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Strain‐ and Wheel Type‐Dependent Variations in Running Wheel Activity in Mice
Author(s) -
Hare Brendan D.,
Herrera Gerald M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1235.1
Subject(s) - wheel running , strain (injury) , zoology , free access , physics , chemistry , biology , medicine , endocrinology , computer science , world wide web
Numerous studies have shown positive effects of running wheels on behavioral measures, such as conditioned responding and memory. In the present study, we examined running wheel activity in mice housed under various conditions. Two inbred mouse strains were examined (C57Bl6 and BalbC; 5–7 weeks old). Mice were singly housed under two different conditions. One group was housed in ventilated racks and had access to low‐profile wireless running wheels. The second group was housed in conventional cages and had access to “pet‐store” running wheels. On the first day of wheel access, running levels were similar in BalbC and C57Bl6 mice housed in ventilated racks with low‐profile wheels (4.26±1.11 km vs 4.88±1.31 km, respectively). However, BalbC mice in conventional cages with “pet‐store” wheels ran significantly less than C57Bl6 mice on the first day they had access to wheels (1.67±0.66 km vs. 5.16±1.30 km, p<0.05). Running activity increased over several days in all mice. After 7 days, running levels were similar in BalbC and C57Bl6 mice in both ventilated racks with low‐profile wheels (8.53±1.22 km and 6.17±1.22 km, respectively) and in conventional cages with “pet‐store” wheels (5.42±1.26 km and 7.89±1.15 km, respectively). Mice in different housing conditions run similar levels when given access to wheels having different designs, however strain differences exist.