A multivariate approach to the analysis of genetic and septal lesion effects on maze performance in mice

Reported are univariate and multivariate analyses concerning spatial discrimination behavior of Binghamton heterogeneous (HET) stock, C57BL/6J, and RF/J mice that had received either septal lesions or control surgery. In acquisition of an appetitively motivated T-maze task, lesions impaired HET but improved RF performance relative to their respective controls. When mice with lesions were reversed on a spatial discrimination acquired in a 17 degrees C water maze their performance was worse than control animals; the magnitude of the deficit was strain-specific. Measures of reactivity to handling suggested that HET and RF mice with lesions were more reactive than their control counterparts, while there was no such difference in C57 mice. Multivariate approaches broadly corroborated the importance of many complex Gene X Environment interactions that mold experience and thus behavior. In addition, they appeared to give some potentially important insights into the differential "behavioral profiles" of mice with lesions and control mice of the three genotypes; for instance, reactivity to handling and repeated error measurements were important variables in discriminating among the various groups in both learning tasks. The need to establish better and more stable behavioral profiles is clear; thus, multivariate techniques should be considered as useful, additional tools for the development and evaluation of explanatory theories regarding functions of central nervous system regions.