Increased Drinking following Social Isolation Rearing: Implications for Polydipsia Associated with Schizophrenia |
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| Authors: | Emily R Hawken Nicholas J Delva Richard J Beninger |
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| Institution: | 1. Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada.; 2. Department of Psychiatry, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada.; 3. Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.; 4. Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada.; Prince Henry’s Institute, Australia, |
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| Abstract: | Primary polydipsia, excessive drinking without known medical cause, is especially associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We used animal models of schizophrenia-like symptoms to examine the effects on schedule-induced polydipsia: post-weaning social isolation rearing, subchronic MK-801 treatment (an NMDA-receptor antagonist) or the two combined. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats reared in groups or in isolation beginning at postnatal day 21 were further divided to receive subchronic MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg twice daily) or saline for 7 days beginning on postnatal day 62. Following a 4-day withdrawal period, all groups were trained on a schedule-induced polydipsia paradigm. Under food-restriction, animals reared in isolation and receiving food pellets at 1-min intervals developed significantly more drinking behavior than those reared with others. The addition of subchronic MK-801 treatment did not significantly augment the amount of water consumed. These findings suggest a predisposition to polydipsia is a schizophrenia-like behavioral effect of post-weaning social isolation. |
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