Novel Animal Model of Sudden Reduction of High Social Enrichment Demonstrates Behavioral and Neurochemical Validity for Addiction

Authors: Yuki Watanabe, Pierce Goodeve, Deborah Kreiss

Field of Study: Biological Sciences

Program Affiliation: First-year Research Immersion (FRI), Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

Faculty Mentors: Deborah Kreiss

Easel: 25

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Addiction, characterized by repetition, reinforcement, and neurophysiological alterations, markedly increased during and following the COVID-19 pandemic social restrictions. This study assessed the validity of a novel animal model designed to simulate the effect of removing high social enrichment on addictive-like behaviors and neurochemistry. Male (n=28) and female (n=28) experimental rats were deprived of social enrichment following 5.5 weeks of high social enrichment, while control rats continued high social enrichment. Addictive-like behaviors analyzed were arm choice in an elevated T-maze and grooming in an open field. Addictive-like neurochemicals (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA)) in ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Increased rates of addictive behavior showed strong behavioral validity with complementary neurochemical validity, reflecting neurophysiological alterations in human addicts. This model shows potential promise for translational research into the interaction of social enrichment and addiction.