title: Behavioral responses of 129/Sv, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice to a non-predator aversive olfactory stimulus.
abstract: We examined the behavior of three inbred mouse strains (129/SvPasIco, C57BL/6J, and DBA/2J) exposed to an object soaked with the chemical component of the aversive scent (toluquinone odor) emitted by a myriapod species (Ommatoiulus sabulosus) in the presence of a predator. Subjects were exposed to the odor for three consecutive days. Behavioral responses to the toluquinone odor were characterized both by an approach phase of risk assessment and by a repeated series of approach-avoid episodes. Results indicate that toluquinone exposure reduced completely, and in a strain independent fashion, selected behaviors such as crouching, catching and eating object. Other responses were strain-dependent: the DBA (DBA/2J) strain displayed defensive burying at high levels, C57 (C57BL/6J) mice performed high levels of withdrawal while the 129/Sv (129/SvPasIco) strain showed also high levels of stretch attend posture. Compared to other tasks, this test is ethological, simple, cheap and is not affected by strain differences in appetitive-sensory responses, as shown by some strain-independent responses. These features make this task as a good complement to any exploration-anxiety test battery.
authors.affiliation: Section of Behavioral Neuroscience, Dept of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: Aldina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venerosi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puopolo
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alleva
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cirulli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009812:Odorants; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity