Acclimation and testing periods
Ages 12-14 wks Feed Pico rodent chow 20; Purina, St Louis, MO, USA, was made available ad libitum Water Water was made available ad libitum HousingAnimals were housed in an SPF barrier colony. Animals were maintained on a 12-h light: 12-h dark cycle, housed in groups of 2â4 in standard high efficiency particulate air-filtered polycarbonate mouse cages. Bedding A layer of Bed-o-cob (The Andersons, Maumee, OH) bedding and one cotton nestletHumidity 35-65% Photoperiod All behavioral testing was conducted during the light part of the light/dark cycle and occurred between the hours of 8:00AM â 12:00PM. Temperature 22 +/- 1.0°C Health status All procedures were conducted in strict compliance with the policies on animal welfare of the National Institutes of Health and the University of North Carolina (stated in the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals," Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 1996 edition), and approved by the University of North Carolina Animal Care and Use Committee.