| Vendor |
Original
parental
stocks
of
C57BL/6J,
129S1/SvImJ,
A/J,
BALB/cByJ,
C3H/HeJ,
DBA/2J,
FVB/NJ,
and
SJL/J
inbred
strains
were
purchased
from
The
Jackson
Laboratory
(JAX®,
Bar
Harbor,
ME
USA).
Experimental
male
mice
weaned
at
3
weeks
of
age
were
generated
in
the
Comparative
Biology
Unit
animal
facilities
at
the
Institute
of
Psychiatry.
|
Ages |
Male
mice
9–13
wks
of
age |
Feed |
Food
was
available
ad
libitum
(Rat
and
Mouse
No.1
Maintenance
Diet,
Special
Diet
Services,
Essex,
UK),
except
during
behavioral
testing. |
Water |
Available
ad
libitum
|
Housing |
Mice
were
mostly
single
housed
in
standard
cages
(30.5L
×
13W
×
11H
cm)
transferred
at
approximately
8
wks
of
age
to
a
separate
housing
facility.
Behavioral
tests
were
performed
during
the
dark
cycle
between
09:30
and
19:00
h. |
Bedding |
Sawdust
and
nesting
materials
in
each
cage
were
changed
once
week,
but
never
on
the
day
before
or
the
day
of
testing
to
minimize
the
disruptive
effect
of
cage
cleaning
on
behavior. |
Photoperiod |
Mice
were
maintained
on
a
reversed
12:12
light
cycle
with
white
lights
on
from
20:00
to
8:00
h
and
red
light
on
during
the
dark
cycle.
Light
intensity
in
the
housing
room
was
400
lx
(lux)
during
the
lights-ON
period
and
less
than
2
lx
during
the
dark
period.
Four
red
cluster
lights
(LED
cluster
red
light
No.
310-6757;
RS
Components
Northants,
UK)
of
approximate
wavelength
705
nm
provided
minimal
red
light
during
the
dark
phase,
allowing
experimenters
to
work
with
the
mice
during
their
dark
phase. |
| Relative
humidity |
~45% |
Temperature |
21±2°C |
Regulatory
compliance |
All
housing
and
experimental
procedures
were
performed
in
compliance
with
the
UK
Home
Office
Animals
Scientific
Procedures
Act
1986. |
