Light-dark box as a model of state anxiety in Kunming mice:three behavioral dimensions by factor analysis / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the behavioral dimensions and validity of the light-dark box(LDB),as an model of state anxiety in Kunming mice.Methods The behavior of adult,male,Kunming mice in LDB was recorded twice,for five minutes,with a one-week inter-trial interval.The following parameters were evaluated by factor analysis:latence for the first entry into the dark area(Latence);percentage of time exploring in the light area (Ltime%);percentage of squares crossing in the light area(Lcross%);percentage of rears in the light area (Lrear%);transitions between two areas(Transition);total number of squares crossing in the whole apparatus (Cross);total number of rears in the whole apparatus(Rear);and number of fecal boli(FB).Results There was a good intercorrelation both among Ltime%,Lcross%,Lrear%,and among Transition,Cross,Rear.A good correlation also was found between test and retest for Transition,Rear and FB.Ltime%,Lcress%and Lrear%had significant loadings on Anxiety factor(Loading%39.54%,35.40%);Transition loaded on Locomotor factor(Loading%23.78%,19.66%),combined with Cross;Rear loaded on Exploration factor(Loading%13.75%,22.60%);and FB loaded on Emotionality factor(Loading%14.42%,13.02%);Latence was not stable.Conclusion Light-dark box,as an animal model of state anxiety in Kunming mice,comprised three behavioral dimensionsanxiety factor,LDB-activity factor(locomotor factor and exploration factor)and emotionality factor.