Study of the mechanisms underlying stress vulnerability and emotional response in aging

• Project/Area Number: 21730609
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Fujita Health University (2010); National Institute for Longevity Sciences,NCGG (2009)
• Principal Investigator: SHOJI Hirotaka Fujita Health University, 総合医科学研究所, CREST研究員 (00466278)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2010
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: 加齢 / ストレス / 行動 / 情動 / 前頭前野 / 扁桃体 / 縫線核 / 網羅的行動テストバッテリー / マウス / 学習・記憶 / 情動行動 / ストレス脆弱性 / 神経伝達物質

Research Abstract

The present study examined the brain mechanisms underlying stress vulnerability and emotional response in aging. Behavioral analysis indicated that aged rats and mice showed increased anxiety-like behavior and deficits in cognitive functions compared to young animals. Chronic stress induced further increase in anxiety-like behavior and stress hormone response in aged animals but not in young ones. Histochemical and neurochemical analyses indicated that aged rats might have neurotransmission dysfunction in the brain circuit involved in the stress and emotional responses. These results suggest that aging induces the vulnerability to stress with accompanying high anxiety and is associated with the changes in the underlying brain mechanisms.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Aging-related changes in the effects of social isolation on social behavior in rats. (2011)
  • Author(s): Hirotaka Shoji, Kazushige Mizoguchi.
  • Journal Title: Physiology & Behavior 102 Pages: 58-62
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Aging-related changes in the effects of social isolation on social behavior in rats (2011)
  • Author(s): Hirotaka Shoji
  • Journal Title: Physiology and Behavior Volume: 102 Pages: 58-62
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Acute and repeated stress differentially regulates behavioral, endocrine, neural parameters relevant to emotional and stress response in young and aged rats. (2010)
  • Author(s): Hirotaka Shoji, Kazushige Mizoguchi.
  • Journal Title: Behavioural Brain Research 211 Pages: 169-177
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Acute and repeated stress differentially regulates behavioral, endocrine, neural parameters relovant to emotional and stress response in young and aged rats. (2010)
  • Author(s): Shoji, H., Mizoguchi, K.
  • Journal Title: Behavioural Brain Research 211 Pages: 169-177
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 遺伝子改変マウスの行動表現型データベースを用いた行動に及ぼす実験時刻・加齢要因の影響の検討 (2010)
  • Author(s): 昌子浩孝・高雄啓三・服部聡子・遠山桂子・中西和男・宮川剛
  • Organizer: 日本動物心理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 帝京大学
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-29
• [Presentation] 情動行動と内分泌反応を指標とした老齢ラットのストレス脆弱性とその脳内機構の検討 (2009)
  • Author(s): 昌子浩孝・溝口和臣
  • Organizer: 日本動物心理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 岐阜大学
  • Year and Date: 2009-09-26