Social Behavior and Sociability Assessment
Objective: Evaluation of social interactions and sociability phenotypes in BTBR mice, with assessment of repetitive self-grooming behavior following pharmacological treatment with MPEP and risperidone
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Protocol Steps
Subject selection and strain assignment
BTBR T+tf/J mice were used as the primary experimental model showing robust behavioral phenotypes analogous to autism symptoms. C57BL/6J mice served as the strain control with high sociability and low self-grooming phenotypes.
Note: Two inbred mouse strains were used for comparison
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. C57BL/6J (B6), an inbred strain with high sociability and low self-grooming, served as the strain control”
Pharmacological treatment administration
MPEP and risperidone were administered to BTBR mice at various doses to evaluate their effects on low sociability and high repetitive self-grooming phenotypes
Note: Doses were varied to assess both efficacy and sedating effects
View evidence from paper
“We evaluated the actions of MPEP and risperidone on two BTBR phenotypes, low sociability and high repetitive self-grooming”
Assessment of repetitive self-grooming behavior
Repetitive self-grooming behavior was measured in BTBR mice following MPEP and risperidone treatment to evaluate pharmacological effects on this autism-related phenotype
Note: MPEP significantly reduced repetitive self-grooming at doses without sedating effects; risperidone reduced self-grooming only at doses inducing sedation
View evidence from paper
“MPEP significantly reduced repetitive self-grooming in BTBR, at doses that had no sedating effects on open field activity. Risperidone reduced repetitive self-grooming in BTBR, but only at doses that induced sedation in both strains”
Assessment of sociability phenotype
Social interactions and sociability were evaluated in BTBR mice following MPEP and risperidone treatment to determine if pharmacological interventions improved social behavior deficits
Note: No overall improvements in sociability were detected with either treatment
View evidence from paper
“No overall improvements in sociability were detected in BTBR after treatment with either MPEP or risperidone”
Open field activity assessment
Open field activity was measured as an independent control to assess non-social exploratory activity and motor functions, ensuring that observed effects were not due to general sedation or motor impairment
Note: Used to distinguish between selective behavioral effects and non-specific sedation
View evidence from paper
“Open field activity served as an independent control for non-social exploratory activity and motor functions”