Table 1.

General health, sensorimotor, and behavioral characteristics of female and male M5+/+, M5+/–, and M5–/– mice

+/+ Females +/- Females -/- Females +/+ Males +/- Males -/- Males
Parameter (n = 15) (n = 13) (n = 13) (n = 14) (n = 13) (n = 13)
General health
    Body weight (g) 21.0 ± 0.3 20.5 ± 0.2 20.7 ± 0.3 24.9 ± 0.5 25.3 ± 0.6 24.8 ± 0.5
    Fur mattinga 0 0 0 0.07 ± 0.07 0 0.31 ± 0.13
    Baldinga 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Soresa 0 0 0 0 0 0.15 ± 0.15
    Whiskersa 0 0 0 0 0 0
Home-cage behaviora
    Sleep
        8:00 A.M. 2.00 ± 1.15 1.33 ± 1.33 3.33 ± 0.67 1.33 ± 1.33 2.67 ± 1.33 4.00 ± 0.00
        2:00 P.M. 2.67 ± 10.33 1.33 ± 1.33 4.00 ± 0.00 3.33 ± 0.67 4.00 ± 0.00 2.67 ± 0.67
        8:00 P.M. 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Huddled
        8:00 A.M. 2.33 ± 1.20 2.33 ± 1.20 4.00 ± 0.00 2.67 ± 0.67 4.00 ± 0.00 4.00 ± 0.00
        2:00 P.M. 2.67 ± 1.33 2.67 ± 1.33 4.00 ± 0.00 3.33 ± 0.67 4.00 ± 0.00 3.00 ± 0.58
        8:00 P.M. 0 0 0 0 0 0
    In “igloo”
        8:00 A.M. 3.00 ± 1.00 2.33 ± 1.20 4.00 ± 0.00 2.67 ± 0.67 4.00 ± 0.00 3.33 ± 0.67
        2:00 P.M. 0.33 ± 0.33 2.67 ± 1.33 4.00 ± 0.00 3.33 ± 0.67 4.00 ± 0.00 3.00 ± 0.58
        8:00 P.M. 0 0.33 ± 0.33 0.33 ± 0.33 0.33 ± 0.33 0 1.00 ± 0.00
    Fighting 0 0 0 0.33 ± 0.33 0.33 ± 0.33 2.00 ± 058
    Wounds from fighting 0.13 ± 0.09 0 0 0 0 0.69 ± 0.24
Reaction to handlinga
    Escape 0 0.08 ± 0.08 0.23 ± 017 0 0 0
    Biting 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sensorimotorb
    Eye blink test 15/15 13/13 13/13 14/14 12/13 12/13
    Ear twitch 15/15 13/13 13/13 14/14 13/13 13/13
    Whisker orientation 14/15 13/13 11/13 14/14 13/13 13/13
    Righting reflex 15/15 13/13 13/13 14/14 13/13 13/13
    Vision test 15/15 13/13 13/13 14/14 13/13 13/13
Motor skills
    Hanging wire test (s) 58.13 ± 1.87 59.46 ± 0.54 55.85 ± 2.81 55.50 ± 2.30 57.62 ± 2.07 54.54 ± 3.20
Footprint pattern
    SL (mm) 52.95 ± 1.15 52.36 ± 1.34 51.17 ± 1.25 55.82 ± 1.30 57.19 ± 1.10 56.12 ± 1.07
    Difference in SL (mm) 18.85 ± 1.03 18.88 ± 1.49 16.38 ± 1.30 20.26 ± 1.35 19.91 ± 1.34 17.42 ± 1.35
    Base of support (mm) 24.09 ± 0.38 24.49 ± 0.57 24.28 ± 0.60 24.72 ± 0.50 25.47 ± 0.41 24.51 ± 0.30

  • The male M5-/- mice showed significantly higher scores than all other genotype/sex groups in incidence of fighting in the home cage, presence of wounds from fighting (bite wounds on tails and rumps), and fur matting (all p < 0.01). Regardless of genotype, female mice had lower body weight and shorter stride length than male mice (both p < 0.001). All other measures were similar between genotypes and sexes. SL, Stride length.

  • ↵ a Scores 0 – 4 (0, none; 4, as much as ever observed).

  • ↵ b Number of mice testing “normal”/total mice.