the anxiolytic diazepam was ineffective. Chronic psychosocial stress in male tree shrews significantly decreased hippocampal volume and the proliferation rate of the granule precursor cells in the dentate gyrus. These stress-induced changes can be prevented by treating the animals with clomipramine, tianeptine, or the selective neurokinin receptor antagonist L-760,735. In addition to its apparent face and predictive validity, the tree shrew model also has a "molecular validity" due to the degradation routes of psychotropic compounds and gene sequences of receptors are very similar to those in humans. Although further research is required to validate this model fully, it provides an adequate and interesting non-rodent experimental paradigm for preclinical research on depression.

Animals↗

Chronic psychosocial stress causes apical dendritic atrophy of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in subordinate tree shrews.

We have shown previously that repeated laboratory restraint stress or daily corticosterone administration affects the structure of CA3 hippocampal neurons in rats. In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated daily psychosocial stress on the structure of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in male tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri). Male tree shrews develop social hierarchies in which subordinates show characteristic changes in physiological and behavioral parameters when confronted with a dominant. In the present experiments, subordinate animals lost body weight soon after starting the daily social conflict, and urinary excretion of cortisol was elevated throughout the experiment as compared with the control period. Golgi-impregnated brain tissue from subordinates exposed to 28 d (1 hr/d) of social confrontations was compared with that from control nonstressed animals. The apical dendrites of the CA3 pyramidal cells from subordinates had a decreased number of branch points and total dendritic length as compared with controls. No differences were observed in apical dendritic spine density or in the basal dendritic tree morphology. The stress-induced CA3 apical dendritic atrophy in subordinates was prevented by administering daily oral doses of the antiepileptic drug phenytoin (Dilantin, Sigma, St. Louis, MO) (200 mg/kg), which interferes with excitatory amino acid (EAA) action. These results suggest that the naturalistic stressor psychosocial stress induces specific structural changes in hippocampal neurons of subordinate male tree shrews. These changes, like those in the rat after glucocorticoid treatment or restraint stress, probably are mediated by activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal-axis acting in concert with endogenous EAAs from mossy fiber input.

Animals↗

Hypercortisolism among socially subordinate wild baboons originates at the CNS level.

Recent studies suggest that the hypercortisolism and dexamathasone resistance of depression arise, at least in part, at the level of the brain, ie, cortisol-releasing factor (CRF) and/or other corticotropin-secretagogues are hypersecreted. This article suggests a similar cause of the hypercortisolism of social subordinance. Two troops of wild olive baboons, living freely in the Serengeti Ecosystem of East Africa, have been under long-term study. Consistently, in stable dominance hierachies, subordinate males are hypercortisolemic relative to dominant animals. Furthermore, hypercortisolemic males are dexamethasone resistant. There are no rank-related difference in cortisol clearance or adrenal sensitivity to corticotropin, suggesting a pituitary and/or neural locus of the hypercortisolism. Subordinate males were shown to secrete less corticotropin in response to a CRF-challenge than did dominant males. Following the logic used in similar studies with depressives, if subordinate males were hypercortisolemic despite decreased pituitary sensitivity to CRF, then this implies that the hyperactivity of the adrenocortical axis is driven at the level of the brain. Furthermore, subordinate males were hyporesponsive to CRF after administration of metyrapone, which blocks cortisol secretion and disinhibits the pituitary from feedback inhibition. Thus, the pituitary appears to have lost sensitivity to CRF itself in these low-ranking males. These observations are interpreted in light of behavioral data suggesting that these subordinate males are under sustained social stress.

Adrenocortical Hyperfunction↗