DOCSLIB.ORG

Oxytocin Mitigates the Negative Consequences of Chronic Social

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Oxytocin Mitigates the Negative Consequences of Chronic Social Bucknell University Bucknell Digital Commons Master’s Theses Student Theses 2017 Oxytocin Mitigates the Negative Consequences of Chronic Social Isolation in Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster) Elyse Kathleen McMahon Bucknell University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses Recommended Citation McMahon, Elyse Kathleen, "Oxytocin Mitigates the Negative Consequences of Chronic Social Isolation in Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster)" (2017). Master’s Theses. 187. https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses/187 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses at Bucknell Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master’s Theses by an authorized administrator of Bucknell Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I, Elyse K. McMahon, do grant permission for my thesis to be copied. ii Acknowledgments I would first like to thank my thesis advisor Dr. Mark Haussmann of the Biology Department at Bucknell University. Dr. Haussmann was always available whenever I ran into problems with my research or writing. I would also like to thank my second thesis advisor, Dr. Jennie Stevenson of the Psychology Department at Bucknell University. She was always available for assisting in my animal work and guiding me through writing. Both consistently allowed this paper to be my own work, but steered me in the right the direction whenever they thought I needed it. Their expertises in the fields of Physiology and Neuroscience have kept me motivated to learn more about these areas and better my thesis. With the help and guidance of these two individuals, I will be completing my Master’s thesis with enhanced knowledge not only on stress physiology and aging, but also on the psychological aspects of social isolation. Both have taught me how to be a better scientist and how to apply what I have learned to future careers. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Chris Matine of the Biology Department at Bucknell University as the third reader and committee member of this thesis. I am gratefully indebted to him for his very valuable comments on this thesis. Beyond my advisors, I would like to acknowledge the Haussmann Lab Group and the Stevenson Lab Group for their assistance in animal work conducted throughout this project. Members from the Haussmann Lab group assisted me during blood collection throughout the study and both lab groups assisted in the completion of the acute stress tests. Without their dedication and work ethic, this project would have been difficult to complete. I would also like to thank Cindy Rhone and Amber Hackenberg for their assistance with caring for the animals during the study period. Finally, I must express my profound gratitude to my family and friends for providing me with constant support and reassurance throughout the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you. Elyse McMahon iii Table of Contents Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………i Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1-Thesis Introduction ..................................................................................................... 3 Stress and Physiological Adaptations .......................................................................................... 4 Sympathoadrenal system .......................................................................................................... 7 Acute vs Chronic stress ............................................................................................................ 8 Social Stress ............................................................................................................................... 13 Stress and Aging ........................................................................................................................ 18 Social support ............................................................................................................................ 26 Oxytocin ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Study System: ............................................................................................................................ 33 Purpose/Hypothesis: .................................................................................................................. 36 Methods Utilized: ...................................................................................................................... 37 Anhedonia .............................................................................................................................. 37 Blood sampling ...................................................................................................................... 38 Acute Stress Test .................................................................................................................... 39 Assay Measures ...................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 2-Paper ........................................................................................................................... 44 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 44 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 51 Study System: ........................................................................................................................ 51 General Procedures ................................................................................................................ 51 Blood Collection: ................................................................................................................... 52 Sucrose Preference Testing: ................................................................................................... 52 Acute Stress Test: .................................................................................................................. 53 Assays: ................................................................................................................................... 53 iv Statistical Analysis ................................................................................................................. 57 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 58 Social Isolation Experiment ................................................................................................... 58 Acute Stress ........................................................................................................................... 59 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 60 Chapter 3-Thesis Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 75 Chronic Isolation ........................................................................................................................ 76 Isolation and CORT ............................................................................................................... 77 Isolation and immune ............................................................................................................. 79 Isolation on Sympatho-Adrenal System ................................................................................. 80 Salivary alpha-amylase .............................................................................................................. 83 Oxytocin ..................................................................................................................................... 83 Oxt on HPA and Hippocampus/Neuroendocrine functions ................................................... 84 Oxytocin and GABA ............................................................................................................... 85 Oxytocin on Sympathoadrenal System ................................................................................... 86 Oxytocin on Behavior and Depression .................................................................................. 88 Future directions: ....................................................................................................................... 89 Comparing pair bonds between male-female and female-female .......................................... 89 Maternal stress effects and environmental mismatching ....................................................... 90 Final Remarks .......................................................................................................................... 92 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chronic Stress Makes People Sick. but How? and How Might We Prevent Those Ill Effects?
