Food intake, growth and anxiety, after overcrowding or isolation-induced stress in rats

Abstract

The overcrowding and isolation conditions are often experienced by people living in big cities around the world, the literature suggest that under certain conditions it could promote stress-induced anxiety and obesity. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of post-weaning overcrowding or isolation over the food intake, growth and anxiety in rats. 30 male rats were housed from weaning (21 days old) till 60 days old on three different conditions: 1) optimal recommended for lab rodents with at least 168 cm² per rat (control group), 2) with no more than 50.4 cm² per rat (overcrowding group) and 3) individual housed (isolation group). Were recorded daily food intake, weight gain and increased size. On days 58, 59 and 60 was assessed the anxiety level in elevated plus-maze followed by recorded of food intake. Our results shown anxiety in adulthood and food intake was altered in the beginning of dark cycle.