Cuprizone-induced demyelination model mice exhibit antisocial maltreating behavior: an experimental animal study.

PURPOSE: The structural integrity of white matter in the human brain, including myelination, is important not only for brain pathology but also for cognitive functions, including social behavior. Here, we investigated the relationship between myelination abnormalities and antisocial maltreating behavior in mice. METHODS: The demyelination model was generated by feeding cuprizone to C57BL/6 mice. Luxol fast blue staining was performed to visualize myelin. The demyelination model was subjected to a maltreating behavioral task. Oxytocin (OXY), haloperidol (HAL), and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) were used. RESULTS: The demyelination model mice showed a higher number of nose-pokes than the control. OXY or 8-OH-DPAT treatment reduced the high nose-poking number of the demyelination model mice. HAL did not largely affect the number of nose-pokes of the demyelination model mice. CONCLUSION: Demyelination appears to be closely related to antisocial maltreating behavior. Our maltreating-behavior assay system is a good animal system for investigating brain disorders involving antisocial or psychotic behavior.