Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats

Abstract

The light/dark (LD) test is a commonly used rodent test of unconditioned anxiety-like behavior that is based on an approach/avoidance conflict between the drive to explore novel areas and an aversion to brightly lit, open spaces. We used the LD test to investigate developmental differences in behavior between adolescent (postnatal day (PN) 28–34) and adult (PN67–74) male rats. We investigated whether LD behavioral measures reflect anxiety-like behavior similarly in each age group using factor analysis and multiple regression. These analyses showed that time in the light compartment, percent distance in the light, rearing, and latency to emerge into the light compartment were measures of anxiety-like behavior in each age group, while total distance traveled and distance in the dark compartment provided indices of locomotor activity. We then used these measures to assess developmental differences in baseline LD behavior and the response to anxiogenic drugs. Adolescent rats emerged into the light compartment more quickly than adults and made fewer pokes into the light compartment. These age differences could reflect greater risk taking and less risk assessment in adolescent rats than adults. Adolescent rats were less sensitive than adults to the anxiogenic effects of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG-7142) and the α2 adrenergic antagonist yohimbine on anxiety-like behaviors validated by factor analysis, but locomotor variables were similarly affected. These data support the results of the factor analysis and indicate that GABAergic and noradrenergic modulation of LD anxiety-like behavior may be immature during adolescence.

Taurine zinc solid dispersions protect against cold-restraint stress-induced gastric ulceration by upregulating HSP70 and exerting an anxiolytic effect

“…Moreover, taurine zinc more effectively increased the total distance mice traveled in the open-field than the same dose of taurine alone (280 mg/kg; Po0.05), suggestive of a synergistic effect between taurine and zinc. The light/dark test is based on the approachavoidance conflict between exploration of novel environments and avoidance of brightly lit, open spaces, and has been widely used to assess anxiety-like behavior in adult rodents (Arrant et al, 2013). Taurine zinc shortened the latency to enter the light compartment, and increased the time spent in the light compartment and number of entries into the light compartment.…”

“…The light/dark (LD) test is based on an approach-avoidance conflict between exploration of novel environments and avoidance of brightly lit, open spaces and has been widely used to assess anxiety-like behavior in adult rodents (Arrant et al, 2013). Based on the innate aversion of rodents to brightly illuminated areas and their spontaneous exploratory behaviors, an increase in the number of transitions between the two compartments of the apparatus is suggested to be an index of anxiolytic activity.…”

Systems genetics of intravenous cocaine self-administration in the BXD recombinant inbred mouse panel

“…Time in the light side of a light/dark box explained the most genetic variance of the three phenotypes (29.8%). Elevated time in the dark compartment of a light/dark box may reflect an anxious phenotype, whereas elevated time in the light compartment may reflect a risk taking or impulsive phenotype (Arrant et al 2013). Regarding this interpretation of light/dark box behavior, the genetic associations reported here are consistent with previous findings of positive associations between psychostimulant IVSA and operant measures of impulsive action and impulsive choice (Dalley et al 2007; Marusich and Bardo 2009).…”

Chronic Unpredictable Stress-Induced Behavioral and Electrophysiological Alterations and Its Ameliorative Effect by Myricetin Microemulsion

“…At the beginning of testing, each animal was placed in the center of the light compartment, and the behavior was videotaped for 5 min and analyzed. As the rats are nocturnal in nature, they prefer dark compartment to light compartment, thought they are curious to novel environment (light compartment), the shuttling time between the dark/light arenas are recorded such as follows: (1) Initial latency to enter the dark compartment, (2) time spent in the bright area, and (3) time spent in a dark compartment [24].…”