Altered Behavior in the Novelty‐Induced Hypophagia Test in FoxG1+/− Mice

Abstract

For this study we used mice with a heterozygous deletion of the FoxG1 gene to examine the relationship between adult neurogenesis and symptoms of depression as modeled by the Novelty‐Induced Hypophagia test. The mice were given a 0.2 mg/ml dosage of fluoxetine through drinking water for 3 weeks. Testing occurred in both the home cage and novel cage. We did not find an effect of antidepressant treatment on behavior in either the FoxG1+/− mice or wild type mice. Compared to wild type controls the FoxG1+/− mice displayed transgenic mice had decreased consumption of milk in the home cage as well as increased latency to feed. These are similar to two features of depression in humans, increased anxiety and decreased response to rewarding stimuli. Thus our results are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased neurogenesis is responsible for some symptoms of depression found in humans.This study was funded by Yale University's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, The Leadership Alliance and Chaminade University of Honolulu.