Ontogenetic differences in adolescent and adult C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice: anxiety-like, locomotor, and consummatory behaviors.
Adolescence is a highly conserved period during which mammals undergo a number of hormonal, biological, and behavioral changes [Spear [2000] Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 24: 417-463]. Ethical constraints limit the research that can be done in human adolescents. Rodents provide a useful model of at least some of the features of adolescence, including increases in body growth, differences in sleep/wake, and eating patterns, as well as differences in risk-taking, novelty seeking, and exploratory behaviors. Much of the available developmental research has utilized rats; however, the use of inbred mouse strains provides a unique means to assess the genetic factors involved in behavioral differences during adolescence. We assessed differences between adults and adolescents in anxiety-like, locomotor, and consummatory behaviors using two commonly used inbred strains of mice, the DBA/2J and C57BL/6J strains. Age and genotype-dependent differences were found in all three behaviors measured, suggesting both factors are important determinants of behavior in mice.
Moore
Eileen M
EM
Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, 402 N Blackford St, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Linsenbardt
David N
DN
Melón
Laverne C
LC
Boehm
Stephen L
SL
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D004326:Drinking / Q000235:genetics*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity