Open Field Test: comparing square and round arenas

• Autorzy: Grabovska S. , Salyha Y.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Open Field Test is one of the most popular and widely used behavioral tests studying emotional rate, especially anxiety, and exploration activity of animals. There are two main modifications of the Open Field Test apparatus – round and square arena shape; possible differences between them have not been studied enough. The purpose of our study was to compare round and square shape of the apparatus analyzing the same parameters. We used square and round test arenas with equal area, surface material, illumination, and other conditions. 10 adult white Wistar rats, 5 male and 5 female, were tested in both arenas 3 times with 7 days interval. Studied parameters were: inner and outer horizontal activity, vertical activity, long and short grooming, defecation, and hole reflex. Statistically significant differences (at P<0.05) were observed only in “hole reflex” parameter and its time dynamics. In round arena, this parameter was firstly significantly lower, then rapidly increased, and decreased a little at the third testing. In square arena the dynamics was quite opposite: significantly higher at day 1, it rapidly decreased at the second test, and increased slightly in the last test. In other parameters, no significant changes were observed. As “hole reflex” is just an additional parameter of exploration activity, this difference wouldn’t be crucial. In main parameters of exploration activity (inner and outer horizontal activity, vertical activity) and anxiety (long and short grooming, defecation) no significant changes were observed. So, we can claim that both shapes of arenas can be used in Open Field test equally.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Rocznik: 2014
• Tom: 74
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.363-364

Twórcy

autor

Grabovska S.

• Institute of Animal Biology, Lviv, Ukraine

autor

Salyha Y.

• Institute of Animal Biology, Lviv, Ukraine