Sebum Corticosterone as a Biomarker of Stress Induced by Removal of High Social Enrichment in Adolescent Male Rats

Authors: Yana Serjantov, Atara Zimand, Awo Appau-Danso, Brikena Kukaj

Field of Study: Integrative Neuroscience

Program Affiliation: First-year Research Immersion (FRI)

Faculty Mentors: Deborah Kreiss

Easel: 106

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: The COVID-19 lockdowns were associated with increased adolescent stress. To model the neurobiological effects of sudden social reduction, a rat paradigm was developed to examine whether corticosterone levels correspond to behavioral indicators of stress in adolescent male rats (with females to be examined in a future study). Beginning at postnatal day (PND) 29, experimental rats receive high social enrichment consisting of 5 minutes of handling followed by a 20-minute playdate with nine peers. At PND 71, they transition to standard housing without handling or playdates. Control rats receive continuous enrichment, while Standard rats remain in standard housing throughout. Corticosterone is measured noninvasively from sebum collected at defined time points using cotton swabs and analyzed via mass spectrometry. Behavioral stress is assessed through grooming frequency and duration during playdates. This approach introduces a minimally invasive method for evaluating stress physiology and refining animal models of social enrichment and its removal.