Social transmission of food preference in mice: methodology and application to galanin-overexpressing transgenic mice

Behav Neurosci. 2003 Feb;117(1):21-31.

Abstract

Social transmission of food preference (STFP) is a test of olfactory memory that can be used in mice. Confounds in STFP that can lead to misinterpretation of an STFP deficit as a memory impairment include changes in social interaction and olfaction. The issue of changes in social interaction was addressed by evaluating an observer-centric and a demonstrator-centric method for scoring the interaction phase of STFP in mice. The demonstrator-centric method was applied to a line of STFP-impaired, galanin-overexpressing transgenic (GAL-tg). GAL-tg mice were impaired in STFP without deficits in social interaction. In tests of olfactory ability, GAL-tg mice were unimpaired on buried-food and habituation-dishabituation tasks. The current studies describe an expanded method for using STFP in mice and confirm a deficit in olfactory memory in GAL-tg mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Food Preferences*
  • Galanin / biosynthesis
  • Galanin / genetics
  • Memory
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Smell
  • Social Behavior*

Substances

  • Galanin