Validation of a modified mirrored chamber sensitive to anxiolytics and anxiogenics in mice

Abstract

Since control animals reliably reentered the more aversive portion of the apparatus for 25% of the total time available, the modified mirrored chamber may be able to detect anxiogenic states produced by various stressors and drug withdrawal. Further, the strain differences detected suggest that the modified mirrored chamber will be a valuable tool in the discovery of the genetic bases of anxiety states and disorders.

Use of a platform in an automated open-field to enhance assessment of anxiety-like behaviors in mice

“…This is consistent with other reports that made use of similar exploration assays (Hascoet and Bourin, 1998;Kliethermes et al, 2003).…”

Comparison of the predictive validity of the mirror chamber and elevated plus maze tests in mice

“…Garrett and colleagues (1998) reported no differences between C57BL6/J and A/J mice in the MC test, whereas the present studies found C57BL6/J mice exhibited significantly less anxiety-like behaviors than A/J mice. In a modified MC test, 129S1/SvImJ, A/J and DBA/2J strains made the least number of re-entries into the chamber (Kliethermes et al, 2003), consistent with the present studies despite the use of re-entries rather than total entries as the dependent measure. The test-dependency of strain comparisons underlines the importance of utilizing test batteries in phenotyping studies.…”

“…Nonetheless, a more recent study showed that Balb/c and DBA strains avoided mirror-, white-or grey-walled chambers similarly, and the C57BL/6J strain avoided mirror-and white-walled chambers similarly and to a greater extent than the grey-walled chamber (Lamberty, 1998). The MC test has also been used more recently to compare nine mouse strains (Kliethermes et al, 2003). In the present studies, we assessed the effects of the mirror panels on anxiety-like behaviors by testing seven mouse strains (C57BL6/J, Balb/c, DBA, A/J, CFW, ICR and 129SvEv) in the mirror chamber apparatus with uncovered or covered (white or black panels) mirrors, under high-or low-intensity lighting conditions.…”

“…It should be noted, however, that in addition to a conflict of open vs. enclosed environments, the MC test may also rely, at least in part, on the illusory presence of additional mice due to the mirrored panels (Houri, 1986;Toubas et al, 1990). Most studies have employed identical apparatus design (e.g., Garrett et al, 1998;Goyal and Anil, 2007), although one recent study modified the apparatus to increase the duration in the mirror chamber, thereby enhancing assessment of the anxiogenic-like effects of drug withdrawal (Kliethermes et al, 2003). In the present study we utilized a design identical to that used by Paylor and co-workers (Spencer et al, 2005).…”

“…In the present studies, we assessed the effects of the mirror panels on anxiety-like behaviors by testing seven mouse strains (C57BL6/J, Balb/c, DBA, A/J, CFW, ICR and 129SvEv) in the mirror chamber apparatus with uncovered or covered (white or black panels) mirrors, under high-or low-intensity lighting conditions. The benzodiazepine compounds diazepam (Kliethermes et al, 2003;Garrett et al, 1998) and alprazolam (Goyal and Anil, 2007) were effective in attenuating anxiety-like behavior in the mirror chamber test in a variety of strains. We assessed the effects of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and alprazolam on mirror chamber behavior in DBA/2J mice, which exhibited intermediate levels of anxiety-like behaviors in the mirror chamber, and were the most sensitive to mirror versus black or white panels compared to the other tested strains.…”