    Sussing Out TRESS SChronic stress makes people sick. But how? And how might we prevent those ill effects? By Hermann Englert oad rage, heart attacks, migraine headaches, stom- ach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, hair loss among women—stress is blamed for all those and many other ills. Nature provided our prehistoric ancestors with a tool to help them meet threats: a Rquick activation system that focused attention, quickened the heartbeat, dilated blood vessels and prepared muscles to fight or flee the bear stalking into their cave. But we, as modern people, are sub- jected to stress constantly from commuter traffic, deadlines, bills, angry bosses, irritable spouses, noise, as well as social pressure, physical sickness and mental challenges. Many organs in our bodies are consequently hit with a relentless barrage of alarm signals that can damage them and ruin our health. 56 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MIND COPYRIGHT 2003 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC. Daily pressures raise our stress level, but our ancient stress reactions—fight or flight—do not help us survive this kind of tension. www.sciam.com 57 COPYRIGHT 2003 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC. What exactly happens in our brains and bod- mone (CRH), a messenger compound that un- ies when we are under stress? Which organs are leashes the stress reaction. activated? When do the alarms begin to cause crit- CRH was discovered in 1981 by Wylie Vale ical problems? We are only now formulating a co- and his colleagues at the Salk Institute for Biolog- herent model of how ongoing stress hurts us, yet ical Studies in San Diego and since then has been in it we are finding possible clues to counteract- widely investigated.
    [Show full text]
  • Stress and Psychoneuroimmunology
    Alternative Journal of Nursing July 2006, Issue 11 Stress and Psychoneuroimmunology Revisited: Using mind-body interventions to reduce stress Madeline M. Lorentz, RN, MSN Stress is a fundamental component of life. It is an unconscious response to a demand and when the demand is perceived as excessive, stress results along with diseases and conditions. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has given importance to the relationship between stress and its physiological effects on the body. Scientists in this growing field have discovered that stress modulates the activities of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Mind-body medicine is developing unconventional methods for coping with stress-related disorders. Nurses are empowered to implement mind-body interventions, such as meditation, imagery, therapeutic touch, and humor, to reduce stress and promote self-control and positive well-being for their patients. To ensure meeting the needs of the entire individual, mind, body and spirit, holistic nurses promote the concept of the mind-body connection. Their practice is based on a holistic view of the patient as they help patients manage their illness; how to think about it, cope with it and respond to it. Holistic approaches in health care hold promise for positive outcomes when the mind-body model is embraced. The concept of mind- body connection may be first attributed to Florence Nightingale who wrote in her Notes on Nursing in 1862 about the healing power of sensory stimulation and personal connection. A new discipline evolved from this type of thinking and is referred to as psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). The growing field of psychoneuroimmunology was established by scientists who were interested in gaining a better understanding of the interrelationship between the mind and body.
    [Show full text]
  • Anger and Stress Management
    Anger and Stress Management CREATED BY UNCHAINED BRAIN, A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON BRINGING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO THE FISHERS COMMUNITY. TO LEARN MORE VISIT UNCHAINEDBRAIN.ORG AND SEE PAGE 3! Anger is an emotion that Stress is a feeling of is antagonism towards emotional or physical someone or something tension. Stress is your that you feel has done body's reaction to a something wrong to you. challenge or demand. Anger can be healthy as Stress can be positive as it is a way to express it helps you avoid negative emotions. danger. 1. Identify triggers a. Structuring your day differently, practicing management techniques 2. Evaluate a. Anger can be sometimes be good and give you the courage to stand up to injustices you see b. Figure out whether your anger is helping or harming others 3. Recognize your physical symptoms a. Racing heartbeat Anger b. Clenching fists c. Face feeling hot/turning red Management 4. Step away a. Remove yourself from a stressful situation b. Don't dodge, just manage 5. Talk to a friend a. Work on developing an answer to a problem versus just venting 6. Changing the "channel" a. Focus on something other than what makes you angry b. Find something that makes it difficult for the angry thoughts to leak in Acute: short term stress that goes away quickly. Everyone experiences acute levels of stress Types of Chronic: Stress lasting for a long period of time. Stress Can go on for weeks or months at a time without realizing you're stressed.
