Dietary fats influence 'open-field' behaviour of male and female laboratory mice

Abstract

Swiss mice of differing ages (juvenile and adult) and sexes were fed four specially formulated, pelleted diets containing respectively 8% saturated vegetable fat, 8% soya oil, 8% olive oil and 2% soya oil (with identities hidden from the experimenter) or a local commercial chow (3% crude fat) for 3 or 6 weeks. Subjects were individually housed and were assessed under red lighting for behaviour in a modified 'open field' (a 30 x 20 cm box with a black floor). Videotaped records were analysed using 'The Observer' system, quantifying transitions between inner and outer zones, rearing, freezing, grooming and defaecation as well as location in the two equal-sized zones. Clearly, these non-isocaloric diets differed in palatability, producing complex effects on growth as well as physiological and behavioural measures. Many indices were influenced by age, sex, and the duration of dietary exposure. Interactions between factors were common. Defaecation does not seem to provide a useful index of 'emotionality' in this type of study and investigations lacking a wide range of indices seem unlikely to provide unequivocal support for postulated links between dietary lipids and behaviour. The study broadly supports the contention that dietary fats subtly influence mood in mice.

Neurobehavioural effects of exposure to fluoride in the earliest stages of rat development

“…The number of squares entered by each rat with all four paws, rearings (occasions on which the animals stood on their hind legs), groomings (face washing, forepaw licking and head stroking) and faecal boluses were scored every 5 min for 15 min. The number of squares crossed and the rearings were recorded as parameters of locomotor activity, whereas the number of groomings and the number of faecal boluses deposited were considered as parameters of emotionality [16,17]. Once each animal was removed, the open field was carefully cleaned with a damp cloth.…”

Locomotor activity and sensory – motor developmental alterations in rat offspring exposed to arsenic prenatally and via lactation

“…performed were recorded as parameters of locomotor activity, whereas the number of groomings and the number of fecal boluses deposited were considered as parameters of emotionality (Maimanee et al, 2003). After each animal was removed, the open field was carefully cleaned with a damp cloth.…”

Neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects in rats offspring co-exposed to arsenic and fluoride during development

“…The number of squares entered by each rat with all four paws, rearings (occasions on which the animals stood on their hind paws), groomings (face washing, forepaw licking and head stroking) and fecal boluses were scored each 5 min for 15 min. The number of squares crossed and the rearings performed were recorded as parameters of locomotor activity, whereas the number of groomings and the number of fecal boluses deposited were considered as parameters of emotionality (Maimanee et al, 2003). After each animal was removed, the open field was carefully cleaned with a cloth embedded with 10 % ethanol solution.…”