title: Cat odor exposure induces distinct changes in the exploratory behavior and Wfs1 gene expression in C57Bl/6 and 129Sv mice.
abstract: 129Sv and C57Bl/6 (Bl6) strains are two most widely used inbred mice strains for generation of transgenic animals. The present study confirms the existence of substantial differences in the behavior of these two mice strains. The exploratory behavior of Bl6 mice in a novel environment was significantly higher compared to 129Sv mice. The exposure of mice to cat odor-induced an anxiety-like state in Bl6, but not in 129Sv mice. The levels of Wfs1 gene expression did not differ in the prefrontal cortex, mesolimbic area and temporal lobe of experimentally naive Bl6 and 129Sv mice. However, after cat odor exposure the expression of Wfs1 gene was significantly lower in the mesolimbic area and temporal lobe of Bl6 mice compared to 129Sv strain. Dynamics of Wfs1 gene expression and exploratory behavior suggest that the down-regulation of Wfs1 gene in Bl6 mice might be related to the increased anxiety. Further studies are needed to test the robustness and possible causal relationship of this finding.
authors: Department of Physiology, Biomedicum, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. Sirli.Raud@ut.ee
authors: Sirli
authors: S
authors: Raud
authors: Silva
authors: S
authors: Sütt
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Plaas
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Luuk
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Innos
authors: Mari-Anne
authors: MA
authors: Philips
authors: Sulev
authors: S
authors: Kõks
authors: Eero
authors: E
authors: Vasar
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009812:Odorants; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C114987:wolframin protein