    [Show full text]
  • Are All Chronic Social Stressors the Same? Behavioral, Physiological
    https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN23.5.376 Are All Chronic Social Stressors the Same? Behavioral, Physiological, and Neural Responses to Two Social Stressors in a Female Mouse Model of Anxiety and Depression Michael R. Jarcho*, Siena College and Loras College; Madeline R. Avery, Loras College; Kelsey B. Kornacker , Danielle Hollingshead, and David Y. Lo*, Coe College ABSTRACT. Chronic stress has been associated with several negative health outcomes and psychopathological conditions, and social stressors (e.g., exclusion from a group, loss of a loved one) can be particularly problematic with regard to psychopathological conditions. Social isolation or instability can result in both behavioral and physiological stress responses. The present study attempted to assess whether the behavioral and physiological markers of stress would follow similar patterns in response to both social isolation and instability. By employing both of these models of social stress in female mice, we hoped to determine which might serve as a more appropriate model of stress-induced anxiety or depression in women. One behavioral index of anxiety, rearing behavior, was elevated only in animals experiencing social instability, F(2, 351) = 6.91, p = .001, η2 = .04, (1-b) = 0.94. Despite small sample sizes, gene expression of proinflammatory markers interleukin one beta receptor and tumor necrosis factor alpha were significantly elevated in hippocampal samples from mice that experienced either social stressor compared to controls, IL1-beta receptor, F(2, 6) = 5.65, p = .045, η2 = .85, (1-b) = 0.99, TNF alpha, F(2, 6) = 8.89, p = .042, η2 = .86, (1-b) = 0.99, with the highest levels in mice that experienced social instability.
    [Show full text]
  • Depression, Suicide, Inflammation, and Physical Illness
    C HA P TER 1 6 STRESS AND ITS SEQUELAE: DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, INFLAMMATION, AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS George M. Slavich and Randy P. Auerbach Life stress is a central construct in many contem- METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THE porary models of mental and physical health. Con- ASSESSMENT OF STRESS sistent with these formulations, a large corpus of Although there is little debate about whether stress research has demonstrated that stress plays an influ- should be accorded a central role in etiological ential role in the onset, maintenance, and recurrence models of disease, many questions remain regard- of psychiatric illness, as well as in several major ing how to best operationalize and assess life stress. physical health problems that cause substantial Over the past century, researchers have relied most morbidity and mortality (Cohen, Janicki-Deverts, & heavily on self-report checklist measures of stress Miller, 2007; Harkness & Monroe, 2016; Kendler, that have advantages but also several limitations. Karkowski, & Prescott, 1999; Slavich, 2016b). In As a result of these limitations, investigators began this chapter, we summarize key studies on these using interview-based systems to assess life stress important topics with a focus on well-documented that yield extensive information about the differ- effects and lingering conceptual and methodological ent contextual features of reported stressors. These issues. stress assessment methods have been reviewed in To accomplish these goals, we first summarize detail elsewhere (e.g., Cohen, Kessler, & Gordon, how stress has been conceptualized and assessed 1997; Dohrenwend, 2006; Hammen, 2016; over the years. Second, we review links between Harkness & Monroe, 2016; Monroe, 2008; different types of stress exposure and depression, Monroe & Slavich, 2016; Slavich, 2016a).
    [Show full text]
  • Loneliness and Pathways to Disease
    BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, and IMMUNITY Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 17 (2003) S98–S105 www.elsevier.com/locate/ybrbi Loneliness and pathways to disease Louise C. Hawkley* and John T. Cacioppo Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, 940 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA Received 9 April 2002; received in revised form 18 July 2002; accepted 18 July 2002 Abstract Social isolation predicts morbidity and mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and a host of other causes. The mechanisms by which the social world impacts on health are poorly understood, in part because of lack of specificity in the conceptualization and operationalization of relevant aspects of social relationships and physiological processes. Perceived social isolation, commonly termed loneliness, may represent a link between the epidemiological and biological levels of analysis. Research is presented that investigates loneliness as a social factor of importance in three predisease pathways: health behaviors, excessive stress reactivity, and inadequate or inefficient physiological re- pair and maintenance processes. Empirical evidence of autonomic, endocrine, and immune functioning suggests that the physiological effects of loneliness unfold over a relatively long time period. For cancer patients, interventions should be aimed at providing instrumental support for the immediate demands of the disease. Ó 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. Keywords: Loneliness; Social isolation; Social support; Cancer; Cardiovascular disease; Health behaviors; Autonomic reactivity; Cortisol; Immunity; Sleep 1. Introduction health. Accordingly, social isolation predicts morbidity and mortality from broad-based causes in later life, even Social relationships are fundamental to emotional after controlling for health behaviors and biological risk fulfillment, behavioral adjustment, and cognitive func- factors (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988).
