SHORT COMMUNICATION

Differences in Anxiety-Related Behavior Between Apolipoprotein E-Deficient C57BL/6 and
Wild Type C57BL/6 Mice

C. S. MCLACHLAN, C. YI XING SOH

National University of Singapore, Department of Pharmacology, Singapore

Received January 13, 2004
Accepted January 14, 2005
On-line available February 16, 2005


Summary
The influence of ApoE gene deletion on the anxiety state has not been previously investigated. The elevated plus maze was used in this study to determine differences in anxiety-related behavior between apoE-deficient and wild type C57BL/6 mice. The apoE-deficient mice demonstrated less anxiety on the elevated plus maze by spending more time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze compared to wild type mice (p<0.001). Additionally, female apoE-deficient mice visited the open arm of the maze more often than their apoE-deficient male counterpart (p<0.05). The anxiety state and/or sex are possible variables to be considered when designing physiological and/or behavioral studies involving mice that are apoE-deficient.


Key words
Apolipoprotein E • Anxiety • Elevated plus maze • Mice