The mouse light-dark paradigm : A review

1. The light/dark paradigm is based on the innate aversion of rodents to brightly illuminated areas and on the spontaneous exploratory behaviour of the animals, applying mild stressors i.e. novel environment and light. The test apparatus consists of a small dark secure compartment (one third) and a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry 2001, Vol.25 (1), p.141-166
Main Authors: HASCOËT, Martine, BOURIN, Michel, NIC DHONNCHADHA, Brid A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology
Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use
Anxiety - physiopathology
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Avoidance Learning - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Darkness
Exploratory Behavior - physiology
Humans
Light
Male
Medical sciences
Mice
Miscellaneous
Models, Animal
Models, Psychological
Neuropharmacology
Neuroprotective agent
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Rodentia
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Summary:1. The light/dark paradigm is based on the innate aversion of rodents to brightly illuminated areas and on the spontaneous exploratory behaviour of the animals, applying mild stressors i.e. novel environment and light. The test apparatus consists of a small dark secure compartment (one third) and a large illuminated aversive compartment (two thirds). 2. The test was developed with male mice. The strain, weight and age may be crucial factors. 3. The extent to which an anxiolytic compound can facilitate the exploratory activity depends on the baseline level in the control group. Differences between the type and severity of external stressors might account for variable results reported by different laboratories. 4. In conclusion, the black and white test may be useful to predict anxiolytic-like or anxiogenic-like activity in mice. Transitions have been reported to be an index of activity-exploration because of habituation over time and the time spent in each compartment to be a reflection of aversion. Classic anxiolytics (benzodiazepines) as well as the newer anxiolytic-like compounds (e.g. serotonergic drugs) can be detected using this paradigm. It has the advantages of being quick and easy to use, without requiring the prior training of animals.
ISSN:0278-5846
1878-4216
DOI:10.1016/S0278-5846(00)00151-2