    [Show full text]
  • Chronic Stress, Acute Stress, and Depressive Symptoms X
    American Journal of Community Psychology, Vol. 18, No. 5, 1990 Chronic Stress, Acute Stress, and Depressive Symptoms x Katherine A. McGonagle and Ronald C. Kessler 2 University of Michigan Although life events continue to be the major focus of stress research, re- cent studies suggest that chronic stress shouM be a more central focus. An evaluation of this issue is presented using data from a large community sur- vey of married men (n = 819) and women (n = 936). Results show that chronic stresses are more strongly related to depressive symptoms than acute stresses in all but one life domain. The interaction patterns exhibited by chronic and acute stresses are predominantly associated with lower levels of depression than those predicted by a main effects model. This pattern suggests that chronic stresses may reduce the emotional effects of acute stresses. Although the processes through which this effect occurs are not clear, it is suggested that anticipation and reappraisal reduce the stressfulness of an event by mak- ing its meaning more benign. Implications for future research on chronic and acute stress effects are discussed. Over the past two decades since Holmes and Rahe's (1967) groundbreaking work on life events and illness, acute life events have been the major focus of psychological stress research. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that this attention is misplaced and that chronic stress should be a more central focus. When Veroff, Douvan, and Kulka (1981) asked a national sample of 1This research was sponsored by Training Grant T32 MH16806, by Research Scientist Development Award 1 K02 MH00507, and by Merit Award 1 M01 MH16806 from the National Institute of Mental Health.
    [Show full text]
  • The Neurobiology of Stress and Emotions By: Emeran A
    IFFGD PO Box 170864 International Foundation for Milwaukee, WI 53217 www.iffgd.org Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Stress (106) © Copyright 2002 by the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders The Neurobiology of Stress and Emotions By: Emeran A. Mayer, M.D., Director, UCLA Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress; Director, UCLA Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women’s Health; Director, UCLA Center for Functional Bowel and Motility Disorders; and Professor, Department of Medicine, Physiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA We often hear the term “stress” associated with The organism’s stress response often, but not functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, such as necessarily, includes subjective emotional feelings like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Many patients fear and/or anger. However, similar responses can also experience a worsening of symptoms during times of be observed in situations that are perceived as threats severely stressful life events. But what is stress? How but which do not represent actual life-threatening often does it occur? How does our body respond to situations, such as public speaking or the memory of a stress? This article explores the mechanisms that link natural disaster. The associated subjective emotion stress and emotions to responses that have evolved to associated with such non-life threatening stressors is ensure survival and that, in the modern world, affect frequently referred to as anxiety. health – including gastrointestinal function. Emotions, stress, and conscious feelings Introduction One environmental situation that triggers a distinct Stress is an adaptive response that is not unusual or emotional response of the body is a real or perceived unique to only certain individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • The Biology of Stress
    Maia Thompson Independent Biology Study Ms. Howe The Biology of Stress Introduction As a senior in high school, the last two years have been filled with important tests with scores that reflect the opportunities that will be made available to me as college approaches. Being a student instigates stress quite naturally as classwork is daily, homework is never rare and tests are seen weekly. Just in the last month of May, students have Advanced Placement exams, finals and final projects. Students also have to navigate the social aspect of school, dealing with their own teenager insecurities and finding their self-identities. I took two AP tests, worked on this project, took my class finals, and took my Emergency Medical Technician finals and practicals all while keeping up with regular schoolwork and hanging out with friends. This is a typical schedule for many students.This project is important to me, to show the effect of stress in students as they prepare for tests, hopefully to create awareness of the preparation these students go through and the hard work they present with. In this independent study I studied the biological reaction of stress in the body along with an experiment to see if I can decrease the stress of students before an AP test using a therapy dog. Context First, what is stress and why is it so important? Stress often seems like a negative and debilitating reaction from our body, but this reaction was necessary for our survival. Our perceived stress originates from a fight-or-flight response in the body that has helped humans to survive.
