Posters

Presenting Author

Esperanza Isabel Alaniz

Presentation Type

Poster

Discipline Track

Biomedical Science

Abstract Type

Research/Clinical

Abstract

Background: Understanding the different stress reactions in different environments can help us understand stress factors. Studying animal behavior is important for translational research for mental health improvement.

Previous literature has shown that stress is a risk factor for higher cancer incidence and poorer cancer survival. (Klejbor & Turlejski., 2012), as well as mental health outcomes. Understanding of how stress is related to cancer can help improve therapeutic outcomes as preventive measures (Glaser et al., 1987).

Methods: Using the Rota Rod apparatus, 12 animals (3 males, 9 females) were tested at 36 rpm for a maximum of 400 seconds (Madroñal et al., 2010). Open field apparatus was used to test 8 animals (4males, 4 females), their locomotor and non-locomotor behaviors were recorded using AnyMaze. Data collected from both experiments were analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: The preliminary results showed sex differences, female’s average number of revolutions (44.54) was higher than their male counterparts (26.15).

Results from the open field showed females exhibit less immobile episodes (f(1)=6.000. p

Conclusions: Previous literature has shown stress is a risk factor and a major contributor to mental and physical health problems. Preliminary results support the hypothesis that there is a biological component in stress reactivity to novel environments in the Monodelphis, and that animal models are a good alternative to study sex differences in stress responses and motor function. Further research is needed to test housing effects in the short-tailed opossums.

Academic/Professional Position

Graduate Student

Mentor/PI Department

Neuroscience

Share

COinS
 

The impact of biological sex on motor function and responses to novel environments in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Background: Understanding the different stress reactions in different environments can help us understand stress factors. Studying animal behavior is important for translational research for mental health improvement.

Previous literature has shown that stress is a risk factor for higher cancer incidence and poorer cancer survival. (Klejbor & Turlejski., 2012), as well as mental health outcomes. Understanding of how stress is related to cancer can help improve therapeutic outcomes as preventive measures (Glaser et al., 1987).

Methods: Using the Rota Rod apparatus, 12 animals (3 males, 9 females) were tested at 36 rpm for a maximum of 400 seconds (Madroñal et al., 2010). Open field apparatus was used to test 8 animals (4males, 4 females), their locomotor and non-locomotor behaviors were recorded using AnyMaze. Data collected from both experiments were analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: The preliminary results showed sex differences, female’s average number of revolutions (44.54) was higher than their male counterparts (26.15).

Results from the open field showed females exhibit less immobile episodes (f(1)=6.000. p

Conclusions: Previous literature has shown stress is a risk factor and a major contributor to mental and physical health problems. Preliminary results support the hypothesis that there is a biological component in stress reactivity to novel environments in the Monodelphis, and that animal models are a good alternative to study sex differences in stress responses and motor function. Further research is needed to test housing effects in the short-tailed opossums.

blog comments powered by Disqus
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.