To solve the problem that whether long-term isolation would lead to anxiety in rodents.The effects of long-term social isolation on behavior and physiology in female rats were studied. In the study, female rats were divided into two groups, isolation-reared group and socially-reared group. In isolation-reared group, rats were individually reared in one cage. In socially-reared group, rats were housed in groups of four. Behavioral and physiological index were tested ten weeks later. The following results were obtained.Compared to the socially-reared group, isolation-reared group showed less rearing in open field test, and the more time female rats spent in the dark box, the less cross these rats in light/dark box, which suggested that chronic isolation induced anxious responses in female rats. Although relative weight of adrenals, spleen, ovaries and uteri did not differ between the two groups, the serum level of cortisol and progesterone were lower in socially-reared group. It is suggested that the dysregulations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is caused by long-term social isolation, which may impart a deleterious effect on reproductive physiology in female rats.

social isolation; female rats; anxiety behavior; serum hormone; physiology index