PsychoGenics, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA.
J Neurosci Methods. 2010 Apr 30;188(1):62-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.02.005. Epub 2010 Feb 10.
The mirror chamber (MC) is a putative test of anxiety-like behavior in mice, and is increasingly popular. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether the observed behaviors rely on the presence of mirrored panels. If so, it is unclear whether the behaviors are sensitive to clinically effective anxiolytics, and how the test compares to the elevated plus maze (EPM) in terms of predictive validity. The present studies assessed anxiety-like behaviors in different mouse strains in the MC using mirrored and non-mirrored panels, under variable lighting conditions. We also assessed the pharmacological validity of the MC and EPM tests, and the locomotor properties of active test compounds. Seven mouse strains exhibited different levels of anxiety-like behaviors in the MC, and differential sensitivity to panel and light conditions. DBA/2J mice appeared most sensitive to the mirrored, versus black or white, panels and were therefore used in pharmacological MC studies. The mGlu5 receptor antagonist MPEP significantly decreased anxiety-like behaviors, similar to an intermediate dose of the benzodiazepine diazepam. The benzodiazepines chlordiazepoxide and alprazolam and the 5HT(1A) partial agonist buspirone had no effects on anxiety-like behaviors in the MC. None of the MC effects of active test compounds were attributable to non-specific/locomotor effects. The antidepressants fluoxetine and venlafaxine increased anxiety-like behaviors in the MC. By contrast, the anxiolytic-like effects of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam and MPEP were revealed in the EPM in C57Bl6/J mice. In conclusion, the EPM test exhibits superior predictive validity compared to the MC test, despite the sensitivity of the MC to mouse strain differences.
镜像室（MC）是一种用于测试小鼠焦虑样行为的方法，近年来越来越受欢迎。然而，目前尚不清楚观察到的行为是否依赖于镜像面板的存在。如果是这样，那么就不清楚这些行为是否对临床有效的抗焦虑药物敏感，以及该测试在预测有效性方面与高架十字迷宫（EPM）相比如何。本研究使用带和不带镜像面板，在不同光照条件下，评估了不同小鼠品系在 MC 中的焦虑样行为。我们还评估了 MC 和 EPM 测试的药理学有效性，以及活性测试化合物的运动学特性。七种小鼠品系在 MC 中表现出不同程度的焦虑样行为，并且对面板和光照条件具有不同的敏感性。DBA/2J 小鼠对镜像面板比对黑色或白色面板更敏感，因此在药理学 MC 研究中使用 DBA/2J 小鼠。mGlu5 受体拮抗剂 MPEP 显著降低了焦虑样行为，与苯二氮䓬类药物地西泮的中剂量效果相似。苯二氮䓬类药物氯氮䓬和阿普唑仑以及 5-HT（1A）部分激动剂丁螺环酮对 MC 中的焦虑样行为没有影响。活性测试化合物在 MC 中的任何作用都不是由于非特异性/运动学效应所致。抗抑郁药氟西汀和文拉法辛增加了 MC 中的焦虑样行为。相比之下，氯氮䓬、地西泮和 MPEP 的抗焦虑样作用在 C57Bl6/J 小鼠的 EPM 中得到了揭示。总之，尽管 MC 对小鼠品系差异敏感，但 EPM 测试比 MC 测试具有更高的预测有效性。
