Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are serious and debilitating psychiatric conditions and each constitutes a significant public health concern, particularly in children. Both of these conditions are highlighted by the repeated expression of meaningless behaviors. Individuals with OCD often show checking, frequent hand washing, and counting. Children with ASDs also engage in repetitive tapping, arm or hand flapping, and rocking. These behaviors can vary widely in intensity and frequency of expression. More intense forms of repetitive behaviors can even result in injury (e.g. excessive grooming, hand washing, and self-stimulation). These behaviors are therefore very disruptive and make normal social discourse difficult. Treatment options for repetitive behaviors in OCD and ASDs are somewhat limited and there is great interest in developing more effective therapies for each condition. Numerous animal models for evaluating compulsivelike behaviors have been developed over the past three decades. Perhaps the animal models with the greatest validity and ease of use are the marble burying test and the nestlet shredding test. Both tests take advantage of the fact that the target behaviors occur spontaneously in mice. In the marble burying test, 20 marbles are arrayed on the surface of clean bedding. The number of marbles buried in a 30 min session is scored by investigators blind to the treatment or status of the subjects. In the nestlet shredding test, a nestlet comprised of pulped cotton fiber is preweighed and placed on top of cage bedding and the amount of the nestlet remaining intact after a 30 min test session is determined. Presently, we describe protocols for and show movie documentation of marble burying and nestlet shredding. Both tests are easily and accurately scored and each is sensitive to small changes in the expression of compulsive-like behaviors that result from genetic manipulations, disease, or head injury. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

Melanin concentrating hormone modulates oxytocin-mediated marble burying

“…The data also show that OT-MCH relationship did not extend to exploratory or anxiety related behaviors as assayed through open-field, light-dark box, and elevated plus maze assays. This data support previous reports demonstrating that marble-burying does not reflect an anxiety response (Thomas et al, 2009; Greene-Schloesser et al, 2011; Angoa-Perez et al, 2013; Aguilar-Valles et al, 2015; Mitra et al, 2016a, 2016b, 2017). As previously reported, we also found that OT infusions increased genital grooming but MCH infusions did not (Amico et al, 2004).…”

“…To test whether OT infusion reduces repetitive behavior in mice, we investigated its effect in marble burying task (Deacon, 2006; Thomas et al, 2009; Greene-Schloesser et al, 2011; Angoa-Perez et al, 2013). We found that i.c.v.…”

“…It has been suggested as a screening test for anxiolytic response, but more recently has been proposed as modeling repetitive behaviors characteristic of mental disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Thomas et al, 2009; Greene-Schloesser et al, 2011; Angoa-Perez et al, 2013; Aguilar-Valles et al, 2015; Mitra et al, 2016a, 2016b, 2017). …”

Simple shelter-style environmental enrichment alters behavior in mice

“…The propensity of rodents to bury unknown objects, such as marbles, underneath cage bedding has been used previously as a screen for anxiety state and compulsive behaviors [38]. …”

Of mice and marbles: Novel perspectives on burying behavior as a screening test for psychiatric illness

“…Indeed, MB is a screening test for potential OCD treatments (Egashira et al, 2008;Gyertyan, 1995;Millan, Girardon, Mullot, Brocco, & Dekeyne, 2002). However, the test lacks illness specificity and has been used to model treatment response in impulsivity (Schneider & Popik, 2007), autism (Angoa-Pérez, Kane, Briggs, Francescutti, & Kuhn, 2013), and dementia (TorresLista et al, 2015).…”