115. An Assessment of the Dynamics of Social Play in Syrian Hamsters

Presenter(s)

Leila Hennon

Abstract or Description

Social play deprivation during the juvenile period can result in maladaptive adult social behavior, including social anxiety. This study examined whether opportunities for social play could rescue the negative effects of play deprivation in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). At weaning (post-natal day (PND) 21), hamsters were either group-housed with peers, or pair-housed with their mother for 3 weeks until PND 42, as mothers do not play with their offspring. One treatment group of mother-housed pups received one hour social play encounters for 15 days and another group of mother-housed pups received empty cage exposure for 15 days. In adulthood (PND=60), animals were exposed to social defeat stress and social anxiety testing. We hypothesized that subjects with social play opportunities would exhibit less defeat-induced anxiety-like behavior than totally isolated subjects. Additionally, we expected that play dyads would establish dominance relationships and dominant hamsters would display less defeat-induced anxiety than their subordinate counterparts. Initial analysis of behavior during the play encounters revealed that social play peaked during the first week of encounters in female hamsters but dissolved into adult aggression during the third week. Dominance relationships were established during the third week of the daily play encounters. Findings suggest that juvenile hamsters are highly motivated to play and play fighting in Syrian hamsters transitions to adult aggression and functions to establish dominance relationships. We are currently still testing the extent to which social play can rescue the effects of social defeat stress in adulthood, and how this differs in male and female subjects.

Mentor

Matthew Cooper