Investigating neuropsychological and reward-related deficits in a chronic corticosterone-induced model of depression.

ABSTRACT: Chronic stress is a known risk factor for the development of major depression (MDD) and is commonly used to induce a depression-like phenotype in rodents. Similar phenotypic effects are also observed in rodents when treated chronically with the stress hormone corticosterone. In this study, we investigated the neuropsychological consequences of chronic corticosterone treatment in male rats using two translational rodent assays of affective bias, the judgement bias task (JBT) and affective bias test (ABT). We also used the reward learning assay (RLA) and sucrose preference test (SPT) to quantify reward-related behaviours. Negative biases in decision-making were observed in the chronic corticosterone-treated group but only when the treatment was given shortly before each behavioural session.

SUBMITTER: Hales CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10465973 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature