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Environmental Enrichment Does Not Impact the Emergence of Repetitive Behavior in the C58/J Inbred Strain, A Novel Mouse Model of Autistic‐Like Behavior
Author(s) -
Hess Christina,
Johnson Ashley,
Wahby Hady,
Yano Hiroshi,
Ryan Bryce
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.811.6
Subject(s) - autism , psychology , environmental enrichment , inbred strain , developmental psychology , mouse strain , animal model , physiology , neuroscience , biology , genetics , endocrinology , gene
Autism has three core symptoms: restricted, repetitive behaviors, deficits in communication, and abnormal social interactions. The causes of autism are unknown, and no established animal model currently exists. Past research indicates that the inbred C58/J mouse strain has elevated repetitive behaviors and deficits in social behavior, making this an animal of interest in the research of autism and its underlying causes. This study expands on the earlier work and investigates the effects of environmental enrichment during development on the emergence of abnormal behaviors in the C58/J mouse. Breeding pairs of mice were placed in enriched or non‐enriched caging and the behavior of their pups was measured throughout the lactational period. Home cage activity levels of adult mice reared in different environments were also measured. C58/J pups showed elevated activity at a young age when compared to control mice and demonstrated emergence of repetitive behaviors in the second week of life. Adult C58/J mice showed no difference in home cage activity compared to control mice, but do retain elevated repetitive behaviors throughout life regardless of the level of enrichment in which they were raised. This research was supported by NIMH 1R21MH084132‐01A1 and the University of Redlands Science Center.