Characterization of behavioral phenotypes in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of Autism Spectrum Disorder under social housing conditions using the Multiple Animal Positioning System.

In this study, we applied a newly developed assay system, the Multiple Animal Positioning System (MAPS), to quantify behaviors under group housing conditions over four days of continuous observation. Using MAPS, we showed that in a group housing condition, the BTBR mice exhibited lower activity levels in the dark phase and alteration of social behavior in comparison with the C57BL/6J mice. The phenotypes of the BTBR mice were affected by co-housing with the C57BL/6J mice for four days, but the influence was weak and limited. Our results by MAPS differ from those obtained using conventional behavioral tests. The present study demonstrated that MAPS would be useful for evaluating the usual/natural behaviors of various animal models in detail and under more ethological conditions.
PMID: 30905912 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Experimental Animals - March 25, 2019 Category: Research Tags: Exp Anim Source Type: research