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

Publication ,  Journal Article
Arrant, AE; Schramm-Sapyta, NL; Kuhn, CM
Published in: Behav Brain Res
November 1, 2013

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.

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Published In

Behav Brain Res

DOI

EISSN

1872-7549

Publication Date

November 1, 2013

Volume

256

Start / End Page

119 / 127

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Yohimbine
  • Time Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Regression Analysis
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Motor Activity
  • Male
  • Light
 

Citation

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Arrant, A. E., Schramm-Sapyta, N. L., & Kuhn, C. M. (2013). Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats. Behav Brain Res, 256, 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.035
Arrant, Andrew E., Nicole L. Schramm-Sapyta, and Cynthia M. Kuhn. “Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats.Behav Brain Res 256 (November 1, 2013): 119–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.035.
Arrant AE, Schramm-Sapyta NL, Kuhn CM. Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Nov 1;256:119–27.
Arrant, Andrew E., et al. “Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats.Behav Brain Res, vol. 256, Nov. 2013, pp. 119–27. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.035.
Arrant AE, Schramm-Sapyta NL, Kuhn CM. Use of the light/dark test for anxiety in adult and adolescent male rats. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Nov 1;256:119–127.
Journal cover image

Published In

Behav Brain Res

DOI

EISSN

1872-7549

Publication Date

November 1, 2013

Volume

256

Start / End Page

119 / 127

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Yohimbine
  • Time Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Regression Analysis
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Motor Activity
  • Male
  • Light