Emotional behavior in middle-aged rats: Implications for geriatric psychopathologies
Clinical findings reveal that middle-aged patients are more susceptible to suffer from psychiatric disorders than older ones. However, little is known about the emotional behavior of aging rodents. This study aimed to investigate behavioral alterations in male middle-aged Wistar rats in the open-field (OF) test (at illuminated and dimly light conditions), elevated plus maze (EPM), […]
Relationships between locomotor behavior, morphometric characters and thyroid hormone levels give evidence of stage-dependent mechanisms in European eel upstream migration
In order to decipher movements during freshwater eel colonization, we experimentally characterized individual locomotor behavior of two eel life history stages: elvers and yellow eels. A ramp located at the flume tank upstream side required a specific locomotor behavior to be ascended. Placing individually tagged eels in the middle of the tank three times successively […]
Plasma corticosterone increases during migratory restlessness in the captive white-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelli
Plasma corticosterone increases during the period of spring migration in a variety of bird species. Long-distance migrants show elevations in corticosterone specifically in association with the stage of flight, suggesting that corticosterone may support flight-related processes, for example, locomotor activity and/or energy mobilization. The pattern of corticosterone secretion as it relates to migratory flight has […]
Determining the period, phase and anticipatory component of activity and temperature patterns in newborn rabbits that were maintained under a daily nursing schedule and fasting conditions
During the last decade, lagomorphs have gained relevance as valuable models for the study of the development of circadian rhythmicity. This relevance is due to both the peculiar behavior of the lactating doe, in which maternal care is limited from 3 to 5 min per day, and the temporal organization that newborn rabbits exhibit during […]
The effect of alloparental experience and care on anxiety-like, social and parental behaviour in adult mandarin voles
Social experiences, especially during early development, have profound effects on the brain and behaviour in later life. We examined whether the provision of alloparental care by older siblings affects anxiety, sociability and parental behaviour at adulthood in both them and the younger siblings for which they care. Using mandarin voles, Microtus mandarinus, we kept the […]
Feeding behavior and the effect of photoperiod on the performance and hematological parameters of the pacamã catfish (Lophiosilurus alexandri)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the rhythms of feeding and locomotor activity, the ability to synchronize to a fixed feeding time, and the influence of photoperiod on the growth parameters, feed intake and hematological parameters of a recently introduced fish in freshwater Brazilian aquaculture, Lophiosilurus alexandri. In experiment 1, six aquariums (60 […]
Effects of feeding management and group composition on agonistic behaviour of group-housed horses
Under natural conditions, horses spend 12–18 h of a day with synchronous grazing, but for stabled horses, the amount of forage and thus duration of feed intake usually are restricted. In group-housed horses, therefore, feeding times are often situations with increased levels of agonistic behaviour. Our aim was to evaluate how forage provision, feeding duration […]
Involvement of nigral oxytocin in locomotor activity: A behavioral, immunohistochemical and lesion study in male rats
Oxytocin is involved in the control of different behaviors, from sexual behavior and food consumption to empathy, social and affective behaviors. An imbalance of central oxytocinergic neurotransmission has been also associated with different mental pathologies, from depression, anxiety and anorexia/bulimia to schizophrenia, autism and drug dependence. This study shows that oxytocin may also play a […]
Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes
Background. Daily rhythmicity has been observed for a number of hormonal and behavioral variables in mammals. It can be entrained by several external factors, such as light-dark cycle and scheduled feeding. In dromedary camels, daily rhythmicity has been documented only for melatonin secretion and body temperature. In this study, the daily rhythmicity of behavioral repertoire, […]