Differences in anxiety-related behavior and response to diazepam in BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains of mice

The study in an ethological perspective of inbred strains of mice offers a more accurate description of anxiety-related behavior. In this context, behavioral performances of the BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains were systematically compared in the staircase test, the light/dark test and the elevated pl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2000-12, Vol.67 (4), p.739-748
Main Authors: Lepicard, Eve M, Joubert, Chantal, Hagneau, Isabelle, Perez-Diaz, Fernando, Chapouthier, Georges
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology
Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use
Anxiety
Anxiety - drug therapy
Diazepam
Diazepam - pharmacology
Diazepam - therapeutic use
Elevated plus maze
Ethological measures
Exploratory Behavior - drug effects
Exploratory Behavior - physiology
Inbred strain of mice
Light/dark
Locomotion - drug effects
Locomotion - physiology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Species Specificity
Staircase
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Summary:The study in an ethological perspective of inbred strains of mice offers a more accurate description of anxiety-related behavior. In this context, behavioral performances of the BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains were systematically compared in the staircase test, the light/dark test and the elevated plus maze test. A rarely used variable, the latency of the first entry in the dark box, was also recorded in the light/dark test. A new statistical approach to this measure meant that specific avoidance strategies could be differentiated in the two strains. A study of the behavioral responses of the two strains given treatment with diazepam, a widely used anxiolytic compound, was also carried out. Results showed substantial differences between BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6J strains. C57BL/6J mice had high baseline activity and exploration of a new environment, suggesting a low level of anxiety. BALB/cByJ mice displayed defensive and protective behavior, with limited exploration of the new environment together with low locomotor activity. The response to diazepam was also different for each strain: C57BL/6J mice showed higher sensitivity to diazepam treatment than did BALB/cByJ mice.
ISSN:0091-3057
1873-5177
DOI:10.1016/S0091-3057(00)00419-6