Birth origin differentially affects depressive-like behaviours: are captive-born cynomolgus monkeys more vulnerable to depression than their wild-born counterparts?

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 4;8(7):e67711. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067711. Print 2013.

Abstract

Background: Adverse early-life experience might lead to the expression of abnormal behaviours in animals and the predisposition to psychiatric disorder (e.g. major depressive disorder) in Humans. Common breeding processes employ weaning and housing conditions different from what happens in the wild.

Methods: The present study, therefore, investigated whether birth origin impacts the possible existence of spontaneous atypical/abnormal behaviours displayed by 40 captive-born and 40 wild-born socially-housed cynomolgus macaques in farming conditions using an unbiased ethological scan-sampling analysis followed by multifactorial correspondence and hierarchical clustering analyses.

Results: We identified 10 distinct profiles (groups A to J) that significantly differed on several behaviours, body postures, body orientations, distances between individuals and locations in the cage. Data suggest that 4 captive-born and 1 wild-born animals (groups G and J) present depressive-like symptoms, unnatural early life events thereby increasing the risk of developing pathological symptoms. General differences were also highlighted between the captive- and wild-born populations, implying the expression of differential coping mechanisms in response to the same captive environment.

Conclusions: Birth origin thus impacts the development of atypical ethologically-defined behavioural profiles, reminiscent of certain depressive-like symptoms. The use of unbiased behavioural observations might allow the identification of animal models of human mental/behavioural disorders and their most appropriate control groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Breeding
  • Depression / physiopathology
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macaca fascicularis / physiology
  • Macaca fascicularis / psychology*
  • Male
  • Stress, Psychological

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Biothèque Primate - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Life Sciences Department (EB) and an unrestricted grant from Motac Neuroscience Ltd., UK (EB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.