Source Paper
Lack of striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase affected the serotonin system, behavior, and brain morphology in mice
Moskaliuk V, Komleva P, Khotskin N, Arefieva A, Shevelev O et al.
Front Psychiatry • 2026
Marble Burying Test
behavioralmiceC57BL/6-Ptpn5_KO and C57BL/6 (wild type)
Objective: To evaluate stereotypical behavior associated with obsessive ideas and actions as well as anxiety-related behavior
Protocol Steps
1
Setup marble arrangement
Distribute eighteen identical brightly colored glass marbles evenly across a clean cage filled with sawdust layer 4 cm deep
View evidence from paper
“Eighteen identical brightly colored glass marbles ( d = 1 cm) were evenly distributed across the clean cage”
2
Place mouse in test cage
Place a single mouse alone in the cage with marbles for 30 minutes
View evidence from paper
“A mouse was placed alone in the cage with marbles for 30 min”
3
Remove mouse and count buried marbles
Remove the mouse after 30 minutes and count the number of buried marbles using the criterion that a marble is considered buried if sawdust covers over 2/3 of its surface
View evidence from paper
“the mouse was removed and the number of buried marbles was counted. A marble was considered buried if the sawdust covered over 2/3 of its surface”