Data-Driven Analysis Identifies Novel Modulation of Social Behavior in Female Mice Witnessing Chronic Social Defeat Stress.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic social defeat stress is a widely used depression model in male mice. Several proposed adaptations extend this model to females with variable, often marginal effects. We examined if the widely used male-defined metrics of stress are suboptimal in females witnessing defeat.

Methods

Using a data-driven method, we comprehensively classified social interaction behavior in 761 male and female mice after chronic social witness/defeat stress, examining social modulation of behavior and associations with conventional metrics (i.e., social interaction ratio).

Results

Social stress induced distinct behavioral adaptation patterns in defeated males and witness females. Social interaction ratio led to underpowered analyses in witness females with limited utility

SUBMITTER: Schuler H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12817963 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature