• Model for anxiolytic, antidepressants and anti-aggressive drugs. The model uses naturally occurring behaviours of mice such as quantity of social interactions, fighting, defensive-escape behaviour, exploration of novel environment etc., to quantify the effects of drugs on the response to aversive stimuli from a strange partner. It has been found that anxiolytics e.g. benzodiazepines selectively decrease timid activities and disinhibit sociability and locomotion in timid singly-housed mice; antiaggressive agents e.g. eltoprazine decrease aggressivity and disinhibit sociability and locomotion in aggressive singly-housed mice; while anxiogenic agents e.g. beta-CCE or FG 7142 induce a decrease in social interactions and an increase in timid interactions. Antidepressant activity can be sensitively detected in animals whose normal behaviour had been "depressed" by drugs, or by other means, and in the presented model the sociability and locomotion is depressed in singly-housed male mice by the presence of the strange partner.
• Sulcova A., Krsiak M. (1989) Differences among nine 1,4-benzodiazepines: an ethopharmacological evaluation in mice. psychopharmacology, 97, 157-159.
  
• Apparatus : metal self-cleaning cages (8 x 16 x 13 cm),standard plastic cages (38 x 22 x 14 cm), transparent observation boxes (20 x 30 x 20 cm).
  
• see : Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric
  
• Procedure

Induction of psycho-social stress in male rats

• Model of chronic social stress in male rats, where the stress is induced by repeated social defeat. Stressed rats can be used in pharmacological tests of mood disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression). Since mood disorders are often associated with chronic stress states, the use of chronically stressed animals in behavioural tests increase the latter's relevance for the human condition. This series of studies combines the induction of psycho-social stress in male rats with subsequent testing in a behaviours test sensitive to anxiolytic, anti-aggression or antidepressant drugs.
• Fuchs E, Kramer M, Hermes B, Netter P and Hiemke C (1996) Psychosocial stress in tree shrews: clomipramine counteracts behavioral and endocrine changes. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 54:219-228.
  
• Apparatus :The test is performed in social interaction cages that are divided into two compartments by a perforated transparent screen (dimensions: 60x40x50 cm;. walls: dark grey plastic with the front wall made of transparent plastic; illumination: dim red light; bedding: saw dust). computer-based behavioural analysis system.
  
• see : Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric
  
• Procedure

Drug treatment of the resident-intruder in rats

• Test of aggressiveness, where an intruder rat is placed into the home-cage of a resident rat and the attack latency and frequency, the attack pattern and the frequency of offensive and defensive postures are manually recorded for the resident and the intruder. The test is sensitive to the action of various compounds such as anxiolytics (e.g. benzodiazepines), antidepressants (e.g. SSRI's), anti-aggressives, serotonergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic compounds. Compounds can be tested either in the resident or in the intruder. If the resident is treated the test is sensitive to anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs (SSRI¡¯s and tricyclics), whereas if the intruder is treated the test is sensitive to anti-aggression drugs.
• Grant EC and Mackintosh JH (1963) A comparison of the social postures of some common laboratory rodents. Behaviour 21: 246-259.
  
• Apparatus : The test is performed in the home cage of the resident rat (dimensions : 60x40x50 cm;. walls: dark grey plastic, but the front wall is made of transparent plastic; illumination: dim red light; bedding: saw dust). The behaviour is recorded on video and analysed using the computer-based behavioural analysis system.
  
• see : Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric
  

Drug treatment of the resident-intruder in mice

• Test of aggressiveness, where an intruder mouse is placed into the home-cage of a resident mouse and the attack latency and frequency, the attack pattern and the frequency of offensive and defensive postures are manually recorded for the resident and the intruder. The test is sensitive to the action of various compounds such as anxiolytics (e.g. benzodiazepines), antidepressants (e.g. SSRI's), anti-aggression drugs, serotonergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic compounds. Compounds can be tested either in the resident or in the intruder. If the resident is treated the test is sensitive to anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs (SSRI¡¯s and tricyclics), whereas if the intruder is treated the test is sensitive to anti-aggression drugs.
  
• Grant EC and Mackintosh JH (1963) A comparison of the social postures of some common laboratory rodents. Behaviour 21: 246-259.
  
• Apparatus : The test is performed in the home cage of the resident mouse (dimensions: 60x40x50 cm;. walls: dark grey plastic, but the front wall is made of transparent plastic; illumination: dim red light; bedding: saw dust). The behaviour is recorded on video and analysed using the omputer-based behavioural analysis system.
  
• see :Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric
  

Social contacts in rats developed during local application of drugs

• The method allows the application of drugs into discrete brain sites, and the parallel assessment of behaviour. The method can be applied in combination with different tests involving social behaviour (e.g. social interaction and aggression), but also in elevated plus-maze or open field.
• Haller J, Abraham I, Zelena D, Juhasz G, Makara GB and Kruk MR (1998) Aggressive experience affects the sensitivity of neurones towards pharmacological treatment in the hypothalamic attack area. Behavioral Pharmacology 9: 469-475.
  
• Apparatus : The test requires in vivo microdialysis probes, pumps and social interaction cages (dimensions: 60x40x50 cm;. walls: dark grey plastic with the front wall made of transparent plastic; illumination: dim red light; bedding: saw dust). The behaviour is recorded on video.
  
• see : Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric, Microdialysis, and pumps
  

Variable social stress in female rats

• Model of chronic social stress in female rats. The stressed rats can be used in pharmacological tests of mood disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression), where the use of stressed rats can increase the relevance of the pharmacological investigations. The use of female rats is especially relevant since depression and anxiety disorders are more common in women that in men, while female rats are rarely used in pharmacological experiments. Crowding was shown to affect emotionality and various neuroendocrine and brain functions in rats The present series of studies combines the induction of social stress in female rats with subsequent testing in a behaviours test sensitive to anxiolytic, anti-aggression or antidepressant drugs.
• Hormone measurements (RIA) in blood samples taken through venous canullae: ACTH, corticosterone, growth hormone, vasopresssin, oxytocin, prolactin, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.
• Neurotransmitter measurements (HPLC) from brain tissue samples or samples taken through in vivo microdialysis of discrete brain areas: noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and amino acids
• Bugajski J, Gadek-Michalska A, Borycz J and Glod R (1999) Social stress inhibits the nitric oxide effect on the corticotropin-releasing hormone- but not vasopressin-induced pituitary-adrenocortical responsiveness. Brain Research 817: 220-225.
  
• Apparatus : The method requires individual cages (30x40x20cm) and group cages (40x40x20cm) (illumination: dim red light during examination; bedding: saw dust). The behaviour is recorded on video and analysed using the H77 computer-based behavioural analysis system.
  
• see : Activity (behavioral) Instruments - Ergometric, Microdialysis, and pumps