Abstract

This report describes a behavioral test protocol for assessing anxiety in mice and rats in single or multiple sessions. The test is based on exposure of animals to an open-space elevated platform with suspended steep slopes attached on two opposite sides. In this test, all animals cross frequently onto and spend more time in the areas adjacent to slopes than in the areas adjacent to a void space. Balb/c mice (albinos) were shown consistently to be more anxious than CD-1 mice (albinos), c57/Bl6J and c57/Bl6N (pigmented) mice; they do not cross onto the slopes. When Balb/c mice are treated with amphetamine or diazepam, the number of crossings on the platform is significantly increased but only diazepam-treated mice do cross onto the slopes. In the presence of a protected space on the platform, the behavior of c57/Bl6J compares to that of Balb/c mice; they stop crossings onto the slopes and demonstrate avoidance response. Unlike the current existing tests, the present open-space anxiety test demonstrates reliable and consistent results with strong construct and discriminant validity. It provides unequivocal measures of fear-induced anxiety, which are not confounded with measures of fear-induced escape/avoidance responses, hyperactivity or impulsive responses.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Ennaceur A

Institution

Department of Pharmacy, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK. abdel_ennaceur@yahoo.com

Source

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 829: 2012 pg 177-91

MeSH

Altitude
Amphetamine
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Anxiety
Avoidance Learning
Behavior, Animal
Benzodiazepines
Diazepam
Exploratory Behavior
Fear
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Rats
Skin Pigmentation

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22231814