Brain health: A new frontier for animal welfare

摘要: The study of the mechanisms that maintain brain homeostasis and contribute to brain health is an area of rapidlyexpanding knowledge in translational science. We argue here that there is considerable value in applyingunderstanding of brain homeostasis and health to animal welfare. This paper will introduce some of the physicalconstituents of brain health, with exemplars to demonstrate the relevance of brain health to animal welfare. Physical constituents of brain health (examples): There has been recent interest in the relationship betweenhippocampal neurogenesis and animal welfare. However, other non-neuronal cells, tissues and fluids all havepotential influences on animal welfare. Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia) have inter-relatedfunctions crucial to the maintenance of brain homeostasis. All glial cell types are involved in psychologicalfunctions including learning, emotions and mood. Under challenge, there is evidence that glial cells can contributenegatively to brain homeostasis, for example contributing to the development of chronic anxiety and depression. The brains’ microvascular system permeates into brain tissue providing the metabolic needs of neurons and othercells; the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) forms a barrier around these capillaries limiting the passage of molecules intothe brain. There is evidence that challenges (including psychosocial stress) can increase permeability of the BBBpermitting passage of inflammatory molecules into the brain affecting neural functioning and leading to onset ofanxiety and depressive like symptoms. Relevance of brain health to animal welfare: Sickness behaviour is a …