The Concentric Square Field: A multivariate test arena for analysis of explorative strategies

Meyerson, Bengt J.; Augustsson, Hanna; Berg, Marita; Roman, Erika

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2005.10.020

Cited by 69 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…S4C). We then turned to the more sensitive multivariate concentric square field (MCSF) test, which is designed to provoke exploration and behaviors associated with risk assessment, risk-taking, and shelterseeking in an environment not previously experienced by the mice (12,25). The purpose of this multivariate design is to gather information that enables a behavioral profiling of the animal.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

Birgner

Nordenankar

Lundblad

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

119

151

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The "One neuron-one neurotransmitter" concept has been challenged frequently during the last three decades, and the coexistence of neurotransmitters in individual neurons is now regarded as a common phenomenon. The functional significance of neurotransmitter coexistence is, however, less well understood. Several studies have shown that a subpopulation of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) expresses the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) and has been suggested to use glutamate as a cotransmitter. The VTA dopamine neurons project to limbic structures including the nucleus accumbens, and are involved in mediating the motivational and locomotor activating effects of psychostimulants. To determine the functional role of glutamate cotransmission by these neurons, we deleted VGLUT2 in DA neurons by using a conditional gene-targeting approach in mice. A DAT-Cre/Vglut2Lox mouse line (Vglut2 f/f;DAT-Cre mice) was produced and analyzed by in vivo amperometry as well as by several behavioral paradigms. Although basal motor function was normal in the Vglut2 f/f;DAT-Cre mice, their risk-taking behavior was altered. Interestingly, in both home-cage and novel environments, the gene targeted mice showed a greatly blunted locomotor response to the psychostimulant amphetamine, which acts via the midbrain DA system. Our results show that VGLUT2 expression in DA neurons is required for normal emotional reactivity as well as for psychostimulant-mediated behavioral activation.amphetamine | midbrain | neurotransmission | reward | striatum

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

Birgner

Nordenankar

Lundblad

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

119

151

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“…The MCSF test has been described in detail elsewhere [11,14,15]. The MCSF arena consists of a square field (100 × 100 cm) with a smaller square field (70 × 70 cm) located in the center of the larger one (Figure 1).…”

Section: The Mcsf Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…anxiety-like behavior. The need for tests that deal with multiple measures, thus providing a behavioral profile rather than single parameters has been emphasized [10,11]. To this end, ethoexperimental composite tests have been designed [10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The need for tests that deal with multiple measures, thus providing a behavioral profile rather than single parameters has been emphasized [10,11]. To this end, ethoexperimental composite tests have been designed [10][11][12][13]. We have proposed a multivariate test approach, which is unprejudiced in the sense that the animal is exposed to stimuli with different quality, it can choose between different environments designed to include oppor-tunity for exploration, risk assessment, risk taking, shelter seeking, and approach and avoidance in one and the same test session, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The guiding principle for the MCSF test is that test situation involves a free choice of different environmental settings and items that provide the opportunity to detect essential features of the animal's mentality. In this way a behavioral profile is generated [11,14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Rank-Order Procedure Applied to an Ethoexperimental Behavior Model—The Multivariate Concentric Square Field<sup>TM </sup>(MCSF) Test

Meyerson¹,

Jurek²,

Roman³

2013

JBBS

Self Cite

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Designing relevant animal models in order to investigate the neurobiological basis for human mental disorders is an important challenge. The need for new tests to be developed and traditional tests to be improved has recently been emphasized. The authors propose a multivariate test approach, the multivariate concentric square field TM (MCSF) test. To measure and evaluate variation in the behavioral traits, we here put forward a statistical procedure of which the working title is "trend analysis". Low doses of the benzodiazepine agonist diazepam (DZP; 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 mg/kg) were used for exploring the use of the trend analysis in combination with multivariate data analysis for assessment of MCSF performance in rats. The commonly used elevated plus maze (EPM) test was used for comparison. The trend analysis comparing vehicle and the DZP1.5 groups revealed significantly higher general activity and risk-taking behavior in the DZP1.5 rats relative to vehicle rats. This finding was supported by multivariate data analysis procedures. It is concluded that the trend analysis together with multivariate data analysis procedures offers possibilities to extract information and illustrates effects obtained in the MCSF test. Diazepam in doses that have no apparent increase in open arm activity in the EPM was effective to alter the behavior in the MCSF test. The MCSF test and the use of multivariate data analysis and the proposed trend analysis may be useful alternatives to behavioral test batteries and traditionally used tests for the understanding of mechanisms underlying various mental states. Finally, the impact of an ethological reasoning and multivariate measures enabling behavioral profiling of animals may be a useful complementary methodology when phenotyping animals in behavioral neuroscience.

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Modeling Parkinson's disease‐related symptoms in alpha‐synuclein overexpressing mice

et al. 2022

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Background: Intracellular deposition of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) as Lewy bodies andLewy neurites is a central event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other α-synucleinopathies. Transgenic mouse models overexpressing human α-syn, are useful research tools in preclinical studies of pathogenetic mechanisms. Such mice develop α-syn inclusions as well as neurodegeneration with a topographical distribution that varies depending on the choice of promoter and which form of α-syn that is overexpressed. Moreover, they display motor symptoms and cognitive disturbances that to some extent resemble the human conditions.Purpose: One of the main motives for assessing behavior in these mouse models is to evaluate the potential of new treatment strategies, including their impact on motor and cognitive symptoms. However, due to a high within-group variability with respect to such features, the behavioral studies need to be applied with caution. In this review, we discuss how to make appropriate choices in the experimental design and which tests that are most suitable for the evaluation of PD-related symptoms in such studies. Methods:We have evaluated published results on two selected transgenic mouse models overexpressing wild type (L61) and mutated (A30P) α-syn in the context of their validity and utility for different types of behavioral studies. Conclusions:By applying appropriate behavioral tests, α-syn transgenic mouse models provide an appropriate experimental platform for studies of symptoms related to PD and other α-synucleinopathies.

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The Concentric Square Field: A multivariate test arena for analysis of explorative strategies

Cited by 69 publications

References 38 publications

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

A Rank-Order Procedure Applied to an Ethoexperimental Behavior Model—The Multivariate Concentric Square Field<sup>TM </sup>(MCSF) Test

Modeling Parkinson's disease‐related symptoms in alpha‐synuclein overexpressing mice

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The Concentric Square Field: A multivariate test arena for analysis of explorative strategies

Cited by 69 publications

References 38 publications

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons is required for psychostimulant-induced behavioral activation

A Rank-Order Procedure Applied to an Ethoexperimental Behavior Model—The Multivariate Concentric Square Field&lt;sup&gt;TM &lt;/sup&gt;(MCSF) Test

Modeling Parkinson's disease‐related symptoms in alpha‐synuclein overexpressing mice

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A Rank-Order Procedure Applied to an Ethoexperimental Behavior Model—The Multivariate Concentric Square Field<sup>TM </sup>(MCSF) Test