Repetitive Self-Grooming Behavior Assay
Objective: Measurement of repetitive self-grooming behavior in BTBR mice and evaluation of mGluR5 antagonist MPEP and risperidone effects on grooming and open field activity
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text
Materials2
Software1
Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text
1 item available from ConductScience
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Animal strain selection and grouping
BTBR T+tf/J mice were used as the autism model strain exhibiting high levels of repetitive self-grooming. C57BL/6J mice served as the control strain with high sociability and low self-grooming baseline behavior.
Note: Two strains used for comparative analysis
View evidence from paper
“BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) is an inbred mouse strain that shows robust behavioral phenotypes with analogies to all three of the diagnostic symptoms of autism, including well-replicated deficits in reciprocal social interactions and social approach, unusual patterns of ultrasonic vocalization, and high levels of repetitive self-grooming”
Drug administration - MPEP treatment
MPEP was administered at multiple doses to evaluate effects on repetitive self-grooming behavior in BTBR mice
Note: Doses selected that did not induce sedation in open field activity
View evidence from paper
“MPEP significantly reduced repetitive self-grooming in BTBR, at doses that had no sedating effects on open field activity”
Drug administration - Risperidone treatment
Risperidone was administered at multiple doses to evaluate effects on repetitive self-grooming behavior in BTBR mice
Note: Doses that reduced grooming also induced sedation in both strains
View evidence from paper
“Risperidone reduced repetitive self-grooming in BTBR, but only at doses that induced sedation in both strains”
Repetitive self-grooming behavior measurement
Quantification of repetitive self-grooming behavior in BTBR mice under baseline and drug-treated conditions
Note: Primary outcome measure for evaluating drug efficacy
View evidence from paper
“high levels of repetitive self-grooming. These phenotypes offer straightforward behavioral assays for translational investigations of pharmacological compounds”
Open field activity assessment
Measurement of non-social exploratory activity and motor functions in open field arena to assess for sedating effects of treatments
Note: Used as control measure to distinguish specific effects on grooming from general motor suppression
View evidence from paper
“Open field activity served as an independent control for non-social exploratory activity and motor functions”
Sociability assessment
Evaluation of social behavior and sociability in BTBR mice following MPEP and risperidone treatment
Note: No overall improvements in sociability were detected with either drug
View evidence from paper
“No overall improvements in sociability were detected in BTBR after treatment with either MPEP or risperidone”