布氏田鼠母体青春期捕食风险应激对后代反捕食行为和HPA轴基础活动水平的影响

本研究以28日龄的青春期雌性布氏田鼠作为亲代实验动物,每天分别暴露于蒸馏水、兔尿和猫尿60min,连续18d,成年后与正常雄鼠交配.随后检测其子代在28日龄(青春期)和90日龄(成年期)时暴露于这3种气味源的行为反应,以及下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素、血浆促肾上腺皮质激素和皮质酮的基础水平.结果显示:与母体青春期暴露...     

雌性布氏田鼠对不同共居时间雄性气味的识别与记忆

啮齿动物的社会识别包括对化学信号的辨别、学习和记忆。田鼠属动物雌雄成年个体共居一定时间后,可以利用气味信号来识别配偶。本研究将成年雌雄布氏田鼠配对饲养12 h、18 h、24 h,确认发生交配行为形成配对关系后,分开单独饲养6 h,取配偶雄鼠和陌生雄鼠巢垫物作为个体气味,在气味选择箱中观察雌鼠对配偶雄鼠和陌生雄鼠气味信号的探究和选择行为,从而探讨不同共居时间雌性布氏田鼠对配偶气味信号的识别与记忆的影响。研究结果表明:共居时间影响雌性布氏田鼠对配偶气味的识别与记忆;共居时间越长,雌鼠在气味探究和选择时间上对配偶气味偏好越明显;共居24 h 后,雌性布氏田鼠能够识别出配偶雄鼠的气味信号并形成记忆,这样的记忆维持时间至少是6 h。     

非繁殖期成年雄性布氏田鼠对群体气体的辨别

本文研究了非繁殖期成年雄性布氏田鼠对陌生群本气味,本群体气体的社会探究行为和尿标记行为,探讨了布氏田鼠利用气味信号进行群体辨别的能力。在熟悉相的辨别实验中,雄鼠对陌生群体气味的社会探究和尿标记行为明显我于本群体气味和对照组,优势个体的探究和尿尿行为显著高于从属个体。实验结果表明,布氏田鼠具体对群体气味的辨别能力,在巢垫物中存在用于群体识别的化学通讯成分,优势鼠的气味标记可能性种内群体间的嗅觉通讯中     

配偶数增加对布氏田鼠社会行为的影响

为研究配偶数量对布氏田鼠 (Microtusbrandti)社会行为的影响 ,设置了 6组处理方法 :对照组 1♂+1♀配对组 ,只增加雌性配偶的 1♂ +2♀处理组和 1♂ +3♀处理组 ,只增加雄性配偶的 2♂ +1♀处理组和 3♂ +1♀处理组以及同时增加雌雄配偶的 2♂ +2♀处理组。每个处理各设 10个重复。记录各实验组中布氏田鼠在观察箱内 (两个大小为 37cm× 2 7cm× 17cm的有机塑料箱合并而成 ) 10min内发生的非对抗行为频次和对抗行为频次。结果表明 :与对照组相比 ,其它各组布氏田鼠的非对抗行为频次都明显降低 ,而对抗行为频次都明显增加。有效性比和密度与布氏田鼠社会行为的相关性研究表明 ,配偶数增加主要通过密度的改变来影响布氏田鼠的社会行为 ,配偶数增加引起密度的升高 ,密度的升高导致布氏田鼠社群内非对抗行为显著减少 ,对抗行为显著增加 ,从而引起布氏田鼠社群关系的紧张 ,加大了社群的竞争强度.     

雄性等级对布氏田鼠雌性选择的影响

利用监控录像以及特定行为记录的方法,研究了雄性等级对布氏田鼠气味选择和个体选择的影响。结果表明不论是气味选择还是个体选择,雌鼠动情状态不影响对雄鼠的选择频次,但是动情雌鼠在自我修饰行为频次上高于非动情雌鼠。此外,在气味和个体选择的优先权方面,动情雌鼠更多的优先选择优势雄鼠的气味和个体并与之交配,而非动情雌鼠更多的先选择从属雄鼠的气味和个体。总之,不论是气味选择还是个体选择,布氏田鼠不仅受到被选择雄鼠的地位影响,还与雌鼠的生理状态有关。     

雄性手术不育对布氏田鼠社会行为的影响

利用输精管结扎的方法对雄性布氏田鼠进行了不育处理,并研究了雄性不育后对布氏田鼠社会行为的影响．结果表明,与对照组相比,不育组中布氏田鼠的友好行为频次和对抗行为频次没有发生显著改变,而且不育组内部不育雄性和正常雄性之间在友好行为频次和对抗行为频次上也没有显著差异,说明结扎不育雄性对布氏田鼠的社会行为影响不大。     

