Research ReportSocial factors modulate restraint stress induced hyperthermia in mice

•Stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) was examined in mice using restraint holders.•Mice restrained with others similarly restrained showed less SIH.•Restrained mice with free-moving others showed more SIH.•Social equality reduces the stress while social inequality increases it.

Stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) was examined in three different social conditions in mice by thermographic measurement of the body surface temperature. Placing animals in cylindrical holders induced restraint stress. I examined the effect of the social factors in SIH using the thermograph (body surface temperature). Mice restrained in the holders alone showed SIH. Mice restrained in the holders at the same time as other similarly restrained cage mates (social equality condition) showed less hyperthermia. Interestingly, restrained mice with free moving cage mates (social inequality condition) showed the highest hyperthermia. These results are consistent with a previous experiment measuring the memory-enhancing effects of stress and the stress-induced elevation of corticosterone, and suggest that social inequality enhances stress.