Assessment of nest building and social interaction behavior in mice exposed to acute social defeat stress using a three‐dimensional depth camera

• DOI: 10.1111/asj.13447
• Publication Date: 2020-09-22T03:22:02Z
• Authors: Hikari Otabi; Tsuyoshi Okayama; Atsushi Toyoda
• Keywords: Instinct

Nest building is an instinctive behavior toward protection from predators, body temperature regulation, and courtship. Previously, we discovered that acute chronic social defeat stress suppresses the onset of nest-building in male mice (C57BL/6J). Here, analyzed nest other behavioral deficits induced by (ASDS). We utilized a customized cage specifically developed observational programs for building, avoidance, behaviors using infrared depth camera to acquire three-dimensional (3D) data animal (Negura system). determined volume nesting materials these 3D images. Mice exposed ASDS showed increased spontaneous activities, decreased rearing, delayed building; however, activity was gradually recovered during dark period 24 hr observation interval. At endpoint following hr, control groups no differences volumes. Furthermore, observed time courses both avoidance their relationship Negura system. Our demonstrated weak positive correlation between delay mice. The system can observe various reflect effects stress.