布氏田鼠（Microtus brandti）的食性

通过胃内容物显微组织学分析法,研究了内蒙古克什克腾旗阿其乌拉地区布氏田鼠春季和夏季的自然食性。该鼠于春季和夏季都最嗜食羊草,但食性有明显的季节变化,对食物有强烈的选择性特征,专化现象较为明显。植被的物候变化和植物体的蛋白质含量以及硅等矿质元素的含量是影响布氏田鼠进行选食的主要因素。文中还讨论了布氏田鼠的最优觅食行为。     

不育雄性对布氏田鼠气味选择和个体选择的影响

在Y型迷宫中进行了动情雌性布氏田鼠对结扎不育雄鼠及正常雄鼠气味和个体的选择实验。气味选择实验以动物的巢垫物为气味源,个体选择直接采用结扎雄性和正常雄性作为被选择个体。记录雌性布氏田鼠对选择源的选择频次以及停留时间。结果表明,无论在气味选择或是个体选择中,动情雌性布氏田鼠在选择频次和停留时间上都具有显的正相关性,而且都没有明显表现出对某—气味或个体选择上的偏好。激素测定结扎不育后雄鼠血清中的睾酮和皮质醇含量有听升高．但这种变化没有对雌性布氏田鼠的选择产生影响。     

非繁殖期成年雄性布氏四鼠对群体气味的辨别

本文研究了非繁殖期成年雄性布氏四鼠对陌生群体气味、本群体气味的社会探究行为和尿标记行为,探讨了布氏四鼠利用气味信号进行群体辨别的能力。在对熟悉相的辨别实验中,雄鼠对陌生群体气昧的社会探究和尿标记行为明显多于本群体气味和对照组,优势个体的探究和尿标记行为显著高于从属个体。实验结果表明：布氏田鼠具有对群体气味的辨别能力;在巢垫物中存在用于群体识别的化学通讯成分,优势鼠的气味标记可能在种内群体间的嗅觉通讯中起着重要的作用。     

布氏田鼠的双亲行为比较

在实验室对布氏田鼠双亲行为和幼仔发育的研究表明, 雌性布氏田鼠的修饰、筑巢和摄食行为显著地多于雄鼠, 且这些差异多集中在幼仔发育的最初9 d 内。雌鼠的修饰、筑巢行为以及在巢内的时间与幼仔发育日龄呈显著地负相关, 而雄鼠的这些行为无显著变化。但雌雄的衔回行为却与幼仔发育日龄呈显著地正相关。据此认为雌性布氏田鼠的双亲行为多于雄鼠, 符合双亲投资的理论。     

Behavioral and Endocrine Consequences of Simultaneous Exposure to Two Different Stressors in Rats: Interaction or Independence?

Although behavioral and endocrine consequences of acute exposure to stressors have been extensively studied, little is known about how simultaneous exposure to two different stressors interacts to induce short- and long-term effects. In the present experiment we studied this interaction in adult male rats exposed to cat fur odor (impregnated cloth) or immobilization on boards either separately or simultaneously. We reasoned that exposure to the odor of a potential predator while immobilized, may potentiate its negative consequences as compared to exposure to only one of the stressors. Exposure to cat odor elicited the expected reduction of activity and avoidance of the area where the impregnated cloth was located. The endocrine response (plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone, as a measure of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, HPA) was markedly greater after immobilization than after cat fur odor and no additive effects were found by simultaneous exposure to both stressors. Cat odor, but not immobilization, increased anxiety-like behavior as evaluated in the elevated plus-maze 7 days after the stressors, with no evidence of enhanced HPA activation. In addition, cat odor exposure resulted in long-lasting (8 days later) fear conditioning to the box containing a clean cloth, which was reflected by hypoactivity, avoidance of the cloth area and enhanced HPA activation. All these effects were similarly observed in rats exposed simultaneously to cat odor and immobilization. In rats only exposed to immobilization, only some weak behavioral signs of fear conditioning were found, but HPA activation in response to the context paired to immobilization was enhanced to the same extent as in cat odor-exposed animals, supporting a certain degree of endocrine conditioning. The present results did not reveal important behavioral interactions between the two stressors when animals experienced both simultaneously, whereas some interactions were found regarding HPA activation. Theoretical implications are discussed.     

