Gerbils exhibit stable open-arms exploration across repeated testing on the elevated plus-maze

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Repeated exposure to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) typically induces open-arm avoidance in rodents.
• The behavioral response of gerbils to repeated EPM testing is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of repeated and prolonged exposure to the EPM on gerbil behavior.
• To determine if gerbils exhibit open-arm avoidance across multiple testing sessions.

Main Methods:

• Young and middle-aged gerbils underwent initial EPM exposure followed by four retests at 24-96 hour intervals.
• Additional groups experienced a 20-minute EPM exposure followed by a 5-minute retest 24 hours later.

Main Results:

• Gerbils displayed high open-arm exploration during the initial EPM trial.
• Locomotor activity progressively decreased across repeated testing sessions.
• Unlike rats and mice, young gerbils maintained stable open-arm exploration across multiple and prolonged exposures.
• Middle-aged gerbils also showed stable open-arm exploration during retests before the prolonged exposure test.

Conclusions:

• Gerbils do not exhibit the same open-arm avoidance as rats and mice after repeated elevated plus-maze exposure.
• The findings suggest a reliable methodology for using the EPM in gerbils for repeated testing paradigms.
• This research provides a foundation for future studies on gerbil anxiety and spatial memory using the EPM.