Does the stranger mouse strain matter to female BTBR mice?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Genetics

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and restricted interests.
• BTBR T+Itprtf/J (BTBR) mice are a widely used model for studying ASD, exhibiting reduced social behaviors.
• The social approach test is a standard method for assessing social preference in rodents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of stranger mouse strain on the social behavior of female BTBR mice.
• To determine if female BTBR mice exhibit differential social preferences based on the social behavior levels of stranger mice.

Main Methods:

• Female BTBR mice were tested in a social approach paradigm.
• Subject mice interacted with stranger mice of three different strains: BTBR, 129S1/SvImJ (129), and C57BL/6J (B6).
• Stranger mice varied in their inherent levels of social behavior, with B6 mice being the most social.

Main Results:

• Female BTBR mice spent significantly more time in the chamber with stranger mice compared to a novel object.
• A significant increase in time spent in the stranger mouse chamber was observed specifically when the stranger was of the highly social B6 strain.
• BTBR females exhibited increased sniffing behavior towards B6 and 129 stranger mice, but not the novel object.

Conclusions:

• Female BTBR mice demonstrate a preference for social interaction with stranger mice exhibiting higher levels of social behavior.
• The social responsiveness of female BTBR mice is modulated by the social characteristics of the interacting conspecific.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering genetic background and social behavior in mouse models of ASD.