猫尿液气味持续暴露对褐家鼠FOS表达的影响

在室内条件下以室内繁殖褐家鼠（Rattus norregicus）和Wistar大鼠为研究对象,采用免疫组织化学技术研究其分别暴露于猫尿液气味0d、1d、3d、6d、9d、18d后的FOS蛋白表达量的变化,探讨生活环境对褐家鼠反捕食对策的影响。研究结果表明,猫尿液气味暴露后室内繁殖褐家鼠下丘脑前区后部（AHP）、下丘脑腹内侧中央部分（VMHC）、杏仁核内侧核蚁背区（MeAD）、基底外侧杏仁核前部（BLA）区域内的FOS阳性细胞平均光密度与对照相比均显著增加,而在性别间无明显的差异。Wistar大鼠在猫尿液气味暴露1d、3d、6d、9d后,其下丘脑（AHP、VMHC）和杏仁核（BLA）中FOS阳性细胞的平均光密度显著高于对照组,而暴露18d后的FOS阳性细胞的平均光密度又恢复到对照水平;Wistar大鼠在AHP和MeAD区域中FOS阳性细胞的平均光密度有显著差异,而在VMHC和BLA区域中FOS阳性细胞的平均光密度无性别间差异。持续暴露猫尿液气味后两种类型褐家鼠在AHP、VMHC、MeAD、BLA区域中FOS阳性细胞的平均光密度的相对变化率也存在显著差异。以上结果表明生活环境的变化能够影响褐家鼠对捕食者气味的反应对策。     

Effects of acidic-astressin and ovine-CRF microinfusions into the ventral hippocampus on defensive behaviors in rats

This study investigated a possible role for ventral hippocampal corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in modulating both unconditioned and conditioned defensive behaviors by examining the effects of pre-training ventral hippocampal ovine-CRF (oCRF) or acidic-astressin ([Glu^11,16]Ast) microinfusions in male Long-Evans hooded rats exposed to various threat stimuli including the elevated plus-maze (EPM) (oCRF), cat odor (oCRF and [Glu^11,16]Ast) and a live cat ([Glu^11,16]Ast). Unconditioned defensive behaviors were assessed during threat exposure, while conditioned defensive behaviors were assessed in each predator context 24 h after the initial threat encounter. Pre-training infusions of the CRF₁ and CRF₂ receptor agonist oCRF significantly increased defensive behaviors during both the unconditioned and conditioned components of the cat odor test, as well as exposure to the EPM. In contrast to the behavioral effects of oCRF microinfusions, the CRF₁ and CRF₂ receptor antagonist [Glu^11,16]Ast significantly decreased defensive behaviors during exposure to cat odor, while producing no discernible effects following a second injection in the cat exposure test. During conditioned test trials, pre-training infusions of [Glu^11,16]Ast also significantly reduced defensive behaviors during re-exposure to both predator contexts. These results suggest a specific role for ventral hippocampal CRF receptors in modulating anxiety-like behaviors in several ethologically relevant animal models of defense.     

雄性布氏田鼠对不同熟悉程度和动情状态下雌鼠气味的辨别

通过雄性布氏田鼠（Microtus brandti)对配偶和陌生雌鼠气味的辨别实验发现：（1）雌鼠动情状况对雄鼠气味行为反应的影响,当配偶雌鼠处于动情期时,被试雄鼠对动情陌生雌鼠巢垫物的溴闻和舔舐的持续时间都明显多于对非动情陌生雌鼠巢垫物的嗅闻和舔舐时间,而其他行为没有明显判别当配偶雌鼠处于非动情期时,雄鼠对动情的和非动情的陌生雌鼠的气味行为反应都没有明显判别当陌生雌鼠处于动情期时,被试雄鼠对动情配偶气味的嗅闻时间明显多于对非动情配偶的嗅闻时间,而其他行为反应没有明显差异;当陌生雌鼠处于非动情期时,被试雄鼠对动情配偶雌鼠巢垫物的嗅闻时间,挖掘频次,舔舐频次和时间都明显多于对非动情配偶气味的嗅闻,而且雄鼠在动情配偶气味周围搔扒体侧行为的发生频次和持续时间也多于在非动情配偶气味周围的搔扒行为;（2）熟悉性对雄鼠气味行为反应的影响,当配偶雌鼠和陌生雌鼠都处于动情期或都处于非动情期时,被试雄鼠对陌生雌鼠气味的探究行为（嗅问、挖掘和舔噬）和搔扒体侧行为明显多于对配偶雌鼠气味的探究;雄鼠访问陌生雌鼠气味源箱的频次和在其中的停留时间也都多于访问配偶雌鼠气味源箱的频次和停留时间;当配偶雌鼠处于动情期而陌生雌鼠处于非动情期时,被试雄鼠对配偶气味的嗅闻,挖掘和自身修饰行为明显多于对陌生雌鼠气味的行为反应,进入配偶气味源箱中的访问频次也多于进入陌生雌鼠气味源箱的访问频次。结果说明：雌鼠与被试雄鼠的熟悉程度和雌鼠的动情状况直接影响雄性布氏田鼠的社会探究和气味选择行为,即雄鼠偏好并选择动情雌鼠和陌生雌鼠,雄性布氏田鼠对雌鼠气味的行为反应也表现出田鼠属动物典型的多配制种类特征。     

