Effects of repetitive gentle handling of male C57BL/6NCrl mice on comparative behavioural test results

Mice are the most commonly used laboratory animals for studying diseases, behaviour, and pharmacology. Behavioural experiment battery aids in evaluating abnormal behaviour in mice. During behavioural experiments, mice frequently experience human contact. However, the effects of repeated handling on mice behaviour remains unclear. To minimise mice stress, methods of moving mice using transparent tunnels or cups have been recommended but are impractical in behavioural tests. To investigate these effects, we used a behavioural test battery to assess differences between mice accustomed to the experimenter’s handling versus control mice. Repeatedly handled mice gained slightly more weight than control mice. In behavioural tests, repeatedly handled mice showed improved spatial cognition in the Y-maze test and reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus-maze test. However, there was no change in anxiety-like behaviour in the light/dark transition test or open-field test. Grip strength, rotarod, sociability, tail suspension, Porsolt forced swim, and passive avoidance tests revealed no significant differences between repeatedly handled and control mice. Our findings demonstrated that mice repeatedly handled by the experimenter before behavioural tests showed reduced anxiety about high altitudes and improved spatial cognition, suggesting that repeated contact can affect the results of some behavioural tests.

tests that have been performed since a long time and are widely used worldwide [13][14][15][16] . In particular, conducting a behavioural test battery is extremely important for detecting abnormal behaviour in mice [17][18][19] . In many behavioural tests, the experimenter frequently needs to come into contact with the mouse. Thus, differences in handling techniques can greatly affect the results of behavioural tests. However, it is often unclear how a laboratory or researcher handles the mice [20][21][22][23] . Consequently, the results of behavioural tests often differ among researchers. In behavioural tests, it is important to understand the types of these tests susceptible to background stress and how to minimize its influence.
In many experiments, including behavioural tests, the most common method used to capture and carry mice is to pick their tail at its base between the thumb and index finger. This is specified in standardized protocols for the handling of experimental mice [24][25][26] . However, lifting the mouse by its tail is aversive to the mouse, causing stress and anxiety. Studies on behavioural phenotypes in mice have identified stress handling as one of the most likely causes of failure to replicate phenotypes within and between experiments 27 .
In recent years, "tunnelling" and "cupping" have been recommended to eliminate the drawbacks of tail handling 28,29 . These studies used tools (cups and transparent tunnels) to move the mouse to a specific location, and their authors describe that these methods reduce the effect on the anxiety levels in mice. Using tunnels or cups has been recommended by additional studies as a method to reduce anxiety-like behaviour in mice if their handling is unavoidable [30][31][32] . In fact, handling tunnels and cups minimize human contact with animals, but it is impractical to perform all experimental work solely with tunnels and cups. It is extremely difficult to place mice in or remove them from various behavioural experimental devices and inject drugs into or collect blood from these mice without grabbing their tails.
Therefore, in this study, mice were adapted to the hands of an experimenter before the behavioural test. Once a day for three weeks, we grabbed mice by their tails, lifted them, and let them rest in the hands of an experimenter for 30 s. It was speculated that mice would learn that these procedures are not harmful to them even if the experimenter grabbed their tails, thus reducing anxiety. In a following series of behavioural experiments, mice were moved by grabbing their tails. We clarified how mice that were familiar with the experimenter's hand were affected in a series of behavioural test batteries. Reducing handling-induced anxiety in mice as a source of variation in behavioural tests may contribute to a reduction in the number of animals required for experiments. In addition to providing more robust scientific results, it is speculated that the use of appropriate handling techniques will enhance the well-being of mice used worldwide.

