A new method for the assessment of spatial orientation and spatial anxiety in mice.
The implication of integrated functional sensory relations of the body to space in anxiety disorders is a very important issue which encourages the development of animal models, in particular, for pharmacological perspectives and for the functional assessment of the deficits induced by genetic manipulation in the mouse or the rat. A new experimental device is presented here: It is comprised of a rotating tunnel and a rotating-beam controlled by computer which can be used for multiple visuo-idiothetic and kinesthetic sensory conflict situations during active locomotor behaviour by mice. The system is linked to a digital video system, Video-Track trade mark, designed to track and record the movements of the animals. Anxious BALB/cByJ mice were compared to non-anxious C57BL/6J mice and were seen to display highly disturbed locomotor behaviour in a sensory conflict situation. The model highlights the advantages of video-digital analysis for animal behavioural sciences.
CNRS UMR 7593 Vulnérabilité, Adaptation et Psychopathologie, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91, Bd de l'Hôpital 75013, Paris, France.
David
D
Rudrauf
Patrice
P
Venault
Charles
C
Cohen-Salmon
Alain
A
Berthoz
Roland
R
Jouvent
Georges
G
Chapouthier
D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009484:Neuropsychology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods