Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Social Threat-Safety Test Uncovers Psychosocial Stress-Related Phenotypes
Published on: December 15, 2023
Low dose MK-801 reduces social investigation in mice
Hong Zou1, Chenghao Zhang, Qinglian Xie
1Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
To characterize MK-801's effect on social behavior in mice, we examined adult male ICR mice for interaction with companion mice (juvenile male). Test mice were injected with either saline or MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg), and were tested 30 min later for their social behavior during a 5-min session. A second encounter took place 30 min later, with either a familiar companion mouse (the same as in the initial encounter) or a novel mouse. In saline controls, second encounter with a familiar companion mouse showed reduced social investigative behaviors (anogenital sniffing and staying together), indicating habituation toward a familiar mouse. Second encounter with a novel companion mouse did not show habituation in social investigative behaviors. Pretreatment with MK-801 reduced anogenital sniffing during the first encounter. At the second encounter, these mice displayed non-discriminative habituation of social investigative behaviors, with reduced anogenital sniffing and staying together, regardless of whether the companion mouse was a familiar or a novel one. These results indicate that MK-801 affected exploratory activities of mice, resulting in both reduced social investigative behaviors during first encounter with a companion mouse, and diminished discriminative capacities for a familiar vs. a novel companion mouse during subsequent encounter.
Insights
MK-801 impaired social behavior in mice, reducing initial social investigation and the ability to distinguish familiar from novel mice. This suggests MK-801 affects exploratory activities and social recognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 is known to affect cognitive functions.
- Understanding its impact on social behavior is crucial for neurological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of MK-801 on social exploratory behaviors and recognition in adult male mice.
- To determine if MK-801 alters habituation to familiar social partners.
Main Methods:
- Adult male ICR mice received saline or MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) injections.
- Social behavior was assessed during a 5-minute interaction with a juvenile mouse.
- A second interaction occurred with either a familiar or novel mouse to assess habituation and discrimination.
Main Results:
- MK-801 reduced social investigative behaviors like anogenital sniffing during the initial encounter.
- Mice treated with MK-801 showed reduced social investigation in the second encounter, regardless of companion familiarity.
- MK-801 impaired the mice's ability to habituate to familiar mice and discriminate novel ones.
Conclusions:
- MK-801 significantly impacts exploratory activities in mice.
- The drug diminishes social investigative behaviors and social recognition, affecting habituation processes.