Results
Increased familiarity with the experimenter's hand. In the habituation test, there were no significant differences in the total distance travelled between non-handled and handled mice (Fig. 1e, F 1 The number of entries into the habituation area and time spent in this area were significantly increased in handled mice compared to those in non-handled mice (Fig. 1f, F 1 General characterization of handled mice. As shown in Fig. 2a, handled mice showed an increased body weight (F 1,18 = 4.663, p = 0.044). There were no significant differences between non-handled and handled mice in terms of grip strength (Fig. 2b, F 1,18 = 2.170, p = 0.157) and latency to fall in the rotarod test (Fig. 2c, F 4,72 = 0.309, p = 0.642).
Decreased anxiety-like behaviour of handled mice in the elevated plus-maze test. In the elevated plus-maze test, there were no significant differences between non-handled and handled mice in the total distance travelled (

Effects of handling in the open-field test.
In the open-field test, no significant differences between non-handled and handled mice were detected regarding distances travelled (Fig. 3i, F 14,90 = 2.295, p = 0.052) and centre time (Fig. 3j, F 14 Increased alternation percentage of handled mice in the Y-maze test. In the Y-maze test, there were no significant differences between non-handled and handled mice in the total distance travelled (Fig. 4a, F 1,18 = 0.128, p = 0.724) and number of arm entries (Fig. 4b, F 1,18 = 0.021, p = 0.885). In contrast, the percentage of alternations in the total number of entries was significantly increased in handled mice (Fig. 4c, F 1,18 = 6.726, p = 0.018) compared to non-handled mice.
Social behaviour in handled mice. In the sociability test, there was no significant difference between non-handled and handled mice in the total distance travelled (Fig. 5c, F 1,18 = 0.543, p = 0.473). Both non-handled and handled mice spent more time near the stranger-side cage than the empty-side cage ( Fig. 5d; non-handled: Normal learning and memory of handled mice in the passive avoidance test. In the step-through passive avoidance test, there was no significant difference between non-handled and handled mice in the latency to enter the dark compartment throughout the conditioning session (Fig. 7a, F 1  . All data are presented as box plots. *, significant difference compared to control data (p < 0.05); p-values were calculated using the one-way ANOVA.

