Aged Mice Environmental Enrichment Study
Objective: To evaluate the effects of one-month environmental enrichment exposure on aged mice (17 months old) following electrode implantation, with subsequent brain tissue collection and analysis
This is a Aged Mice Environmental Enrichment Study protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 3 equipment items, 3 materials. Extracted from a 2014 paper published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
mouse • C57BL/6J • male • 17 months (aged mice) • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Animal housing setup - Standard condition • Animal housing setup - Environmental enrichment condition • Electrode implantation
Primary readouts
- Brain tissue composition and structure
- Effects of environmental enrichment on aged brain
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Animal housing setup - Standard condition
House mice in standard rearing condition (SC) cages measuring 26 × 18 × 18 cm with 3 animals per cage
Note: Control condition for aged mice (SC-OLD group)
View evidence from paper
“The standard rearing condition (SC) consisted of a 26 × 18 × 18 cm cage housing 3 animals”
Animal housing setup - Environmental enrichment condition
House mice in large enrichment cages measuring 44 × 62 × 28 cm containing one running wheel and differently shaped objects (tunnels, shelters, stairs). House 6-8 mice per enrichment cage
Note: Enrichment objects repositioned twice weekly and completely substituted once weekly
View evidence from paper
“The environmental enrichment condition (EE) consisted of a large cage (44 × 62 × 28 cm) containing one running wheel for voluntary physical exercise and differently shaped objects (tunnels, shelters, stairs) that were repositioned twice a week and completely substituted once a week”
Electrode implantation
Implant electrodes in aged mice (17 months old) prior to environmental enrichment exposure
Note: Procedure performed before placement in enrichment condition
View evidence from paper
“Aged mice (age 17 months, EE-OLD group) were placed in EE for one month after electrode implantation”
Environmental enrichment exposure - Aged mice
Place aged mice (17 months old) in environmental enrichment cages for one month following electrode implantation
Note: EE-OLD group; age-matched controls (SC-OLD group) remain in standard cages
View evidence from paper
“Aged mice (age 17 months, EE-OLD group) were placed in EE for one month after electrode implantation”
Brain tissue collection
Collect brain samples from aged mice following one-month environmental enrichment exposure
Note: Performed after completion of enrichment period
View evidence from paper
“Aged mice (age 17 months, EE-OLD group) were placed in EE for one month after electrode implantation, then brain samples were collected”
Maintain standard housing conditions
Maintain 12-hour light/dark cycle and provide food and water ad libitum throughout study
Note: Applied to all housing conditions
View evidence from paper
“C57BL/6J male mice were housed in an animal room with a 12h/12h light/dark cycle, with food and water available ad libitum”