Sucrose Preference Test
Objective: Behavioral test measuring anhedonia-like responses by assessing preference for sucrose solution over water
This is a Sucrose Preference Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 6 materials. Extracted from a 2011 paper published in Nature.
Model and subjects
mouse • C57Bl/6:CD-1 mixed background, with transgenic v-WT and v-TK mice, and C57Bl/6 mice • male • 8 weeks at start of treatment; tested at various timepoints after treatment • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~19 week study window | ~1 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Animal treatment initiation • Behavioral testing • Behavioral test timing
Primary readouts
- Preference for sucrose solution over water
- Anhedonia-like responses
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Animal treatment initiation
Male v-WT and v-TK transgenic mice begin valganciclovir treatment at 8 weeks of age
Note: Treatment duration varies by experiment type: 8 weeks for dexamethasone, 10-19 weeks for endocrine, 12 weeks for behavior
View evidence from paper
“Male v-WT and v-TK mice were treated with valganciclovir for 8 weeks (dexamethasone experiment), 10-19 weeks (endocrine), 12 weeks (behavior) or 4 weeks (histology; histology after 12 weeks in Supplementary Fig. 1 ), beginning at 8 weeks of age”
Behavioral testing
Sucrose preference test performed on mice following treatment completion
Note: Different cohorts of mice were tested in different behavioral tests. Sucrose preference test was performed as previously described in referenced publications
View evidence from paper
“Different cohorts of mice were tested in the NSF test, elevated plus maze, forced swim test and sucrose preference test as previously described”
Behavioral test timing
Behavioral tests performed either following 30 min of restraint or directly from home cage
Note: Testing conditions varied between restraint-stressed and home cage conditions
View evidence from paper
“Behavioral tests were performed following 30 min of restraint or directly from the home cage”