Differences in anxiety-related behavior and response to diazepam in BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains of mice.
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.
Lepicard
E M
EM
CNRS UMR 7593, "Personnalité et conduites adaptatives", CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91, Bd de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France. lepicard@ext.jussieu.fr
Joubert
C
C
Hagneau
I
I
Perez-Diaz
F
F
Chapouthier
G
G
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013045:Species Specificity
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam