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January 25, 2021International Journal of Molecular SciencesOpen Access

Dual Profile of Environmental Enrichment and Autistic-Like Behaviors in the Maternal Separated Model in Rats

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Authors

MMMonireh MansouriHPHamidreza PouretemadGWGregers Wegener

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Overview

Animal study reveals environmental enrichment reduces repetitive behaviors but exacerbates social and anxiety deficits in maternally separated rats, suggesting complex neurodevelopmental trade-offs.

Key Points

  • To examine the therapeutic effects of environmental enrichment on autism-related behaviors and neurostructural plasticity in a rat model of maternal separation.
  • Male rats underwent maternal separation (PND 1–14, 3 h/day) or control conditions and were housed in either an enriched environment or a standard environment from weaning (PND21).
  • Adolescent rats (PND42–50) were evaluated across behavioral tests assessing direct social interaction, sociability, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and locomotion.
  • Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were quantified using ELISA, and brain structural plasticity in the hippocampus and infralimbic area was measured stereologically.
  • Environmental enrichment significantly reduced repetitive behaviors induced by maternal separation.
  • Environmental enrichment failed to improve maternal separation-induced social and anxiety deficits, exacerbating both behavioral impairments.
  • Worsened social and anxiety behaviors were associated with significantly increased plasma BDNF, larger hippocampal and infralimbic volumes, and increased infralimbic neuron counts (p < 0.05).

Cite This Study

Mansouri et al. (2021) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aab3cb59a2af5a4150fb863https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031173
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