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
Light/Dark Transition Test
Objective: Measure anxiety-related behavior through mouse preference between illuminated and dark compartments in a light/dark transition test
This is a Light/Dark Transition Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 4 materials. Extracted from a 2016 paper published in Molecular Brain.
Model and subjects
mouse • C57BL/6J and genetically engineered mice with C57BL/6J genetic background • male • Not specified • Not specified • 1739
Study window
~1 day study window
Core workflow
Animal housing and maintenance • Light/Dark Transition Test • Apparatus cleaning between tests
Primary readouts
- Mouse preference between illuminated and dark compartments
- Anxiety-related behavior indicators
- Time spent in each compartment
- Transitions between compartments
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Animal housing and maintenance
Mice housed in plastic cages with sterilized PaperClean Bedding under 12-hour light/dark cycle with lights on at 7:00 am. Food (CRF-1) and water provided ad libitum.
Note: Housing density varied: 1.3% with 1 animal, 2.3% with 2, 6.7% with 3, 80.1% with 4, 8.9% with 5, and 0.7% with 6 animals per cage
View evidence from paper
“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”
Light/Dark Transition Test
Mice subjected to light/dark transition test as part of behavioral test battery. Test performed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Note: Test order: general health and neurological screening, light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze, hot plate, social interaction, rotarod, startle response/prepulse inhibition, Porsolt forced swim, Barnes maze, contextual and cued fear conditioning, and tail suspension tests. Minimum 1 day interval between tests.
View evidence from paper
“Behavioral testing was performed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The mice were generally tested in the following order; general health and neurological screening, light/dark transition, open field...”
Apparatus cleaning between tests
All apparatus cleaned with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol after each test to prevent bias due to olfactory cues
Note: Cleaning performed between all behavioral tests
View evidence from paper
“After the tests, all apparatus were cleaned with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol to prevent a bias due to olfactory cues”