Protocol for evaluating mutualistic cooperative behavior in mice using a water-reward task assay

Weixi Feng; Yanli Zhang; Ze Wang; Tianqi Wang; Yingting Pang; Yue Li; Yimiao Wang; Shixin Ding; Sijia Chen; Ying Zou; Ming Xiao

STAR Protocols (Jun 2024)

Protocol for evaluating mutualistic cooperative behavior in mice using a water-reward task assay

Weixi Feng,
Yanli Zhang,
Ze Wang,
Tianqi Wang,
Yingting Pang,
Yue Li,
Yimiao Wang,
Shixin Ding,
Sijia Chen,
Ying Zou,
Ming Xiao

Affiliations

Weixi Feng: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
Yanli Zhang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China; The Affiliated Changzhou Second People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Second People’s Hospital, Changzhou 213000, China; Corresponding author
Ze Wang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Brain Institute, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
Tianqi Wang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Yingting Pang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Brain Institute, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
Yue Li: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Yimiao Wang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Shixin Ding: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Sijia Chen: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Ying Zou: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Ming Xiao: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Brain Institute, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China; Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 2
p. 103023

Abstract

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Summary: Social cooperation is fundamentally important for group animals but rarely studied in mice because of their natural aggressiveness. Here, we present a new water-reward assay to investigate mutualistic cooperative behavior in mice. We describe the construction of the apparatus and provide details of the procedures and analysis for investigators to characterize and quantify the mutualistic cooperative behavior. This protocol has been validated in mice and can be used for investigating mechanisms of cooperation.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al. and Wang et al.1,2 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Published in STAR Protocols

ISSN: 2666-1667 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General)
Website: https://star-protocols.cell.com/

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