The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models

(1) Background: Exposure to different sources of stress can have a significant effect on both psychological and physical processes. (2) Methods: The study took place over a period of 34 days and included a total of 40 animals. Regarding the exposure to chronic stressors, we opted for physiological,...

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Main Authors: Anisia Iuliana Alexa, Carmen Lăcrămioara Zamfir, Camelia Margareta Bogdănici, Andra Oancea, Alexandra Maștaleru, Irina Mihaela Abdulan, Daniel Constantin Brănișteanu, Alin Ciobîcă, Miruna Balmuș, Teodora Stratulat-Alexa, Roxana Elena Ciuntu, Florentina Severin, Mădălina Mocanu, Maria Magdalena Leon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/10/1492
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author Anisia Iuliana Alexa
Carmen Lăcrămioara Zamfir
Camelia Margareta Bogdănici
Andra Oancea
Alexandra Maștaleru
Irina Mihaela Abdulan
Daniel Constantin Brănișteanu
Alin Ciobîcă
Miruna Balmuș
Teodora Stratulat-Alexa
Roxana Elena Ciuntu
Florentina Severin
Mădălina Mocanu
Maria Magdalena Leon
author_facet Anisia Iuliana Alexa
Carmen Lăcrămioara Zamfir
Camelia Margareta Bogdănici
Andra Oancea
Alexandra Maștaleru
Irina Mihaela Abdulan
Daniel Constantin Brănișteanu
Alin Ciobîcă
Miruna Balmuș
Teodora Stratulat-Alexa
Roxana Elena Ciuntu
Florentina Severin
Mădălina Mocanu
Maria Magdalena Leon
author_sort Anisia Iuliana Alexa
collection DOAJ
description (1) Background: Exposure to different sources of stress can have a significant effect on both psychological and physical processes. (2) Methods: The study took place over a period of 34 days and included a total of 40 animals. Regarding the exposure to chronic stressors, we opted for physiological, non-invasive stressors, e.g., running, swimming, and changes in the intensity of light. An unforeseen stress batch was also created that alternated all these stress factors. The animals were divided into five experimental groups, each consisting of eight individuals. In the context of conducting the open field test for behavioral assessment before and after stress exposure, we aimed to investigate the impact of stress exposure on the affective traits of the animals. We also monitored body mass every two days. (3) Results: The control group exhibited an average increase in weight of approximately 30%. The groups exposed to stress factors showed slower growth rates, the lowest being the running group, recording a rate of 20.55%, and the unpredictable stress group at 24.02%. The anxious behavior intensified in the group with unforeseen stress, in the one with light variations, and in the running group. (4) Conclusions: Our research validates the animal model of intermittent light exposure during the dark phase as a novel method of inducing stress. The modification of some anxiety parameters was observed; they vary according to the type of stress. Body mass was found to increase in all groups, especially in the sedentary groups, likely due to the absence of cognitive, spatial, and social stimuli except for cohabitation.
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spelling doaj.art-477092968a9345f88a5e9fea042e73932023-11-19T15:53:43ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-10-011310149210.3390/brainsci13101492The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal ModelsAnisia Iuliana Alexa0Carmen Lăcrămioara Zamfir1Camelia Margareta Bogdănici2Andra Oancea3Alexandra Maștaleru4Irina Mihaela Abdulan5Daniel Constantin Brănișteanu6Alin Ciobîcă7Miruna Balmuș8Teodora Stratulat-Alexa9Roxana Elena Ciuntu10Florentina Severin11Mădălina Mocanu12Maria Magdalena Leon13Department of Surgery II, Discipline of Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Morpho-Funcțional Sciences I, Discipline of Histology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Specialties I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Specialties I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Specialties I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Iasi, 700505 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Alexandru Lapusneanu Street, No. 26, 700057 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Discipline of Oncology-Radiation Therapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery II, Discipline of Oto Rhino Laryngology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Health III, Discipline of Dermatology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Specialties I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania(1) Background: Exposure to different sources of stress can have a significant effect on both psychological and physical processes. (2) Methods: The study took place over a period of 34 days and included a total of 40 animals. Regarding the exposure to chronic stressors, we opted for physiological, non-invasive stressors, e.g., running, swimming, and changes in the intensity of light. An unforeseen stress batch was also created that alternated all these stress factors. The animals were divided into five experimental groups, each consisting of eight individuals. In the context of conducting the open field test for behavioral assessment before and after stress exposure, we aimed to investigate the impact of stress exposure on the affective traits of the animals. We also monitored body mass every two days. (3) Results: The control group exhibited an average increase in weight of approximately 30%. The groups exposed to stress factors showed slower growth rates, the lowest being the running group, recording a rate of 20.55%, and the unpredictable stress group at 24.02%. The anxious behavior intensified in the group with unforeseen stress, in the one with light variations, and in the running group. (4) Conclusions: Our research validates the animal model of intermittent light exposure during the dark phase as a novel method of inducing stress. The modification of some anxiety parameters was observed; they vary according to the type of stress. Body mass was found to increase in all groups, especially in the sedentary groups, likely due to the absence of cognitive, spatial, and social stimuli except for cohabitation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/10/1492stressopen fieldrunningswimminglight exposure variation
spellingShingle Anisia Iuliana Alexa
Carmen Lăcrămioara Zamfir
Camelia Margareta Bogdănici
Andra Oancea
Alexandra Maștaleru
Irina Mihaela Abdulan
Daniel Constantin Brănișteanu
Alin Ciobîcă
Miruna Balmuș
Teodora Stratulat-Alexa
Roxana Elena Ciuntu
Florentina Severin
Mădălina Mocanu
Maria Magdalena Leon
The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
Brain Sciences
stress
open field
running
swimming
light exposure variation
title The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
title_full The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
title_fullStr The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
title_short The Impact of Chronic Stress on Behavior and Body Mass in New Animal Models
title_sort impact of chronic stress on behavior and body mass in new animal models
topic stress
open field
running
swimming
light exposure variation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/10/1492
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