title: Understanding the behavioural phenotype of the precocial spiny mouse.
abstract: The use of the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) in experimental research is steadily increasing, due to the precocial nature of this species and the similarities in endocrinology to the human. The characterisation of normal behavioural traits throughout development has not been comprehensively measured in the spiny mouse. Therefore the aim of this study was to behaviourally phenotype the spiny mouse, with the use of behavioural paradigms commonly used to assess behaviour in rat and mouse models of human behavioural disorders such as autism, attention-deficit disorder, and schizophrenia. Male and female spiny mice were assessed at 1-5, 10-15, 20-25, 40-45 and 80-85 days of age using the open field test, novel object recognition test, rotarod, elevated plus maze, a social interaction test, and prepulse inhibition. Exploratory activity, motor coordination, fear, anxiety and social behaviours could be accurately measured from 1 day of age. Open field exploration and motor coordination on a modified rotarod were precociously developed by 10-15 and 20-25 days of age, respectively, when they were equivalent to the performance of conventional adult mice. Learning and memory (assessed by the novel object recognition test), and sensory gating (prepulse inhibition) could be reliably determined only after 20-25 days of age, and performance on these tests differed significantly between male and female spiny mice, particularly in adulthood. This study characterises the behavioural traits of spiny mice and provides important information about critical periods of behavioural development throughout postnatal life.
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3168, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia. Electronic address: Udani.ratnayake@florey.edu.au.
authors.forename: Udani
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ratnayake
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daruwalla
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051189:Murinae / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D055139:Sensory Gating / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Acomys cahirinus; Exploratory activity; Fear and anxiety; Motor coordination; Sensorimotor gating; Social interaction