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Published on: October 27, 2020
Hair barbering in mice: implications for neurobehavioural research
A V Kalueff1, A Minasyan, T Keisala
1Department of Anatomy of the Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere 33014, Finland. avkalueff@inbox.ru
Behavioural Processes
|October 21, 2005
Summary
Barbering, a behavior-associated hair loss in mice, presents differently across strains and contexts. This complex behavior varies with genotype and can be linked to social, sexual, maternal, or stress-related factors.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Barbering, characterized by fur and whisker trimming, is a common behavior in laboratory rodents like mice.
- This phenomenon, also known as the Dalila effect, leads to hair and whisker loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze barbering behavior across different mouse strains (129S1, NMRI, C57BL/6, BALB/c) and their F1 hybrids.
- To investigate the complex, multi-domain nature of barbering behavior in mice.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of barbering behavior in four distinct mouse strains and their F1 hybrids.
- Observation and documentation of barbering in various social, sexual, maternal, and stress-related contexts.
Main Results:
- Barbering behavior is genotype-dependent and exhibits distinct contexts.
- Observed social barbering in NMRI and C57BL/6 mice; sexual over-grooming in 129S1 and C57BL/6 mice.
- Maternal barbering noted in lactating 129S1 and C57BL/6 mice; stress-evoked barbering in F1 (NMRIx129S1) hybrids. BALB/c mice and their progeny did not exhibit barbering.
Conclusions:
- Barbering is a complex, multi-domain behavior in mice, influenced by genetic factors.
- Barbering's sensitivity to various manipulations suggests its utility as an index in neurobehavioral research.
