Short-term anxiety response of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum to odors from a predator

BRACHETTA VALENTINA; SCHLEICH CRISTIAN; ZENUTO ROXANA

PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 151 p. 596 - 603

0031-9384

Prey organisms exhibit primary adaptations that contribute to avoid predators and secondary mechanisms thatallowthemto defend themselves. Particularly behavioral adaptations allowthem to recognize, avoid and defendagainst predators. Facing a predatory risk, anxiety is a reaction of adaptive value, assessing the potential risk ofthis encounter as well as generating an autonomic and behavioral response that would help resolve that situation.Concomitantly, a stressful condition could result according to intensity and length of exposure. Previousstudies in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum revealed that exposure to direct cues of the presence of apredator has negative effects on learning and spatial memory. These impairments in their cognitive abilitiescould be avoided by the development of defensive anti-predatory behaviors. Thus, in this study we evaluatedthe behavioral and physiological responses of C. talarumto odors derived frompredators (urine and fur of domesticcat) used as indicators of potential risk of predation. In the open field, exposure to odors from a predator induceda decrease in time moving with respect to control (not exposed) individuals, as well as an increase in thetime scratching the walls near and far from the odor source. In the elevated plus maze, exposed individualswalked shorter distances, entered less frequently and remained less time scratching the walls in transparentarms. Physiological parameters did not show differential variations among treatments in both tests utilized.The results shows that exposure of the tuco-tuco to odors of a predator generates a state of anxiety and inducesbehavioral changes associated with decreased locomotor activity and avoidance behavior generation.