Using the live rat stress paradigm to investigate approach-avoidance behaviour under threat — The Association Specialists
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Using the live rat stress paradigm to investigate approach-avoidance behaviour under threat (21927)

Jacqueline A Iredale 1 2 , Fay J Waldrip 1 2 , Jakob A Slack-Smith 1 2 , Zane A Andrews 3 , Erin J Campbell 1 2 , Christopher V Dayas 1 2 , Lizzie E Manning 1 2
  1. University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  2. Brain Neuromodulation Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
  3. Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

Hunger is a key physiological behaviour and approach-avoidance feeding behaviour is known to be modified by threat. Animals undertake riskier behaviour to obtain food when it is scarce. To examine food approach-avoidance behaviour under threat, we utilised the live rat stress paradigm. C57BL/6 mice had free access, or no access, to food for >16hrs prior to testing and were placed in an arena divided into mouse (40x40cm) and rat (20x40cm) areas, separated by a transparent, perforated wall. The mouse side of the arena included a ‘hide’ space, diagonally to which was an automated pellet dispensing device (FED), dispensing sucrose pellets on a free-feeding schedule, located adjacent to the rat wall. Results indicated fasted animals spent significantly more time near the FED and subsequently near the live rat compared to non-fasted animals (41.19±5.70 seconds vs. 18.37±1.94 seconds; p<0.01) and consumed significantly more pellets (15.96±1.87 pellets vs. 3.08±0.79 pellets; p<0.001). Comparatively, fasted animals exposed to the live rat spent significantly less time near the FED than those exposed to the control 3D-printed rat (41.19±5.70 seconds vs. 69.74±4.65 seconds; p<0.0001). Future studies will aim to examine the brain pathways involved in food approach behaviour under threat. We will utilise in vivo calcium imaging, paired with the live rat stress paradigm, and investigate connections between the hypothalamic regions underlying threat dependant changes in feeding behaviour, and the effect of hunger on these. This future research may identify the role of hypothalamic circuits in modulating reward-seeking in a risky environment.