Ferret Odor as a Processive Stress Model in Rats: Neurochemical, Behavioral, and Endocrine Evidence

Predator odors have been shown to elicit stress responses in rats. The present studies assessed the use of domestic ferret odor as a processive stress model. Plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin hormone levels were higher after 30 min of exposure to ferret odor (fur/skin) but not control od...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral neuroscience 2005-02, Vol.119 (1), p.280-292
Main Authors: Masini, C. V, Sauer, S, Campeau, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood
Animal
Animal behavior
Animal Defensive Behavior
Animal ethology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - physiology
Corticosterone - blood
Disease Models, Animal
Endocrine System
Ferrets
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Male
Mammalia
Mustela putorius furo
Neuroanatomy
Neurology
Odorants
Odors
Olfactory Perception
Predatory Behavior
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis
Rodents
Stress
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Vertebrata
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Summary:Predator odors have been shown to elicit stress responses in rats. The present studies assessed the use of domestic ferret odor as a processive stress model. Plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin hormone levels were higher after 30 min of exposure to ferret odor (fur/skin) but not control odors, ferret feces, urine, or anal gland secretions. Behavioral differences were also found between ferret and the control odors as tested in a defensive withdrawal paradigm. In addition, c- fos messenger RNA expression in several brain areas previously associated with processive stress was significantly higher in ferret odor-exposed rat brains than in control odor-exposed brains. These results suggest that ferret odor produces a reliable unconditioned stress response and may be useful as a processive stress model.
ISSN:0735-7044
1939-0084
DOI:10.1037/0735-7044.119.1.280