Original ArticleModulation of mice anxiety in response to cat odor as a consequence of predators diet
Section snippets
Subjects
Eighty hybrids males B6D2F1/JLCo mice from Iffa Credo, France, 12 weeks old at the start of the experiments were used. Prior to experimental testing, mice were housed five to a standard cage containing a constant supply of food pellets and water. Subjects always kept in the same lab room were maintained on a 12-h light–dark cycle with lights on at 2000 h and so observed in their activity period when the lights were off.
The work reported in this paper was conducted in accordance with the Guide
Experiment 1
Behavioral changes in mice movement through runway and nest are seen on Table 1. Animals in presence of carnivorous odour show increased latencies to enter the central part containing the stimulus (Kruskal (K)= 6.212; p = 0.045) and the distal part with familiar food (K = 7.577; p = 0.023) compared to mice subjected to modelling clay (central and distal parts, respectively, p = 0.048; p = 0.025). The carnivorous group is differing from the vegetarian one as well (respectively p = 0.025; p =
Discussion
Exploration of various novel environments has been extensively validated as an animal model for the study of anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug effects 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 24, 31. In the present study, mice had no previous exposure either to runway or to odour. Novelty per se was surely an effective elicitor of conflictual, such as neophilic or neophobic responses. Novelty produces a pattern of defensive reactions comparable to those induced by threatening situations 11, 35. So-called fear
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