How is social dominance of Wildtype Groningen rats in a semi-natural social colony reflected in brain and behavior?

Doosje, Hanne Lise (2022) How is social dominance of Wildtype Groningen rats in a semi-natural social colony reflected in brain and behavior? Master's Research Project 1, Biomedical Sciences.

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Abstract

Animals are an essential model for research of chronic social stress. Groups of social animals for dominance hierarchies, which can cause physical and psychosocial stress. Subordinate animals experience the most stress which is reflected in their behavior, and the physiological and plasticity changes. Previous studies included females for an increase in aggression, while the current study includes the agonistic interactions by females. 36 male and 36 female Wild Type Groningen (WTG) rats were divided into 12 colonies of 4 male and 4 female rats and placed into a visible burrow system, which is a semi-natural environment. Behavioral and physiological markers for stress were examined and the spine density of the dominant and subordinate animals were counted, and the level of BDNF and proBDNF were determined through Western Blot. The results show weight loss for both dominant and subordinate males, with subordinate animals having the highest weight loss. No difference was found between physiological stress markers, same as the spine density, except an increase in density further from the apical branch in the most subordinate animal of the BLA region. Due to malfunctions in the Western Blot process no conclusion can be drawn about the level of BNDF and proBDNF. However, the conclusion can be drawn that, a dominance hierarchy is formed, but there is no indication of social stress. Rather there is an indication that animals are able to adapt to their stressful situation.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Research Project 1)
Supervisor name:	Buwalda, B.
Degree programme:	Biomedical Sciences
Thesis type:	Master's Research Project 1
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2022 10:26
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2022 10:26
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/28630

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