title: Anxiety behavior, exploratory behavior, and activity in NZB x NZW F1 hybrid mice: role of genotype and autoimmune disease progression.
abstract: Behavioral changes often accompany the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans and animals. In a mouse model of SLE, the NZB x NZW F1 (B/W) hybrid, 12-week-old mice display more anxiety behavior, less activity, and less exploratory behavior than non-autoimmune female NZW mice. To determine whether these behaviors result from the autoimmune disease or genetic differences between B/W and NZW mice, they were assessed prior to and during disease emergence (6 and 12 weeks of age, respectively). B/W mice were less active at both ages, suggesting a genetic component to this behavioral difference. Anxiety behavior and exploratory behavior did not differ between B/W and NZW mice at 6 weeks; however, at 12 weeks B/W mice displayed more anxiety behavior and less exploratory behavior, indicating that these behaviors were related with the development of autoimmune disease. Prior experience with these tasks increased anxiety behavior in B/W but not NZW mice, suggesting that B/W mice may be more sensitive to anxiogenic experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262, USA. schro041@tc.umn.edu
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schrott
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Crnic
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M