Behavioral effects of LPS in adult, middle-aged and aged mice

Author(s)

Kinoshita, Denise ^[1] ; Hamada Cohn, Daniel Wagner ; Costa-Pinto, Frederico Azevedo ; de Sa-Rocha, Luiz Carlos

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Pathol, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 96, n. 2, p. 328-332, FEB 16 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

Acute infections lead to alterations in behavior, collectively known as sickness behavior. which includes reduction in locomotion, food ingestion, sexual and social behavior, environmental exploration, and sleep profile. Although generally seen as undesired, sickness behavior represents a conserved strategy for animals to overcome disease. Aging process is associated with a variety of changes in immunity, which are referred to as immunosenescence, and include higher mortality by infectious diseases. Few works studied sickness behavior display in old animals. Thus, we sought to investigate the display of sickness related behaviors on aged mice. Adult(3-6 months old), middle-aged (12-15 m) and aged mice (18-22 m)were treated with i.p. LPS (200 mu g/kg) and their behaviors were assessed in the open field and in the elevated plus-maze. Exploratory activity was similar in aged mice treated or not with LPS in both apparati. In the open field, locomotion remained at baseline levels; in the elevated plus-maze, there was a time-dependent decrease in motor activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/14128-0 - Neuroimmunomodulation: effects of drugs, stress and cytocines on central nervous and immune systems bidirectional relationships
• Grantee: João Palermo Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants