Impact of enriched environment during adolescence on adult social behavior, hippocampal synaptic density and dopamine D2 receptor expression in rats

Environmental enrichment (EE) is one experimental manipulation that induces changes in the brain. However, it is important to distinguish between physical and social components of enrichment. To this end we established four groups of rats reared in different enriched environments during the adolesce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 2020-11, Vol.226, p.113133-113133, Article 113133
Main Authors: Gabriel, Paul, Mastracchio, Toni-Ann, Bordner, Kelly, Jeffrey, Rachel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Dopamine
Environmental enrichment
Social enrichment
Synapse density
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Summary:Environmental enrichment (EE) is one experimental manipulation that induces changes in the brain. However, it is important to distinguish between physical and social components of enrichment. To this end we established four groups of rats reared in different enriched environments during the adolescent period. Our results indicate heightened social memory and increased spine density in dentate gyrus specifically in socially enriched animals. Physical enrichment increased spine density in CA1. Dopamine D2 receptor expression in hippocampus was decreased across all enrichment conditions. Altogether, our results demonstrate differing effects of physical and social enrichment, supporting an important role for environment in synaptogenesis, behavior, and dopaminergic signaling.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113133