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Morris Water Maze Test: Optimization for Mouse Strain and Testing Environment
Published on: June 22, 2015
Effect of Morris water maze diameter on visual-spatial learning in different mouse strains
Debby Van Dam1, Guy Lenders, Peter Paul De Deyn
1Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|November 18, 2005
Summary
Maze diameter significantly impacts rodent learning and memory tests. Smaller mazes did not help poor-learning BALB/c mice, while C57Bl/6 mice excelled in a 120cm maze, and 129S5/SvEvBrd mice required smaller pools.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Animal Models
Background:
- The Morris water maze (MWM) is a standard tool for assessing hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in rodents.
- MWM performance is influenced by animal strain, apparatus dimensions, and experimental protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of MWM diameter on spatial learning and memory acquisition and probe trial performance.
- To compare performance across three common mouse strains: C57Bl/6, BALB/c, and 129/SvEvBrd.
Main Methods:
- Mice (C57Bl/6, BALB/c, 129/SvEvBrd) were tested in MWMs of three different diameters (150 cm, 120 cm, 75 cm).
- All other testing conditions and protocols were kept identical across maze sizes and strains.
Main Results:
- BALB/c mice, known for poor learning, did not acquire the task even in smaller, less stressful mazes.
- C57Bl/6 mice performed well in all maze sizes, showing optimal probe trial performance in the 120 cm maze.
- 129S5/SvEvBrd mice demonstrated adequate performance only in the smallest (75 cm) maze, indicating a need for smaller pools for this strain.
Conclusions:
- Maze diameter is a critical factor influencing MWM performance, varying significantly by mouse strain.
- Researchers must carefully select MWM dimensions and mouse strains to accurately assess visual-spatial learning and memory.
- Detailed reporting of mouse substrain nomenclature and MWM characteristics is crucial for study reproducibility and generalization.
