Effects of light and dark phase testing on the investigation of behavioural paradigms in mice: Relevance for behavioural neuroscience

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
Juliet RichettoUlrike Weber-Stadlbauer

Abstract

Different timing and light phases are critical factors in behavioural neuroscience, which can greatly affect the experimental outcomes of the performed tests. Despite the fact that time of testing is one of the most common factors that varies across behavioural laboratories, knowledge about the consequences of testing time on behavioural readouts is limited. Thus, in this study we systematically assessed the effect of this factor on the readout of a variety of elementary and recurrent behavioural paradigms in C57Bl/6 mice. Furthermore, we investigated potential neuronal correlates of this phenomenon by analysing how testing time influences the expression pattern of genes relevant for neuronal activation functions and the control of brain circadian rhythms. We show that animals tested in the light phase display reduced social approach behaviour and sensorimotor gating and increased locomotor activity, whereas anxiety-related behaviour and working memory are not affected. In addition, animals tested in the light phase also exhibit increased locomotor response to systemic amphetamine treatment, which is paralleled by alterations in the expression patterns of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the Nucleus A...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 4, 2019·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Anand GururajanDavid A Slattery
Nov 5, 2019·Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences·Young-Mo KimJanet K Jansson
May 14, 2020·Molecular Psychiatry·Tina NotterJeremy Hall
Jun 4, 2020·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Bernhard VoelklHanno Würbel

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