Lori Watson

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Lori Watson

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: Social Separation in the Rat: The Investigation of a Proposed Model of Depression

Committee:
Dr. Lisa Baker, Chair
Dr. Alan Poling
Dr. Cynthia Pietras
Dr. Kathryn Potoczak

Date: Friday, March 16, 2012 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3723 Wood Hall

Abstract:
Animal models of depression have existed for decades, yet one that completely satisfies research objectives remains elusive. A previous study has proposed a social separation model of depression using mice. The present study investigated the proposed separation model using rats and two common tests of depressive-like behavior, the forced swim test (FST) and the sucrose consumption test (SC). The current study also examined activity in an enriched environment (EEA) to determine its potential as a novel test of depression. Forty-six male and 43 female Sprague Dawley weanlings were separated by sex and placed in either single (IS) or paired housing (PD). Subjects were tested on EEA, FST, and SC. Half of the PD rats were then separated (SP) for two weeks. Following separation, subjects in all conditions repeated testing on EEA, FST, and SC. An overall main effect of housing condition on the FST was found, however, significant differences between specific conditions were not. No effects of housing condition were found for EEA or SC. Sex effects, however, were found for these measures. These findings do not eliminate the potential of social separation as a model of depression in rats, but rather suggest alternative modifications to the model may be necessary. Suggestions for future investigations of this model, as well as implications of the sex differences found in the EEA and SC tests are discussed.