Behavioral characteristics of the SAM-P/8 strain in Sidman active avoidance task

The behavior of the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P/8) at the age of 1, 2, 4 and 10-11 months in Sidman active avoidance learning was analyzed, and compared to findings in the controls (SAM-R/1). At the age of 1 and 2 months, learning was comparable in these two strains. At the age of 4 and 10-11 months, SAM-P/8 but not SAM-R/1 learned active avoidance. We propose that SAM-P/8 can serve as a valid model of deficits in learning and memory.