Environmental enrichment alleviates the deleterious effects of stress in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Issue 4 (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fournier, Antoine Philippe; Baudron, Erwan; Wagnon, Isabelle; Aubert, Philippe; Vivien, Denis; Neunlist, Michel; Bardou, Isabelle; Docagne, Fabian
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis journal, experimental, translational and clinical. Volume 6:Issue 4(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Psychological stress -- multiple sclerosis -- relapse -- water avoidance stress -- environmental enrichment; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; 616.834
• DOI: 10.1177/2055217320959806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2173

Abstract

Background: Clinical observations support the hypothesis that stressful events increase relapse occurrence in multiple sclerosis patients, while stress-reduction strategies can modulate this effect. However, a direct cause-effect relationship between stress level and relapse cannot be firmly established from these data. Objectives: The purpose of this work was to address whether modulation of stress could interfere with symptom relapse in an animal model of multiple sclerosis with relapsing-remitting course. Methods: Mice bred in standard or enriched environment were subjected to repeated acute stress during the remission phase of relapsing-remitting PLP-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Results: We report that repeated acute stress induced a twofold increase in relapse incidence in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. On the other hand, environmental enrichment reduced relapse incidence and severity, and reversed the effects of repeated acute stress. Conclusion: These data provide the platform for further studies on the biological processes that link stress and multiple sclerosis relapses in a suitable animal model.