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Visual detection, pattern discrimination and visual acuity in 14 strains of mice
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Genes, Brain, and Behavior
|August 2, 2006
Summary
Visual abilities vary significantly across mouse strains. Evaluating vision is crucial before using mice in visuo-spatial learning tasks, especially for strains with known or suspected visual impairments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Rodent models are essential for understanding vision and cognition.
- Standardized visual assessment is lacking for many mouse strains used in research.
- The JAX phenome project provides diverse mouse strains for genetic studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare visual detection, pattern discrimination, and visual acuity across 14 JAX phenome project mouse strains.
- To identify mouse strains with varying visual capabilities.
- To determine the necessity of pre-testing visual function before behavioral experiments.
Main Methods:
- A computer-based, two-alternative swim task adapted from Prusky et al. (2000) was employed.
- Fourteen mouse strains were tested on visual detection, pattern discrimination, and visual acuity.
- Each mouse underwent 8 trials per day for 8 days for each visual test.
Main Results:
- Significant strain-specific differences in visual abilities were observed across all three tests.
- Mice with reported normal vision and one albino strain (AKR/J) performed exceptionally well.
- Albino strains (A/J, BALB/cByJ, BALB/cJ) showed slower learning, while those with retinal degeneration or unknown vision performed at chance levels.
Conclusions:
- Mouse strain significantly impacts visual performance, necessitating careful strain selection for vision-dependent studies.
- Pre-assessment of visual function is recommended for all mouse strains before employing visuo-spatial learning and memory tasks.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering visual capabilities in rodent research to ensure reliable and valid experimental outcomes.
