Behavioral indicators of anxiety and body weight dynamics were compared in rats kept under standard conditions (4-5 animals per cage) and in overpopulated cages (17 rats per cage). The behavior of rats exposed to overcrowding for a short and long period was evaluated in the open field, light-darkness, and elevated plus-maze tests. The anxiety parameters of animals increased only in the light-darkness test during the acute period of overcrowding and in all tests during chronic overcrowding. Behavioral tests had a negative impact on body weight gain in controls and rats living in overpopulated cages. If the behavioral tests were carried out at the beginning of the experiment, body weight ceased to increase in animals exposed to overcrowding and continued to increase in the controls. Overcrowding without behavioral tests had no effects on the body weight dynamics. The model of chronic (but not acute) overcrowding may be used for evaluation of anxiolytic effects of drugs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. T. Velichkovsky, Byull. Vost. Sib. Nauch. Tsentra Sib. Otd. Rossiisk. Akad. Med. Nauk, No. 2, 24-36 (2005).
E. V. Loseva, N. V. Pasikova, N. A. Loginova, et al., Zh. Vyssh. Nervn. Deyat., 57, No. 3, 323-335 (2007).
K. A. Rogovin and M. P. Moshkin, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 68, No. 4, 244-267 (2007).
S. Andrejević, M. Bukilica, M. Dimitrijević, et al., Int. J. Neurosci., 89, Nos. 3-4, 153-164 (1997).
S. Botelho, C. Estanislau, and S. Morato, Behav. Proc., 74, No. 3, 357-362 (2007).
J. Collis, Emergence Nurs., 18, No. 8, 34-39 (2010).
P. Csermely, I. Penzes, and S. Toth, Experientia, 51, Nos. 9-10, 976-979 (1995).
W. M. Daniels, C. Y. Pietersen, M. E. Carstens, et al., Metab. Brain Dis., 15, No. 4, 287-295 (2000).
S. Djordjević, M. Bukilica, M. Dimitrijević, et al., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 650, 302-306 (1992).
S. A. Madhi and K. P. Klugman, Disease and Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, eds. Dean T. Jamison et al., Washington (2006), pp. 149-162.
O. Marti, J. Marti, and A. Armario, Physiol. Behav., 55, No. 4, 747-753 (1994).
R. McArthur and F. Borsini, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav., 84, No. 3, 436-452 (2006).
B. S. McEwen and P. J. Gianaros, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1186, 190-222 (2010).
O. Roman, J. Seres, M. Pometlova, and J. Jurcovicova, Endocr. Regul., 38, No. 4, 151-155 (2004).
G. R. Sethi, ICCW News Bull., 40, Nos. 3-4, 27-29 (1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 154, No. 7, pp. 7–10, July, 2012
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knyazeva, S.I., Loginova, N.A. & Loseva, E.V. Anxiety Level and Body Weight Changes in Rats Living in Overpopulated Cages. Bull Exp Biol Med 154, 3–6 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-012-1860-z
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-012-1860-z