Effects of isolation-rearing on the development of social behaviors in male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Physiology & Behavior
Michito ShimozuruYuji Mori

Abstract

Social isolation has been shown to modify behavioral patterns and neuroendocrine function in many species. In this study, we examined the influence of post-weaning social isolation on the behavioral development and fecal testosterone and corticosterone levels of male Mongolian gerbils. In Experiment 1, isolation-reared (IR) males spent more time engaged in social-sniffing. IR males also showed more aggressive and anxiety-related behaviors than group-reared males (GR; three animals per cage). In Experiment 2, a screen-divided-reared condition (SDR) was examined in addition to GR (two males per cage) and IR males. In the SDR group, two subjects were separated by a wire mesh screen allowing for sensory communication and limited physical contact but not direct social interactions. SDR males showed similar patterns in sniffing and anxiety-related behaviors to IR males; however, an increase in aggression was not observed. No differences in fecal testosterone and corticosterone levels were found among males in different rearing conditions. These results suggest that post-weaning social isolation affects behavioral development without affecting testosterone and corticosterone levels. The behavioral changes observed may therefore be reg...Continue Reading

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Apr 22, 2015·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Carmen Sandi, József Haller
Nov 5, 2020·NeuroImage·Françoise Diaz-RojasMasako Myowa

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