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Behavioral Characterization of an Angelman Syndrome Mouse Model

Behavioral Characterization of an Angelman Syndrome Mouse Model

Published on: October 20, 2023

A modified anxious behavior test for hamsters.

John L Shannonhouse¹, Daniel C York, Caurnel Morgan

¹Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States.

Journal of Neuroscience Methods

|October 5, 2013

Summary

The anxiety-related feeding/exploration conflict (AFEC) test effectively measures anxious behavior in hamsters, distinguishing it from appetite. Food deprivation enhances the test's sensitivity for anxiety assessment.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Neuroscience
Animal Models of Anxiety

Background:

Assessing anxious behavior in rodents using latency to feed in novel environments is common.
However, distinguishing anxiety from appetite or consumption remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To validate the anxiety-related feeding/exploration conflict (AFEC) test in Syrian hamsters.
To determine if the AFEC test differentiates anxious behavior from appetitive or consummatory drives.

Main Methods:

The AFEC test was employed, preventing cheek-pouching to isolate feeding latency.
Feed and approach latencies were normalized to home cage values to control for non-emotional factors.
Treatments included benzodiazepines, beta-adrenergic antagonists, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and opioid antagonists.

Keywords:

Anxiety Appetite Benzodiazepine Beta-adrenergic receptor Exploration Norepinephrine reuptake

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Published on: October 20, 2023

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Main Results:

Reduced feed latency and feed latency ratio were observed with diazepam, propranolol, and desipramine treatments.
These reductions were not linked to increased food intake (hyperphagia) and were unaffected by naltrexone.
Overnight fasting increased feed latency without hyperphagia, an effect diminished by chronic desipramine.

Conclusions:

The AFEC test reliably assesses anxious behavior, separate from appetitive or consummatory motivation.
Increasing food deprivation in hamsters enhances the AFEC test's sensitivity to anxious behavior.