Meeting Banner
Abstract #0892

Volumetric Brain Changes Following Standardized Dynamic Enrichment of Mice

Jan Scholz1, Rylan Allemang-Grand1, Jason P. Lerch1

1Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

Environmental enrichment is used to study brain plasticity in rodents. Here we propose a standardized way of enrichment that allows well-controlled dynamic changes to the environment. Longitudinal manganese-enhance MRI allows to observe whole brain volumetric changes. Here we show that dynamic enrichment is associated with structural changes in specific memory and navigation-related areas of the mouse brain, such as the retrosplenial cortex and the dentate gyrus. Subsequent spatial training shows behavioural benefits of enrichment. Our study suggests that dynamic spatial enrichment might be associated with plasticity in key brain areas.

Keywords

allows application arranged avoided bedding better brain cage ceiling ceilings comings comparable consisted control controlled controls cortex counteract create cross date days decline decrease decreased deformation design determinants differed differently difficulty distributed domes dramatically dynamic easily enhanced enriched enrichment entered environmental evenly every evolves exists experience experienced explained fashion fields final floors food gradient grand included interaction interlocking involved isotropic layout leading learning linear linearly local longitudinally maintain maintained male manganese material matrix maze memory mice might model morphology mouse navigation nesting observing parts past pathways performance period pipes plasticity polycarbonate potentially preference probe probed protocol protocols quadrant quicker rectify registered related rodent running scanned sectionally seemed short shorter sources spatial standardized studied studies subsequently suggests target task tasks trained training trial trials uncorrected unifying unique varied volume volumetric walls water weeks wheels whole wise years