An Open-Source and Highly Adaptable Rodent Limited Bedding and Nesting Apparatus for Chronic Early Life Stress

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Early life stress (ELS) negatively impacts cognitive and socioemotional development.
• Animal models are crucial for studying ELS mechanisms.
• The limited bedding and nesting (LBN) model is a key paradigm for chronic ELS research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide standardized, cost-effective, open-source guidelines for a mouse LBN apparatus.
• To enhance the utility and pup survival in the LBN model.
• To detail the effects of the LBN paradigm on maternal care and pup development.

Main Methods:

• Developed and standardized an open-source mouse LBN apparatus.
• Implemented the LBN paradigm from postnatal day (PND) 2 to 10.
• Measured corticosterone levels in dams and pups, and assessed maternal behaviors and pup body weight.

Main Results:

• Maternal corticosterone remained elevated in LBN dams from PND 6-10, unlike controls.
• LBN dams exhibited disrupted maternal care, including increased nest exits and stereotypic behaviors.
• Pups at PND 10 showed reduced serum corticosterone and lower body weight compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The standardized LBN model effectively induces chronic ELS in mice.
• This open-source approach improves accessibility and reproducibility of ELS research.
• The LBN paradigm provides a valuable tool for understanding ELS-induced neurobiological and behavioral changes.