Hybrid offspring of C57BL/6J mice exhibit improved properties for neurobehavioral research

Sloin, H. E.; Bikovski, L.; Levi, A.; Amber-Vitos, O.; Katz, T.; Spivak, L.; Someck, S.; Gattegno, R.; Sivroni, S.; Sjulson, L.; Stark, E.

doi:10.1101/2022.05.03.490527

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.05.03.490527

Hybrid offspring of C57BL/6J mice exhibit improved properties for neurobehavioral research

Sloin, H. E.·Bikovski, L.·Levi, A.·Amber-Vitos, O.·Katz, T.·Spivak, L.·Someck, S.·Gattegno, R.·Sivroni, S.·Sjulson, L.·Stark, E.

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Abstract

C57BL/6 is the most commonly used mouse strain in neurobehavioral research, serving as a background for multiple transgenic lines. However, C57BL/6 exhibit behavioral and sensorimotor disadvantages that worsen with age. We bred FVB/NJ females and C57BL/6J males to generate first-generation hybrid offspring, (FVB/NJ x C57BL/6J)F1. The hybrid mice exhibit reduced anxiety-like behavior, improved learning, and enhanced long-term spatial memory. In contrast to both progenitors, older hybrids maintain sensorimotor performance and exhibit improved long-term memory. The hybrids are larger than C57BL/6J, exhibiting enhanced running behavior on a linear track during freely-moving electrophysiological recordings. Hybrids exhibit typical rate and phase coding of space by CA1 pyramidal cells. Hybrids generated by crossing FVB/NJ females with transgenic males of a C57BL/6 background support optogenetic neuronal control in neocortex and hippocampus. The hybrid mice provide an improved model for neurobehavioral studies combining complex behavior, electrophysiology, and genetic tools readily available in C57BL/6 mice.

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Sloin, H. E., Bikovski, L., Levi, A., Amber-Vitos, O., Katz, T., Spivak, L., Someck, S., Gattegno, R., Sivroni, S., Sjulson, L., Stark, E.. 2022-05-04. Hybrid offspring of C57BL/6J mice exhibit improved properties for neurobehavioral research. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.03.490527

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