A novel quadrant spatial assay reveals environmental preference in mouse spontaneous and parental behaviors.

Abstract

Environmental factors have well-documented impacts on brain development and mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to employ a reliable assay system to assess the spatial preference of model animals. In this study, we introduced an unbiased quadrant chamber assay system and discovered that parental pup-gathering behavior takes place in a very efficient manner. Furthermore, we found that test mice exhibited preferences for specific environments in both spontaneous and parental pup-gathering behavior contexts. Notably, the spatial preferences of autism spectrum disorder model animals were initially suppressed but later equalized during the spontaneous behavior assay, accompanied by increased time spent in the preferred chamber. In conclusion, our novel quadrant chamber assay system provides an ideal platform for investigating the spatial preference of mice, offering potential applications in studying environmental impacts and exploring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorder models.