The proposed research will study the Agitation-Depression reaction following social separation in monkeys as an animal model of human depression. It has been well documented that separations and losses are potent pathogens in both psychiatry and medicine generally. We believe one of the relevant mechanisms to be the disruption of an attachment bond, which leads to pathophysiological changes within the organism, increasing the organism's vulnerability. Three research areas are proposed. Emerging evidence suggests significant commonalities between disorders of eating and affective disorders. We will study the relationship between recently observed physiological changes accompanying alterations in nutritional status and the similar physiological changes accompanying maternal separation. We will assess infant milk intake and correlate degree of nutritional alteration following maternal separation with degree of physiological response in two environments, social group and individual cages. These studies will improve our understanding of the relationship between alterations in nutrition and response to separation and the relationship between social stress and the response to maternal separation. Physiological variables will include heart rate and rhythm, body temperature, circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and EEG patterns. All physiological data will be obtained by means of totally implantable multichannel biotelemetry. The two major paradigms used as primate animal models of depression are maternal separation and peer separation. As of yet, there is no available data on the similarity of these two paradigms on a physiological level. We will study ten monkey infants who have been raised as peers, measuring behavioral, physiological, and immunological changes accompanying both peer separation and altered nutritional status produced by short term food restriction. These studies will also permit for the first time a direct test of the hypothesis that one function of attachment is to promote psychobiological synchrony between individuals. We will develop an electrochemical telemetry technology that will permit a better definition of imputed alterations in function of central catechol and indolamine neurotransmitter systems that accompany and/or underlie the separation induced depressive syndrome and the similar changes accompanying altered nutrition. The development of electrochemical biotelemetry capability should represent a powerful new research strategy for assessing CNS correlates of behavior in a nondestructive fashion in primates.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH019514-14
Application #
3374784
Study Section
(SRC)
Project Start
1977-12-01
Project End
1987-07-31
Budget Start
1985-08-01
Budget End
1986-07-31
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
065391526
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045
Laudenslager, Mark L; Natvig, Crystal; Cantwell, Holly et al. (2010) Estimates of milk constituents from lactating bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata) mothers between two and seven months post-partum. J Med Primatol 39:368-73
Boccia, M L; Laudenslager, M L; Reite, M L (1994) Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect infant responses to maternal separation. Psychiatry 57:43-50
Cox, M; Garrick, N; Reite, M et al. (1991) Minipump clorgyline administration and CSF amine metabolites in unrestrained monkeys. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 38:677-9
Reite, M; Kaemingk, K; Boccia, M L (1989) Maternal separation in bonnet monkey infants: altered attachment and social support. Child Dev 60:473-80
Boccia, M L; Reite, M; Laudenslager, M (1989) On the physiology of grooming in a pigtail macaque. Physiol Behav 45:667-70
Boccia, M L; Reite, M; Kaemingk, K et al. (1989) Behavioral and autonomic responses to peer separation in pigtail macaque monkey infants. Dev Psychobiol 22:447-61
Reite, M; Laudenslager, M; Jones, J et al. (1987) Interferon decreases REM latency. Biol Psychiatry 22:104-7
Reite, M (1987) Infant abuse and neglect: lessons from the primate laboratory. Child Abuse Negl 11:347-55
Cheney-Thamm, J; Alianello, E A; Freed, C R et al. (1987) In vivo electrochemical recording of acetaminophen in non human primate brain. Life Sci 40:375-9
Kaemingk, K; Reite, M (1987) Social environment and nocturnal sleep: studies in peer-reared monkeys. Sleep 10:542-50

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