Glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 haplodeficiency in mice: consequences of postweaning social isolation on behavior and changes in brain neurochemical systems.

Reductions of glutamate acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and subsequent GABA levels have been consistently observed in neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and depression, but it has remained unclear how GABAergic dysfunction contributes to different symptoms of the diseases. To address this issue, we investigated male mice haplodeficient for GAD67 (GAD67 mice), which showed a reduced social interaction, social dominance and increased immobility in the forced swim test. No differences were found in rotarod performance and sensorimotor gating.

Predator odor induced defensive behavior in wild and laboratory rats: A comparative study.

Laboratory rats are frequently used as animal models in research. Since the 1920s rats are bred and reared in laboratories which affects anatomy, physiology, and behavior responses. In the present study we exposed laboratory and wild rats to predator odor and comparatively analyzed their behavioral and physiological responses.

TMT predator odor activated neural circuit in C57BL/6J mice indicates TMT-stress as a suitable model for uncontrollable intense stress.

Intense stressful events can result in chronic disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In vulnerable individuals, a single aversive experience can be sufficient to cause long-lasting behavioral changes. Candidate brain regions implicated in stress-related psychopathology are the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis.

Fox urine exposure induces avoidance behavior in rats and activates the amygdalar olfactory cortex.

Predator odors represent a group of biologically-relevant chemosignals called kairomones. Kairomones enable prey animals to recognize potential predatory threats in their environment and to initiate appropriate defensive responses. Although the behavioral repertoire of anti-predatory responses (e.