Data from: Voluntary locomotor activity mitigates oxidative damage associated with isolation stress in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

Organismal performance directly depends on an individual's ability to cope with a wide array of physiological challenges. For social animals, social isolation is a stressor that has been shown to increase oxidative stress. Another physiological challenge, routine locomotor activity, has been found to decrease oxidative stress levels. Because we currently do not have a good understanding of how diverse physiological systems like stress and locomotion interact to affect oxidative balance, we studied this interaction in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Voles were either pair housed or isolated and within the isolation group, voles either had access to a moving wheel or a stationary wheel. We found that chronic periodic isolation caused increased levels of oxidative stress. However, within the vole group that was able to run voluntarily, longer durations of locomotor activity were associated with less oxidative stress. Our work suggests that individuals who demonstrate increased locomotor activity may be better able to cope with the social stressor of isolation.

个体的生存表现直接取决于其应对多种生理挑战的能力。对于群居动物而言，社会隔离是一种应激源，已被证实会升高氧化应激水平。而另一项生理挑战——日常运动活动，则被发现能够降低氧化应激水平。鉴于目前学界对压力、运动等多样生理系统如何相互作用以影响氧化平衡尚缺乏清晰认知，我们以草原田鼠（prairie vole，*Microtus ochrogaster*）为研究对象开展了相关实验。实验中，田鼠被分为成对饲养组与单独饲养组；在单独饲养组内，田鼠可使用运动轮或静止轮。我们发现，慢性周期性社会隔离会提升氧化应激水平。但在可自主运动的田鼠组中，运动时长越长，氧化应激水平越低。本研究结果表明，运动水平更高的个体或许能更好地应对社会隔离带来的社交应激源。