C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice show distinct aging-associated behavioral alterations
Rui Yamada1, Hirotaka Nagai1, Io Horikawa1
1Division of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan; Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.
Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
|January 19, 2025
Summary
Aging impacts mouse behavior differently depending on the substrain. C57BL/6J mice showed reduced exploration and increased anxiety, while C57BL/6N mice had decreased social interest, highlighting substrain-specific aging effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Aging impacts emotional, cognitive, and social functions.
- Neuropsychiatric conditions are more common in aged individuals.
- C57BL/6 mouse substrains (C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N) are widely used in aging research, but their differences are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare aging-related behavioral changes in C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice.
- To identify substrain-specific effects of aging on behavior.
- To inform the selection of appropriate mouse substrains for aging research and drug development.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral testing of aged and young C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice.
- Assessment of exploratory activity, anxiety-like behaviors, and social novelty preference.
- Observation of age-related changes in social interaction behaviors, specifically female urine sniffing.
Main Results:
- Aging reduced exploratory activity and increased anxiety in C57BL/6J mice.
- Aging reduced social novelty preference in C57BL/6N mice.
- Male mice of both substrains showed increased female urine sniffing with age.
Conclusions:
- Aging exerts distinct behavioral effects on C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mouse substrains.
- Substrain selection is critical for accurate interpretation of aging-related behavioral data in mice.
- These findings have implications for preclinical research and the development of therapeutics for age-related conditions.
