Published: Vol 4, Iss 16, Aug 20, 2014 DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.1211 Views: 28666
Reviewed by: Soyun KimAnonymous reviewer(s)
Protocol Collections
Comprehensive collections of detailed, peer-reviewed protocols focusing on specific topics
Related protocols
Protocol for Measuring Free (Low-stress) Exploration in Rats
Wojciech Pisula and Klaudia Modlinska
Jan 20, 2020 3444 Views
Operant Vapor Self-administration in Mice
Renata C. N. Marchette [...] Khaled Moussawi
May 20, 2021 3362 Views
Construction of Activity-based Anorexia Mouse Models
Maria Consolata Miletta and Tamas L. Horvath
Aug 5, 2023 720 Views
Abstract
The elevated plus maze task is a simple method to assess anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. This version describes the procedure used in mice. However, the protocol may also be applied to rats, considering a proportionally larger apparatus (arms: 10 x 50 cm; height: 55 cm). Briefly, the test is performed on a plus-shaped apparatus with two open and two closed arms. The animal is allowed to freely explore the maze for 5 min while the duration and frequency of entries into open and closed arms is recorded. The task is based on an approach-avoidance conflict, meaning that the animal is faced with a struggle between a propensity to explore a novel environment and an unconditioned fear of high and open spaces. Consequently, an anxiety-like state is characterized by increased open arm avoidance, compared to control animals. On account of being a very popular test, there can be considerable variations in the procedures applied across different laboratories. Here we provide a working protocol that has been able to detect both anxiogenic and anxiolyitic drug effects under the specified conditions. Protocol originally published in (Leo et al., 2014).
Materials and Reagents
Equipment
Software
Procedure
Representative data
The figure above represents typical data from the elevated plus maze (EPM) in our settings, adapted to investigate anxiogenic responses (10 Lux). The behavior of the control group is relatively distributed, but decent statistically valid data has been gathered with a sample of 6-8 mice per group. Drug 1 is a clear anxiogenic drug, displaying decreased open arm time and open arm entries, without alterations in the time spent and number of entries in the closed arms. Drug 2 suggests a relatively flawed interpretation of an anxiogenic-like pharmacological profile, as treated-mice displayed decreased locomotion, as revealed by the number of entries in each arm. In such case, we recommend a slight reduction in drug dose in order to identify a dose allowing distinction between emotional and locomotor effects induced by the drug. A representative video from one of our experiments published in (Leo et al., 2014) is also available.
Notes
Acknowledgments
The protocol described here has been adapted from a previous study (Leo et al., 2014), which succeeded in identifying anxiogenic-like as well as anxiolytic-like behavior for mice. The project received financial support from FAPERJ-Brasil (E-26/112.448/2012) and CNPq-Brasil (474443/2012-4).
References
Article Information
Copyright
© 2014 The Authors; exclusive licensee Bio-protocol LLC.
How to cite
Leo, L. M. and Pamplona, F. A. (2014). Elevated Plus Maze Test to Assess Anxiety-like Behavior in the Mouse. Bio-protocol 4(16): e1211. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.1211.
Category
Neuroscience > Behavioral neuroscience > Animal model
Neuroscience > Behavioral neuroscience > Learning and memory
Neuroscience > Nervous system disorders > Animal model
Do you have any questions about this protocol?
Post your question to gather feedback from the community. We will also invite the authors of this article to respond.
Tips for asking effective questions
+ Description
Write a detailed description. Include all information that will help others answer your question including experimental processes, conditions, and relevant images.
Share
Bluesky
X
Copy link