Cat odor causes long-lasting contextual fear conditioning and increased pituitary-adrenal activation, without modifying anxiety

A single exposure to a cat or cat odors has been reported by some groups to induce contextual and auditory fear conditioning and long-lasting changes in anxiety-like behaviour, but there is no evidence for parallel changes in biological stress markers. In the present study we demonstrated in male rats that exposure to a novel environment containing a cloth impregnated with cat fur odor resulted in avoidance of the odor, lower levels of activity and higher pituitary-adrenal (PA) response as compared to those exposed to the novel environment containing a clean cloth, suggesting increased levels of stress in the former animals. When re-exposed 9 days later to the same environment with a clean cloth, previously cat fur exposed rats again showed avoidance of the cloth area and lower levels of activity, suggesting development of contextual fear conditioning, which again was associated with a higher PA activation. In contrast, unaltered both anxiety-like behaviour and PA responsiveness to an elevated plus-maze were found 7 days after cat odor exposure. It is concluded that: (i) PA activation is able to reflect both the stressful properties of cat fur odor and odor-induced contextual fear conditioning; (ii) development of cat odor-induced contextual fear conditioning is independent of the induction of long-lasting changes in anxiety-like behaviour; and (iii) greater PA activation during exposure to the odor context is not explained by non-specific sensitization of the PA axis caused by previous exposure to cat fur odor.     

成年布氏田鼠对个体气味信号的识别与记忆

将配对饲养的成年雌雄布氏田鼠分离, 通过分开单独饲养12 h , 1 d、2 d、3 d、5 d 和7 d 后雌、雄鼠对原配偶异性和陌生异性气味信号的选择实验, 探讨布氏田鼠对气味信号的识别和记忆。实验表明: 在分离12 h 和1 d 后, 雄鼠对陌生雌性气味的选择和探究行为显著多于对熟悉雌鼠气味, 而雌鼠对两种气味并未表现显著的探究差异; 布氏田鼠对气味信号的记忆维持的强度和时间随个体不同而产生差异, 雄鼠在分离后12 h、1d、2 d 中对陌生雌鼠气味均表现出差异明显的探究行为, 而后, 各项探究行为的差异均不明显。雌鼠探究行为变化比较缓慢。据此推测雄鼠对气味的记忆维持在2 d 左右。     

Behavioral and neuroendocrine response of Brandt's voles,Lasiopodomys brandtii,to odors of different species

Predator odors are nonintrusive natural stressors of high ethological relevance. Behavioral and hormonal responses and changes in the expression of medial hypothalamic c-fos mRNA were examined in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) after exposure to feces of a domestic cat (Felis catus), weasel (Mustela sibirica), snake (Xenopeltis hainanensis), goat (Capra aegagrus), and distilled water (control). One hundred voles were tested in the defensive withdrawal apparatus. Voles showed an aversion to the predator odors by showing significant high levels of flight-related behaviors, more freezing behavior, and less and higher grooming behavior when they exposed to weasel and cat feces and more vigilant rearing compared to goat and control groups. Adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone serum levels significantly increased when voles were exposed to the predator odors compared to voles exposed to goat and control odors. A significant high c-fos mRNA level indicates a strong predator odor-induced activation of the medial hypothalamus of the tested voles. Our results display significant fear responses of Brandt's voles exposed to predator odors and that they can skillfully differentiate between odors from different species with odors from sympatric predators triggering the highest responses.     

Effects of the stimulus and chamber size on unlearned fear across development

Predator odors have been found to induce unconditioned fear in adult animals and provide the opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying unlearned and learned fear. Predator threats change across an animal's lifetime, as do abilities that enable the animal to learn or engage in different defensive behaviors. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the combination of factors that successfully induce unlearned fear to predator odor across development. Infant, juvenile, adolescent, and adult rats were exposed to one of the three odor stimuli (control odor, cat urine, or cat fur) in either a small or large chamber. Though all ages displayed fear-related behavior to cat odors, differences were reflected only in freezing behavior and not, as expected, risk-assessment. Infant and juvenile animals also increased freezing to cat urine compared to the control odor, possibly because these age groups possess limited defensive options to cope with threat and so may respond with freezing to all predator stimuli. Unexpectedly, chamber size had no effect on either freezing or risk-assessment in this study. Once the parameters of unconditioned fear are understood, they can be exploited to develop a learning paradigm to predator odors that could be used in early life.