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Physical condition at weaning affects exploratory behaviour and stereotypy development in laboratory mice
1Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften, Physiologie und Tierhaltung, ETH Zürich, Schorenstrasse 16, SLA B14 8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
Behavioural Processes
|June 5, 2014
Summary
Early life stress in laboratory mice, specifically premature weaning, influences behavior. This study found that while weaning age shifted exploratory behaviors, it did not alter stereotypy type, though it increased overall stereotypy performance.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Ethology
- Animal Welfare
Background:
- Laboratory mice (ICR strain) exhibit two distinct stereotypies: wire-gnawing and jumping, emerging post-weaning.
- These stereotypies are linked to precursory behaviors: climbing for wire-gnawing and rearing for jumping.
- Physical condition may influence the choice between climbing and rearing, potentially predisposing mice to specific stereotypies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if early life physical condition, manipulated by weaning age and weight, affects the development of climbing and rearing behaviors.
- To determine if alterations in climbing and rearing behaviors influence the subsequent development of wire-gnawing versus jumping stereotypies.
- To assess the impact of early life stress (premature weaning) and nutritional status (weaning weight) on overall stereotypy performance in adult mice.
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight male ICR mice were divided into three groups: premature weaning (day 17) and standard weaning (day 20) with high and low weaning weights.
- Behavioral observations focused on climbing and rearing proportions post-weaning.
- Stereotypy types (wire-gnawing, jumping) and performance were assessed in adulthood.
Main Results:
- Premature weaning shifted behavior from climbing towards rearing, mimicking physical retardation.
- Weaning weight did not significantly alter climbing or rearing proportions, despite heavy males showing more climbing.
- All mice developed wire-gnawing stereotypy; none developed jumping stereotypy, irrespective of early life manipulations.
- Both premature weaning and low weaning weight were associated with increased adult stereotypy performance.
Conclusions:
- While weaning age influenced exploratory behaviors (climbing/rearing), it did not lead to distinct stereotypy types in this study.
- Early life stress and potentially suboptimal nutritional conditions can increase the overall level of stereotypy behavior in adult mice.
- Further research is needed to identify factors that specifically trigger jumping versus wire-gnawing stereotypies.
