Rearing environmental enrichment in two inbred strains of mice: 1. Effects on emotional reactivity
Abstract
The effects of an enriched rearing environment on two types of anxiety-like behavior (designated "trait" and "state" anxiety) and on spontaneous activity were investigated in two inbred strains of mice, BALB/c (C) and C57BL/6(B6). Subjects were socially reared from birth to 56 days of age under enriched or standard rearing conditions. The enriched environment consisted of an assembly of plastic boxes in which a various number of objects (running wheels, pieces of plastic, etc.) offered the possibility of multiple activities. The subjects were subsequently tested in three situations: a spontaneous activity recorder, an elevated plus-maze test (a model of state anxiety), and a free exploration test (a model of trait anxiety). No group differences could be found in spontaneous activity. Environmental enrichment, however, decreased the level of both types of anxiety-like behavior in the C strain. In contrast, the level of trait anxiety of the B6 mice was not modified. The results were discussed in relation to possible CNS modifications, especially in the limbic system.
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Environmental enrichment reduces stress.
“Environmental enrichment | Reduces anxiety [196,197], stress [196,197], and abnormal repetitive behaviour [198–200]. Reduces susceptibility to epilepsy [201] and osteoarthritis [202] and modifies the pathology of neurological disorders [203]. Increases foraging behaviour in fish [204].”
From Reporting animal research: Explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 (2020) · cites this paper as [196]
Environmental enrichment reduces anxiety.
“Environmental enrichment | Reduces anxiety [196,197], stress [196,197], and abnormal repetitive behaviour [198–200]. Reduces susceptibility to epilepsy [201] and osteoarthritis [202] and modifies the pathology of neurological disorders [203]. Increases foraging behaviour in fish [204].”
From Reporting animal research: Explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 (2020) · cites this paper as [196]
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Percie du Sert, N., Ahluwalia, A., Alam, S., Avey, M. T., Baker, M., Browne, W. J., Clark, A., Cuthill, I. C., Dirnagl, U., Emerson, M., et al. (2020) · PLOS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000411 · Cited by 2,677 · see citing works
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Nithianantharajah, J., & Hannan, A. J. (2006) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn1970 · Cited by 1,771 · see citing works
Environmental Enrichment Reverses the Effects of Maternal Separation on Stress Reactivity
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- Authors
- Chapillon, P., Manneché, C., Belzung, C., & Caston, J.
- Affiliations
- Université de Rouen Normandie (FR)
- Université de Tours (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Chapillon, P.
- ORCID
- Belzung, C.
- Venue
- Behavior Genetics
- Published
- 1999-01
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-46
- ISSN
- 0001-8244 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3297
- OpenAlex
- W1491397924
- Cited by
- 202
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 9.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavior Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- environmental enrichment, inbred mouse strains, BALB/c mice, C57BL/6 mice, anxiety-like behavior, trait anxiety, state anxiety, emotional reactivity, spontaneous activity, elevated plus maze, free exploration, limbic system, social rearing
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Anxiety, Environment, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Housing, Animal, Male, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Play and Playthings, Temperament, Mice
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