Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1.
LBN cage design. A, Model of the LBN cage, with all components labeled. Cage dimensions are provided. B, Schematic of the LBN cage floor grid, illustrating the diameter of the holes which form the grid and the spacing between. During the assembly of the LBN cage lid, it is recommended that users (C) construct the lid one half at a time (LBN_lid_fm.stl with LBN_lid_mm.stl and LBN_lid_ff.stl with LBN_lid_mf.stl) by applying a thin layer of acetone to the surfaces where components will touch. These components should be held together firmly as the bond cures. After having assembled both halves of the lid, (D) these components can be joined, with acetone being applied on common surfaces. Components should be held together firmly during this process. Finally (E) on the underside of the lid, the grate-like component (LBN_lid_grate.stl) is adhered to the lid using acetone. F, Completed cage lid.
- Figure 2.
The LBN model is sufficient to promote stress and altered maternal behaviors in dams, leading to alterations in pup stress response and decreased pup weights. A, Fecal corticosterone levels from control and LBN dams pooled and measured for PNDs 3–5, 6–8, and 9–10. LBN dams (n = 3) maintained high levels of corticosterone in fecal samples over the duration of the LBN paradigm (R2 = 0.01345; F(1,7) = 0.09545; p = 0.7664) compared with controls (n = 3; R2 = 0.6014; F(1,7) = 10.56; p = 0.0141; nonlinear fit, F(2,14) = 3.743; p = 0.0499). By PND 9–10, LBN dams had significantly higher levels of fecal corticosterone than control dams (t(12) = 2.196; p = 0.0484). B, The percentage of time spent with pups during the dark phase (2:00–3:00) on PNDs 4, 6, and 9. LBN (n = 5) and control dams (n = 5) spent comparable time with pups during the dark phase (2:00–3:00) on PNDs 4, 6, and 9 (two-way ANOVA interaction, F(2,24) = 1.874; p = 0.1754). C, The number of nest entries by control (n = 5) and LBN dams (n = 5) during the dark phase (2:00–3:00) on PNDs 4, 6, and 9. LBN dams show a greater number of nest exits than controls across time points, suggesting more fragmented bouts of maternal care (two-way ANOVA effect of housing condition, F(1,24) = 16.07; p = 0.0005). D, Average duration of visits to the nest during the dark phase (2:00–3:00) on PNDs 4, 6, and 9. LBN dams (n = 5) demonstrated a reduction in the average length of nest visit compared with controls (n = 5; two-way ANOVA effect of housing condition, F(1,24) = 5.269; p = 0.0307). E, The number of tail-chasing and twirling stereotypical rotations observed in LBN dams during the dark phase (2:00–3:00) on PNDs 4, 6, and 9. F, Blood serum corticosterone concentration in LBN and control pups measured from PND 10. LBN pups show a significant reduction in serum corticosterone concentration than controls [LBN (n = 17) vs control (n = 20); Mann–Whitney U test, U = 78; p = 0.0044]. G, Average body weight of LBN (n = 17) and control pups (n = 20) over the duration of the LBN paradigm. We observed significantly lower body weight in LBN pups compared with controls from PND 3 to 10 (two-way ANOVA interaction, F(8,315) = 13.48; p < 0.0001; post hoc LBN vs CTRL, PND 2, p = 0.0632; PNDs > 2; p < 0.0001). Please see Extended Data Figure 2-1 for statistical analysis presented in this figure. Data represent mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; CTRL, control; LBN, limited bedding and nesting; PND, postnatal day.
Extended Data
Figure 2-1
Extended statistical results supporting Figure 2. Download Figure 2-1, DOC file.
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