Light-dark box as a model of state anxiety in Kunming mice: test-retest reliability and correlations between parameters

Abstract

Objective To explore the test-retest reliability and correlations of the light-dark box (LDB).Methods The behavior of mice in LDB was recorded twice, for five minutes,with a one-week inter-trial interval.Following parameters were evaluated:latency time for the first entry into the dark area (Latence); percentage of time exploring in the light area ( Ltime％ ); percentage of squares crossing in the light area ( Lcross％ ); total number of squares crossing ( Cross ); percentage of rears in the light area ( Lrear％ ); total number of rears (Rear); total score (Total); transitions between two areas (Transition); and number of fecal boli (Fbi). Subsequently,the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the Kappa agreement coefficient (Kappa) and the Pearson correlation coefficient (Pearson) were calculated for these parameters. Results ①ICC for Lrear％ ( ICC =0.5207, P＜0.01 ) showed a fair reliability. ②Kappa for all parameters indicated a poor reliability. ③Pearson displayed weak negative correlations between Transition and Ltime％ ( Pearson = - 0.4030, P ＜ 0.05; Pearson =- 0. 1490, P＞ 0. 05 ), Lcross％ ( Pearson = - 0. 4331, P ＞ 0. 05; Pearson = - 0.1893, P ＞ 0.05 ), Lrear％ ( Pearson = - 0. 4485, P ＜ 0. 05; Pearson = 0. 02845, P ＞ 0. 05 ), however, fair positive correlations between Transition and Cross (Pearson =0. 8603, P＜0.01; Pearson =0.6341, P＜0. 01 ) ,Rear(Pearson =0.4271, P＞0. 05;Pearson = 0. 7245, P ＜ 0. 001 ). Conclusion Rear is found to be stable over time, and indicated a fair reliability.There is a weak negative correlation between Transition and Ltime％, Lcross％, Lrear％, but fair positive correlations between Transition and Cross, Rear. Key words: Light-dark box; Kunming mice; State anxiety; Animal model; Test-retest reliability; Correlation