A SEMIAUTOMATED TEST APPARATUS FOR STUDYING PARTNER PREFERENCE BEHAVIOR IN THE RAT

A semiautomated three-compartment box (3CB) for studying partner prefe rence behavior of rats is described. This apparatus automatically anim al pays to each compartment). Software was developed for calculating p artner preference scores. Behavioral testing in the semiautomated 3CB, which is a modification of an earlier version, is less time consuming and less laborious. Three 3CBs can be observed simultaneously by two trained observers, and the behavioral interactions of three experiment al animals with the stimulus animals can be observed and scored by han d. The use of the new apparatus was validated by studying adult partne r preference behavior of neonatally ATD-treated male rats. The collect ed data fully corroborate previous results, obtained in the earlier ve rsion of the 3CB, again revealing the behavioral bisexual nature of th ese ATD males. A new finding was the much higher locomotor activity of the ATD males compared to controls.