Source Paper
Age-related changes in behavior in C57BL/6J mice from young adulthood to middle age
Hirotaka Shoji, Keizo Takao, Satoko Hattori, Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
Molecular Brain • 2016
General Health and Neurological Screening
Objective: Assessment of general health status and neurological function in mice as part of a behavioral test battery
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
Materials4
Software1
Not specified • Not specified
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Protocol Steps
Animal transport and acclimation
Genetically engineered mice and wild-type control mice were transported from animal facilities of other laboratories or vendors to the laboratory
Note: Mice were housed in plastic cages with sterilized bedding under 12-hour light/dark cycle with lights on at 7:00 am
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“Genetically engineered mice and their wild-type control mice were transported from the animal facilities of other laboratories or vendors to our laboratory”
Housing conditions
Mice were housed in plastic cages with sterilized PaperClean Bedding under a 12-hour light/dark cycle with access to food and water ad libitum
Note: Housing density varied: 1.3% housed with 1 animal per cage, 2.3% with 2, 6.7% with 3, 80.1% with 4, 8.9% with 5, and 0.7% with 6 animals per cage at the beginning of test battery
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“housed in plastic cages with sterilized PaperClean Bedding (Japan SLC) under a 12-hr light/dark cycle (lights on at 7:00 am) with access to food (CRF-1, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) and water ad libitum”
General health and neurological screening
General health and neurological screening was performed as the first test in the behavioral test battery
Note: Testing was performed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. This test was performed first in the standard test battery order
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“The mice were generally tested in the following order; general health and neurological screening, light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze”
Inter-test interval
Minimum interval maintained between consecutive behavioral tests
Note: More than 75% of mice were subjected to tests in accordance with the standard order, though some strains had tests omitted or reordered
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“The interval between tests was at least 1 day.”
Apparatus cleaning and disinfection
All apparatus were cleaned between tests to prevent bias due to olfactory cues
Note: Cleaning was performed with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol
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“After the tests, all apparatus were cleaned with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol to prevent a bias due to olfactory cues.”