Ontogeny of spatial discrimination in mice: a longitudinal analysis in the modified open-field with objects

The present longitudinal study investigated the emergence of spatial discrimination and reaction to novelty in CD-1 mice, using a modified open-field test with four objects, a test in which responses to both spatial rearrangement of familiar objects and object novelty are assessed. Male and female mice were tested on postnatal days (pnd) 18, 28, 46 and 90. Locomotor activity was highest on pnd 90, whereas time spent on objects before rearrangement was highest on pnd 46. Eighteen-day old mice were unable to detect both object rearrangement and object novelty, suggesting immaturity in processing spatial information. On days 28 and 46 mice showed a clear response to object novelty, actively exploring the unfamiliar object placed in the arena, while at these ages object displacement elicited a generalized increase of exploration, not directed towards the displaced objects. A clear and selective response to object displacement emerged only at adulthood (day 90).