The aim of this project is to investigate the response to social defeat in adolescent animals of both sexes, given the scarce scientific knowledge to date. To this end, a modified model of social defeat in female mice will be used, in which females experience vicarious social defeat which is maintained when they are exposed to the resident male for 24 hours. In the first part of the project, the peculiarities of the response to social stress will be characterised both at the behavioural level and the neuroinflammatory response during adolescence. This will allow to better understand the mechanisms that may be used to enhance a resilient response, which will be investigated in the second part of the project.

Basing on studies in adult animals, which have shown their efficacy mainly in reducing the neuroinflammatory response, we will investigate two types of approaches: the enhancement of resilience through environmental interventions (such as physical exercise, environmental enrichment or low-stress housing) and pharmacological interventions (oxytocin, oleoylethanolamide and cannabidiol).

The translational value of this project is very high, as the results obtained will help to better understand the particularities of the response to stress during adolescence, which is a critical period in the lives of the subjects that will largely determine the mental health of adult individuals. In addition, the results will help to better understand and address the devastating consequences of exposure to social stress in women, which have been systematically neglected in scientific studies.