Characteristics of the Behavioral Phenotype of BALB/C Mice
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Characteristics of the Behavioral Phenotype of BALB/C Mice I. G. Kapitsa, E. A. Ivanova, T. A. Voronina, and S. B. Seredenin
Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 106, No. 3, pp. 373–383, March, 2020. Original article submitted September 23, 2019. Revised version received November 19, 2019. Accepted November 20, 2019. The existence of specific behavioral characteristics which can be regarded as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in BALB/c mice was detected and confirmed, these consisting of a low level of interaction with socially relevant stimuli and even avoidance of this interaction, along with impairment to the discrimination and particularly the recognition of odors, elevated anxiety, and stereotypical behavior. BALB/c mice provide an experimental model of idiopathic ASD for studies of the pathogenesis of the diseases and its phenotypic manifestations, as well as for evaluating potential substances for the correction of ASD. Keywords: BALB/c mice, autistic spectrum disorders, social deficit, stereotypy, impaired olfaction, anxiety.
Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) constitute a mental disorder arising as a result of impaired brain development; it has high heritability and with significant genetic and clinical heterogeneity. The main criteria for ASD are deficit in the social and communicative domain, narrowly focused interests, and stereotypy, not only motor but also of thought. Current data indicate that the prevalence of the disease is 0.5–2.0%, continually increasing throughout the world [1]. Experimental studies of ASD use genetically modified rodents, though these can be used for analysis only of particular dysfunctions. Models of idiopathic ASD are also used – mice selected for the phenotype from the population of an inbred strain with good reproducibility of social deficits and stereotypical behavior and various symptoms linked with ASD [2]. These include BALB/c mice, which display behavioral characteristics similar to those of ASD, including low levels of social interactions, decreases in various aspects of maternal behavior, high levels of anxiety, and intermale aggression, and also have high susceptibility to amphetamineor metamphetamine-induced autoaggression, which decreases on treatment with risperidone [3]. Other data indicate that BALB/c mice do not show defects in social memory or social awareness and lack impairments to olfactory functions [3], but show mild stereotypical behavior (grooming, digging the litter, chewing) [1].
The aim of the present work was to study the behavioral characteristics of BALB/c mice as compared with C57Bl/6 mice or outbred SHK mice in several of the behavioral tests used for assessment of ASD symptoms. Methods. Studies were carried out using 62 male BALB/c mice aged five weeks and weighing 13–15 g, along with 18 male C57Bl/6 mice aged five weeks and weighing 20–22 g and 31 male outbred SHK mice aged five weeks and weighing 22–26 g at the start of the experiments, obtained from the Stolbovaya affiliate of the Scientific Cent
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