Imhof J T, Coelho Z M, Schmitt M L, Morato G S, Carobrez A P
Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
Behav Brain Res. 1993 Sep 30;56(2):177-80. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(93)90036-p.
We have compared the performance of male and female Wistar rats at different ages (45, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) in the elevated plus-maze test, a reliable animal model of anxiety. Up to 60 days of age, rats of both sexes exhibited a high number of entries and of time spent on open arms (50% or above). At 120 days of age or more, rats of both sexes characteristically exhibited a reduction in the number of entries and of the time spent on open arms (below 50%). Within the range of 60 and 120 days there are statistically significant sex differences. At 90 days of age male rats showed a marked switch in their performance in the apparatus, reaching levels of the latter stage, whereas in females it happened around 120 days. These results suggest an ontogenetic difference in rats that accounts for at least two distinct performances for rats placed in an elevated plus-maze. Gender effects were found in a certain range, suggesting caution on interpreting data obtained in rats within 60 and 120 days old. Also, the results obtained highlight the importance of carefully controlling animal age in studies using the elevated plus-maze.
我们比较了不同年龄（45、60、90、120和150天）的雄性和雌性Wistar大鼠在高架十字迷宫试验中的表现，该试验是一种可靠的焦虑动物模型。在60日龄之前，两性大鼠在开放臂上的进入次数和停留时间都很多（50%或以上）。在120日龄及以上，两性大鼠的特点是在开放臂上的进入次数和停留时间减少（低于50%）。在60至120天的范围内存在统计学上显著的性别差异。在90日龄时，雄性大鼠在该装置中的表现出现明显转变，达到后期水平，而雌性大鼠则在120天左右出现这种情况。这些结果表明大鼠存在个体发育差异，这至少解释了置于高架十字迷宫中的大鼠的两种不同表现。在一定范围内发现了性别效应，这表明在解释60至120日龄大鼠获得的数据时要谨慎。此外，所获得的结果突出了在使用高架十字迷宫的研究中仔细控制动物年龄的重要性。
