Inter-individual differences in laboratory rats as revealed by three behavioural tasks

0558805 - FGÚ 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Rudolfová, V. - Petrásek, Tomáš - Antošová, E. - Frynta, D. - Landová, E. - Valeš, Karel - Nekovářová, Tereza
Inter-individual differences in laboratory rats as revealed by three behavioural tasks.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 12, č. 1 (2022), č. článku 9361. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA MZd(CZ) EF16_025/0007444; GA ČR(CZ) GA22-15096S
Institutional support: RVO:67985823
Keywords : elevated plus-maze * open-field behavior * Morris water maze * animal-model * mice * traits
OECD category: Neurosciences (including psychophysiology
Impact factor: 4.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13288-w

Stable inter-individual differences in behaviour and personality have been studied for several decades now. The aim of this study was to test the repeatability of behaviour of the Long Evans strain of laboratory rats in order to assess their inter-individual differences. Male laboratory rats (n = 36) were tested in a series of tasks (Open field test, Elevated plus maze test, and modified T-maze test) repeated over time to assess their personality traits. To evaluate the temporal stability of the behaviour, we calculated repeatability estimates of the examined traits. We also checked for a link in behavioural traits across these experiments, which would suggest the existence of a behavioural syndrome. We found stable inter-individual differences in behaviour. Interestingly, no link emerged between the tasks we studied and therefore we did not find support for a behavioural syndrome. The lack of behavioural correlations between these experiments suggests that the results derived from these tasks should be interpreted carefully, as these experiments may measure various behavioural axes. Moreover, the animals habituate to the apparatus. Consequently, behaviour in the Open field test and Elevated plus maze test is not fully consistent and repeatable across subsequent trials.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0332649