Behavioral Phenotyping of Juvenile Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Preclinical Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders

摘要: The laboratory rat is emerging as an attractive preclinical animal model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), allowing investigators to explore genetic, environmental and pharmacological manipulations in a species exhibiting complex, reciprocal social behavior. present study was carried out compare two commonly used strains rats, Sprague-Dawley (SD) Long-Evans (LE), between the ages postnatal day (PND) 26-56 using high-throughput behavioral phenotyping tools mouse models ASD that we have adapted for use rats. We detected few differences young SD LE on standard assays exploration, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, repetitive behaviors, learning. Both also demonstrated sociability 3-chamber approach test indexed by spending more time chamber with constrained age/strain/sex matched novel partner than identical without partner. Pronounced were, however, when rats were allowed freely interact dyad paradigm. this particular testing paradigm engaged play frequently longer durations at both juvenile adult developmental points. Results from are particularly relevant developing threefold: (i) utilized exhibit unique patterns interactions, including strain-specific (ii) environment may profoundly influence expression behavior (iii) simple, automated measures not capture complexities interactions.