Table 3 Summary of behavioral data collected. Descriptions of methodology and variables tested are described in detail in previous reports [55, 69, 100]
Behavioral domain | Test | Measure | Significant test of between-subject factor(s) | Alterations in 3xTg-AD vs. WT | Effect of immunosuppression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sensorimotor coordination, strength | Beam-walking | Latency to traverse beam | Genotype × Sex: F1, 122 = 6.889, p = .010, η2p = .053 | ↓ in females | Null |
Beam slips | Genotype × Sex: F1, 122 = 5.867, p = .017, η2p = .046 | ↓ in females | Null | ||
Rotarod | Latency to fall | Genotype: F1, 123 = 11.334, p = .001, η2p = .083 | ↑ in both sexes | Null | |
Basket test | Latency to fall | Genotype × Sex: F1, 72 = 7.449, p = .008, η2p = .094 | ↑ in females | Null | |
Sensory | Olfactory sensitivity to peanut butter (PB) | Sniffing duration—0.01% PB | Not significant | None | Null |
Sniffing duration—0.1% PB | Sex: F1, 123 = 7.356, p = .008, η2p = .056 | None | Null | ||
Sniffing duration—1% PB | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Anxiety-like behavior | Step down | Latency to descend | Genotype: F1, 122 = 38.334, p < .001, η2p = .236 | ↑ in both sexes | ↑ in 3xTg-AD males and WT females |
6 months: Genotype × Treatment × Sex: F1, 124 = 3.921, p = .05, η2p = .03 | ↑ in both sexes | ||||
Open field | Fecal boli | Genotype: F1, 122 = 23.332, p < .001, η2p = .16 | ↑ in both sexes | Null | |
Distance moved | Genotype: F1, 123 = 13.623, p < .001, η2p = .1 | ↓ in both sexes | Null | ||
Frequency of visits to center | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Latency to enter center | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Distance moved in center | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Time spent moving in center | Genotype × Treatment × Sex: F1, 122 = 3.970, p = .049, η2p = .043 | ↑ in females | ↑ in 3xTg-AD males and ↓ in 3xTg-AD females | ||
Time spent immobile in center | Genotype × Treatment × Sex: F1, 122 = 4.180, p = .043, η2p = .033 | ↑ in both sexes (only at 6 months) | ↑ in 3xTg-AD males | ||
Thigmotaxis duration | Genotype: F1, 123 = 4.525, p = .035, η2p = .035 | ↓ in both sexes (males only at 6 months) | Null | ||
Velocity | Genotype: F1, 123 = 5.292, p = .023, η2p = .041 | ↓ in both sexes (females only at 6 months) | ↓ in both sexes and strains | ||
Treatment: F1, 123 = 5.062, p = .026, η2p = .04 | |||||
Novel object | Object contact duration | Not significant | None | Null | |
Object contact frequency | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Object contact latency | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Spontaneous behaviors | Automated activity boxes (INBEST) | Water intake | Treatment: F1, 110 = 5.136, p = .025, η2p = .045 | None | ↑ in both sexes and strains |
Sucrose (4%) intake | Treatment: F1, 109 = 24.437, p < .001, η2p = .183 | ↓ in females | ↓ in both sexes and strains | ||
Genotype × Sex: F1, 109 = 9.970, p = .002, η2p = .084 | |||||
Food intake | Treatment: F1, 113 = 5.377, p = .022, η2p = .045 | ↑ in males (only at 6 months) | ↑ in both sexes and strains | ||
Genotype × Sex: F1, 113 = 6.406, p = .013, η2p = .054 | |||||
Running wheel rotations | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Working memory | T-maze | Spontaneous alternation rate | 6 months: Treatment × Sex: F1, 131 = 4.472, η2p = .036 | None | ↓ in males and ↑ in females |
Spatial learning and memory | Morris water maze | Cue trials—path distance | Not significant | None | Null |
Cue trials—latency | Genotype: F1, 122 = 8.472, p = .004, η2p = .065 | ↓ in both sexes | Null | ||
Cue trials—velocity | Genotype: F1, 122 = 26.806, p < .001, η2p = .18 | ↑ in both sexes | Null | ||
Acquisition trials—path distance | Genotype × Timepoint × Day: F3, 363 = 3.502, p = .016, η2p = .028 | ↑ in both sexes (on day 1, 2 months) | Null | ||
Acquisition trials—latency | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Acquisition trials—velocity | Genotype: F1, 121 = 72.442, p < .001, η2p = .374 | ↑ in both sexes | Null | ||
Probe trials—time spent in target quadrant | Not significant | None | Null | ||
Reversal cue trials—path distance | Sex: F1, 121 = 7.704, p = .006, η2p = .06 | None | Null | ||
Reversal cue trials—latency | Genotype: F1, 121 = 10.814, p < .001, η2p = .082 | ↓ in both sexes | Null | ||
Reversal cue trials—velocity | Genotype: F1, 122 = 28.250, p < .001, η2p = .189 | ↑ in both sexes | Null | ||
Reversal acquisition trials—path distance | Genotype × Sex: F1, 121 = 6.871, p = .01, η2p = .054 | ↑ in females | Null | ||
Reversal acquisition trials—latency | Sex: F1, 121 = 10.416, p = .002, η2p = .079 | None | Null | ||
Reversal acquisition trials—velocity | Genotype × Sex: F1, 121 = 22.711, p < .001, η2p = .158 | ↑ in females | Null | ||
Reversal acquisition trials—time spent in previous quadrant | Genotype × Sex: F1, 121 = 6.114, p = .015, η2p = .048 | ↑ in females | Null |