Differences in anxiety-related behavior and response to diazepam in BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains of mice

doi:10.1016/S0091-3057(00)00419-6

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

Volume 67, Issue 4, December 2000, Pages 739-748

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-3057(00)00419-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

The study in an ethological perspective of inbred strains of mice offers a more accurate description of anxiety-related behavior. In this context, behavioral performances of the BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains were systematically compared in the staircase test, the light/dark test and the elevated plus maze test. A rarely used variable, the latency of the first entry in the dark box, was also recorded in the light/dark test. A new statistical approach to this measure meant that specific avoidance strategies could be differentiated in the two strains. A study of the behavioral responses of the two strains given treatment with diazepam, a widely used anxiolytic compound, was also carried out. Results showed substantial differences between BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains. C57BL/6J mice had high baseline activity and exploration of a new environment, suggesting a low level of anxiety. BALB/cByJ mice displayed defensive and protective behavior, with limited exploration of the new environment together with low locomotor activity. The response to diazepam was also different for each strain: C57BL/6J mice showed higher sensitivity to diazepam treatment than did BALB/cByJ mice.

Section snippets

Animals

Two inbred strains of mice were used: BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J (IFFA Credo, France). Three-month-old males were housed under standard conditions of 22°C, a 12:12 h photoperiod with lights on at 0800 h, water and food available ad libitum, and dust-free soft wood sawdust bedding. The experiments reported herein were performed in compliance with the ethical guidelines of the French Ministry of Agriculture. Table 1 shows the distribution of the mice according to each test and each dose of diazepam

Staircase test

The analysis of covariance showed significant differences between BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J for NSC [F(1,222)=39.71, P<.0001] and for NR [F(1,222)=10.27, P<.002]. Treatment had an effect on NSC [F(1,222)=49.50, P<.0001] and on NR [F(1,222)=9.35, P<.003] for both strains. There was also a dose×strain interaction for NSC [F(1,222)=20.67, P<.0001] and NR [F(1,222)=4.46, P<.05].

A strain-to-strain comparison showed significant differences between BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J control groups for both

Discussion

The aim of the present study was to investigate anxiety-related behavioral differences between the BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains in different tests. According to Montgomery [28], exposure to a novel environment can induce both exploratory and fear drives, thus generating an approach–avoidance conflict behavior. Ethological measures linked to the exploratory component of murine behavior were therefore analyzed first.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Controlling aggression is a crucial skill in social species like rodents and humans and has been associated with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we directly link the failed regulation of aggression in BALB/cJ mice to ACC hypofunction. We first show that ACC in BALB/cJ mice is structurally degraded: neuron density is decreased, with pervasive neuron death and reactive astroglia. Gene-set enrichment analysis suggested that this process is driven by neuronal degeneration, which then triggers toxic astrogliosis. cFos expression across ACC indicated functional consequences: during aggressive encounters, ACC was engaged in control mice, but not BALB/cJ mice. Chemogenetically activating ACC during aggressive encounters drastically suppressed pathological aggression but left species-typical aggression intact. The network effects of our chemogenetic perturbation suggest that this behavioral rescue is mediated by suppression of amygdala and hypothalamus and activation of mediodorsal thalamus. Together, these findings highlight the central role of ACC in curbing pathological aggression.
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Differences in anxiety-related behavior and response to diazepam in BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains of mice

Abstract

Section snippets

Animals

Staircase test

Discussion

Anim Behav

Physiol Behav

Physiol Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Brain Res Bull

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Behav Brain Res

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Physiol Behav

J Neurosci Methods

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Eur J Pharmacol

Physiol Behav

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Pharmacol, Biochem Behav

Further pharmacological validation of the BALB/c neophobia in the free exploratory paradigm as an animal model of trait anxiety

Behav Pharmacol