Evaluation of Social and Physical Enrichment in Modulation of Behavioural Phenotype in C57BL/6J Female Mice

摘要: Housing conditions represent an important environmental variable playing a critical role in the assessment of mouse behaviour. In present study effects isolation and nesting material on behaviour female C57BL/6J mice were evaluated. The subjected to different rearing from weaning (at age 3 weeks). groups group- single-housed mice, divided further into with or without (species-specific enrichment). After 8 weeks spent respective behavioural testing began. Both factors (social material) appeared have significant impact phenotype. However, it is stress that interaction between was virtually absent. We established increased locomotor activity reduced anxiety-like several tests exploration. contrast, absence Neither factor affected rota-rod performance, nociception prepulse inhibition. Contextual fear memory significantly interestingly, material. Cued by single-housing, but not enrichment. Mice enriched cages displayed faster better learning spatial search strategy water maze. caused impairment conclusion, both species-specific enrichment profound should be considered design experiments animal welfare issues.