title: A behavioural characterisation of the FVB/N mouse strain.
abstract: The use of transgenic models in scientific research has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of the causes and symptoms of many diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD). In the creation of transgenic models of neurodegenerative disease, effects of the background strain of the animal on the resulting genotype must be taken into consideration. This is particularly true for behavioural studies in which the background strain of the mouse may mask the phenotype of the genetic manipulation. Here, the behaviour of two mouse strains used in transgenic models, FVB/N and C57BL6/J, were compared. Studies of circadian wheel activity, cognition and aggression revealed considerable phenotypic differences between strains. These data also indicate that the FVB/N strain is not appropriate as a background strain in the behavioural assessment of transgenic mouse models.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and GI CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex CM19 5AW, UK. Pippa_L_Pugh@gsk.com
authors.forename: Perdita L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Sharlin F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: A Jacqueline
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D005838:Genotype; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics