Studying the Brain Monoaminergic Systems and Neurotrophic Factors in Minipigs with High and Low Tolerance to the Presence of Human.

Here, we present the first evidence for brain adaptation in pigs tolerant to the human presence, as a behavioral trait favoring domestication. The study was carried out on minipiglets from population bred at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (Novosibirsk, Russia). We compared the behavior, metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems, and functional activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, as well as neurotrophic markers in the brain of minipigs differing by tolerance to human presence (HT and LT - high and low tolerance).

Serotonin 5-HT receptor overexpression in the raphe nuclei area produces antidepressive effect and affects brain serotonin system in male mice.

Heterodimerization between 5-HT and 5-HT receptors seems to play an important role in the mechanism of depression and antidepressant drug action. It was suggested that the shift of the ratio between 5-HT /5-HT hetero- and 5-HT /5-HT homodimers in presynaptic neurons toward 5-HT /5-HT homodimers is one of the reasons of depression. Consequently, the artificial elevation of 5-HT receptor number in presynaptic terminals might restore physiological homo-/heterodimer ratio resulting in antidepressive effect.

Spatial learning in the Morris water maze in mice genetically different in the predisposition to catalepsy: the effect of intraventricular treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Hereditary catalepsy in mice is accompanied with volume reduction of some brain structures and high vulnerability to inflammatory agents. Here an association between hereditary catalepsy and spatial learning deficit in the Morris water maze (MWM) in adult mouse males of catalepsy-resistant AKR, catalepsy-prone CBA and AKR.CBA-D13Mit76 (D13) strains was studied.

On the association between lipopolysaccharide induced catalepsy and serotonin metabolism in the brain of mice genetically different in the predisposition to catalepsy.

The study of the interaction between nervous and immune systems in the mechanism of psychopathology is an important problem of neuroscience. Catalepsy (freezing reaction) is a passive defensive strategy in response to threatening stimuli. An exaggerated form of catalepsy is a syndrome of some grave mental disorders.

Hereditary catalepsy in mice is associated with the brain dysmorphology and altered stress response.

Catalepsy is a passive defensive strategy in response to threatening stimuli. In exaggerated forms it is associated with brain dysfunctions. The study was aimed to examine (1) possible association of the hereditary catalepsy with neuroanatomical characteristics and (2) sensitivity of the catalepsy expression, HPA and brain serotonin (5-HT) systems to restraint stress (for one hour) in mice of catalepsy-prone (CBA/Lac, ASC (Antidepressant Sensitive Catalepsy), congenic AKR.