Pompl P N, Mullan M J, Bjugstad K, Arendash G W
Alzheimer's Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620, USA.
J Neurosci Methods. 1999 Feb 1;87(1):87-95. doi: 10.1016/s0165-0270(98)00169-1.
A methodology is described for use of a 16-hole circular platform task to test spatial memory in mice. Both bright light and a fan were used to motivate mice to escape the platform surface through a single hole containing an attached escape box. For each daily trial, three correlated measures (escape latency, number of errors, and error rating) comprehensively evaluated cognitive performance. In an initial study, the 'spatial' nature of this task was demonstrated by the much poorer performance of non-transgenic mice when visual cues are removed. Behavioral sensitivity of the circular platform task was then shown through its ability to discern cognitive impairment in 7-month-old transgenic mice, carrying the mutant APP(SW) gene for early-onset Alzheimer's disease in humans, from non-transgenic litter-mates. Since there are currently only a few tasks available to definitively test cognitive performance in mice, the circular platform task offers a versatile, multiple-measure option with numerous advantages. Particularly in view of the increasing number of genetically manipulated mouse models being produced, the circular platform task should be most useful in providing a sensitive evaluation of cognition in mice.
本文描述了一种使用16孔圆形平台任务来测试小鼠空间记忆的方法。利用强光和风扇促使小鼠通过一个带有连接逃生箱的单一孔洞逃离平台表面。对于每天的每次试验，三项相关指标（逃生潜伏期、错误次数和错误评分）综合评估认知表现。在一项初步研究中，当视觉线索被移除时，非转基因小鼠的表现明显较差，从而证明了该任务的“空间”性质。随后，圆形平台任务的行为敏感性通过其辨别携带人类早发性阿尔茨海默病突变APP(SW)基因的7月龄转基因小鼠与同窝非转基因小鼠认知障碍的能力得以体现。由于目前仅有少数任务可用于明确测试小鼠的认知表现，圆形平台任务提供了一种具有多种优势的通用、多指标选项。特别是鉴于正在产生的基因操作小鼠模型数量不断增加，圆形平台任务在对小鼠认知进行敏感评估方面应最为有用。
