N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota

1 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Behavior

Morris Water Maze Test: Optimization for Mouse Strain and Testing Environment

Daniel S. Weitzner¹, Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi², Linda A. Kotilinek³, Karen Hsiao Ashe^3,4,5, Miranda Nicole Reed^1,6

¹Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, West Virginia University, ²Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, ³Department of Neurology, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, ⁴Department of Neuroscience, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, ⁵GRECC, VA Medical Center, ⁶Center for Neuroscience, Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University

This manuscript describes a Morris water maze (MWM) protocol tailored for use with a commonly used mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The MWM is widely used in transgenic mouse models. Implementation of a procedure sensitive to the background strain of the mouse model is essential for detecting group differences.