    [Show full text]
  • Stress-Coping Skills and Neuroticism in Apical Ballooning Syndrome (Takotsubo/ Stress Cardiomyopathy)
    Heart failure and cardiomyopathies Open Heart: first published as 10.1136/openhrt-2015-000312 on 5 February 2016. Downloaded from Stress-coping skills and neuroticism in apical ballooning syndrome (Takotsubo/ stress cardiomyopathy) Dawn C Scantlebury,1 Daniel E Rohe,2 Patricia J M Best,1 Ryan J Lennon,3 Amir Lerman,1 Abhiram Prasad1,4 To cite: Scantlebury DC, ABSTRACT et al KEY QUESTIONS Rohe DE, Best PJM, . Introduction: Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) is Stress-coping skills and typically associated with an antecedent stressful neuroticism in apical What is already known about this subject? situation. Affected patients have been reported to have ballooning syndrome ▸ Patients with apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) (Takotsubo/stress higher frequencies of premorbid affective disorders. We have been found to have a higher prevalence of cardiomyopathy). Open Heart hypothesised that patients with ABS would have affective disorders which are associated with 2016;3:e000312. elevated levels of neuroticism (tendency to experience high neuroticism (trait anxiety). This raises the doi:10.1136/openhrt-2015- negative affect) and greater vulnerability to stress. question of whether a specific personality profile 000312 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all active renders a subject prone to the development of participants in the Mayo Clinic ABS prospective follow- ABS. A recent study suggests a high prevalence up registry were invited to complete the third edition of of ‘type D’ personality, which may be charac- the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-3). The NEO-PI- terised by high neuroticism, but the ‘type D’ per- 3 is the universally accepted measure of the ‘Five- sonality is not a universally accepted personality ▸ Additional material is Factor Model’ of personality.
    [Show full text]
  • Racing Thoughts: What to Consider
    Pearlsearls Racing thoughts: What to consider Theodore J. Wilf, MD Dr. Wilf is a Consultant Psychiatrist, Table Warren E. Smith Health Centers, ave you ever had times in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. your life when you had a tremen- Causes of racing thoughts Disclosure dous amount of energy, like too Medications and illicit drugs The author reports no financial H much energy, with racing thoughts? relationships with any companies Amphetamines whose products are mentioned in I initially ask patients this question Methylphenidate this article, or with manufacturers when evaluating for bipolar disorder. Dexamethasone of competing products. Cocaine Some patients insist that they have rac- Phencyclidine ing thoughts—thoughts occurring at a Medical disorders rate faster than they can be expressed 1 Stroke through speech —but not episodes of Traumatic brain injury hyperactivity. This response suggests Multiple sclerosis that some patients can have racing Cushing’s disease thoughts without a diagnosis of bipolar Source: Reference 1 disorder. Among the patients I treat, racing thoughts vary in severity, duration, and Other potential causes treatment. When untreated, a patient’s Racing thoughts are a symptom, not a racing thoughts may range from a mild diagnosis. Apprehension and anxiety disturbance lasting a few days to a more could cause racing thoughts that do not severe disturbance occurring daily. In this require treatment with a mood stabilizer article, I suggest treatments that may help or antipsychotic. Patients who often worry ameliorate racing thoughts, and describe about having panic attacks or experience possible causes that include, but are not severe chronic stress may have racing limited to, mood disorders.
    [Show full text]
  • How Are Neuroticism and Depression Related to the Psychophysiological Stress Response to Acute Stress in Healthy Older People?
    Physiology & Behavior 156 (2016) 128–136 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Physiology & Behavior journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/phb How are neuroticism and depression related to the psychophysiological stress response to acute stress in healthy older people? Sara Puig-Perez ⁎, Carolina Villada, Matias M. Pulopulos, Vanesa Hidalgo, Alicia Salvador Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychobiology and IDOCAL, University of Valencia, Avd. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain HIGHLIGHTS • We studied how depression and neuroticism affect to the stress response in older people. • Neuroticism was not related to the psychophysiological stress response. • Depression was related to higher cortisol and lower heart rate response to stress. • Our results confirm the adverse effects of depression on stress response. article info abstract Article history: Neuroticism and depressive symptomatology have been related to a heightened and diminished physiological Received 23 September 2015 stress response, which may partly explain their negative relationship with health and wellbeing. Identifying fac- Received in revised form 12 January 2016 tors that may increase disease vulnerability is especially relevant in older people, whose physiological systems Accepted 13 January 2016 decline. With this in mind, we investigated the influence of neuroticism and depression on the psychophysiolog- Available online 15 January 2016 ical stress response in healthy older people (from 55 to 76 years old). A total of 36 volunteers were exposed to a Keywords: stressful task (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST), while 35 volunteers performed a control non-stressful task. The Neuroticism physiological stress response was assessed through measures of cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate (HR). Our re- Depression sults showed that, neuroticism was not related to physiological stress response.
    [Show full text]