Presentation Details
| Effects of Social Disruption on Circulating and Brain Corticosterone in Zebra Finches Paula Verzola-Olivio, Sophia Becker, Celia R.McLean, Mary R.Elson, Nora H.Prior. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA |
Abstract
Animals form many types of social relationships throughout their lifetime. Disruptions to these relationships can result in physiological changes, such as increased glucocorticoid levels. However, most studies examine this in pairs, which confounds social isolation with social disruption and emphasizes only one type of relationship. Here, we investigated the effects of social disruption on circulating and brain corticosterone (CORT) in zebra finch partners (male-female pairs housed together) and friends (two male-female pairs housed in adjacent cages). Brains and plasma were collected after a 30-minute social disruption assay: partners were separated into individual cages, whereas in the friends group each pair remained together in a single cage but was isolated from the adjacent pair. CORT was measured in plasma and in three brain regions: the preoptic area (POA), dorsal (dHP), and ventral (vHP) hippocampus. Although circulating CORT did not differ between groups, brain CORT levels, particularly in the vHP, were elevated in partners compared to friends. These results highlight the importance of studying the neuroendocrinology of social relationships outside of partners.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.