Discussion
In this study, we demonstrated that mice exposed repeatedly to tool-free handling exhibited reduced anxiety about high altitudes in the elevated plus-maze test. Interestingly, repeatedly treated mice showed no significant differences in anxiety-like behaviour in the open-field test and the light/dark transition test compared to the non-handled control group. In addition, repeatedly treated mice were clearly accustomed to the hands of the experimenter but did not show significant differences in many other behavioural tests.
In the habituation test, repeatedly handled mice frequently stayed on water-filled gloves for long periods of time, whereas non-handled control mice hardly ever rested on gloves in this test, indicating that mice that were repeatedly handled were clearly accustomed to the experimenter's hand and had no fear of the hand. In mice, the degree of aversion to tail-grabbing is unknown, but our study results indicate that there is no additional influence of the glove on the tail-grabbing procedure. This new test method may help non-handled mice become familiar with the experimenter's hand. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of this method on behavioural changes.
Mice handled repeatedly showed a slight increase in body weight compared to control mice. The exact mechanism causing the weight increase is unknown. It has been reported that mice may have increased appetite due to chronic stress 33 . It is possible that mice that had been lifted by their tails once a day experienced chronic stress, leading to increased appetite in these mice. In recent years, it has been shown that the results of rodent pain responses differ depending on the sex of the experimenter 34 . In particular, exposure to male experimenters has been reported to cause rodent stress 34 . Our results suggest that although the handled mice were accustomed to the experimenter's hands, they were not accustomed to being gripped by the experimenter or treated daily.
The elevated plus-maze test is a widely accepted method for examining the efficacy of anxiolytics [35][36][37] . Anxiety-like behaviour has also been measured in the elevated plus-maze test using model mice for neuropsychiatric disorders 38,39 . In the present study, repeatedly handled mice had significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus-maze test. However, repeatedly treated mice showed no decrease in anxiety-like behaviour in the open-field test and the light/dark transition test. Although there was no significant difference, mice handled repeatedly tended to move less than control mice. Furthermore, the distance travelled for both groups did not decrease over the 30-min test period, suggesting that they were not accustomed to the test environment. The open-field test examines anxiety-like behaviour in a larger space 40,41 , whereas the light-dark transition test is a behavioural experiment that measures anxiety in an illuminated space 42,43 . There are several types of anxiety-like behaviour, such as fear of elevated spaces, of illuminated spaces, or of vast, open spaces. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a series of behavioural tests. The results of this study suggest that mice handled repeatedly have reduced height-induced anxiety. Mice adapt to the handling by the experimenter 1 . Thus, repeatedly handled mice likely became accustomed to heights because they were in the hands of the experimenter 50 cm above the cage once a day. These results support the hypothesis that handling of mice prior to behavioural testing may alter their emotional state.
Anxiety can affect the performance of a mouse in certain types of experiments. Increased anxiety diminishes the attention and makes it difficult for mice to respond properly to the stimuli of interest. Tasks that require learning, memory, and problem solving (such as the frequently used T-maze) are even more difficult. In the present study, repeatedly handled mice showed improved spatial cognitive functions in the Y-maze test. This suggests www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ that these mice may have reduced anxiety levels. To evaluate the extent of improvement in the spatial cognitive function, it is necessary to perform additional behavioural experiments such as the T-maze test. Conversely, the alteration ratio in the Y-maze test varies between 30% and 70% depending on the laboratory 20-23 . Thus the 30% alteration ratio in control mice observed in this study might have been low. www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Anxiety and depression are thought to be relatively strongly correlated comorbidities in both humans and animals [44][45][46] . If anxiety levels are substantially reduced in repeatedly handled mice, we would expect depression-like behaviour to be similarly reduced. However, the outcomes of this study did not indicate a decrease in depression-like behaviour. It is unknown whether repeated handling does affect anxiety or whether a series of behavioural tests increase anxiety. The results may have differed if the tail suspension test and forced swimming test had been performed on the first day of behavioural tests. Porsolt forced swim test assumes that a second exposure trials measures "behavioural despair" and/or "learned helplessness" 47 . In this study, it was possible that there was a significant difference between the groups in the second exposure trials.
Social hierarchy is formed amongst male mice bred in the same cage 48 . Dominant mice exhibit higher locomotor and exploratory activities 49 . However, the effects of mice hierarchy on their health are largely unknown. The behavioural changes seen in the present study might also have been influenced by social hierarchy.
Recently, "tunnelling" and "cupping" have been recommended to eliminate the drawbacks of grabbing mice by their tails 28,29 . The use of tunnels and cups reduces anxiety in mice compared to standard tail handling 28,29 . However, the reduction of anxiety-like behaviour using the cup-based method has only been assessed using the elevated plus-maze test 28 . Open-field or light/dark transition tests that examine other anxiety-like behaviours have not been performed in these studies. Moreover, the authors recommend that the tunnels used should be transparent 28,29 . However, if the transparency is high, the mouse inside the tunnel can observe the environment and may lose its fear of high places. Considering these facts, it is highly probable that the recently recommended methods using cups and tunnels are making mice accustomed to high altitudes, and it is questionable whether they actually reduce various anxiety-like behaviours in mice. Furthermore, it has also been reported that mice undergoing tunnelling do not exhibit altered anxiety-like behaviour 32 . In this study, the mice used for comparison were held by their tails for 30 s every day by the experimenter to induce elevation-related anxiety. This corresponds to performing a repeated tail suspension test that induces high stress levels 50 . However, not many behavioural tests contain the task of holding a mouse by its tail for 30 s, and it is thus an unrealistic experimental paradigm. Present study also suggests the need to reconsider the efficacy of transport methods using cups and tunnels.
Handling-induced behavioural changes have been demonstrated in rats for many years. These effects have been well studied because rats have been favoured in experimental studies evaluating learning and memory. In recent years, attention has been focused on mouse behaviour due to increased interest in transgenic mice 51,52 . Mice have been shown to be sensitive to the type of handling and presence of researchers 29,53,54 . In the laboratory, handling of mice cannot be avoided. Reducing mouse anxiety due to handling as a source of variability in experimental studies contributes to a reduction in the number of animals required for experiments. In addition to providing more robust scientific results, it is speculated that proper selection of handling methods will enhance the well-being of mice used in laboratories worldwide.
This research demonstrated that there is no significant difference in the results of the open-field test, light/ dark transition test, rotarod test, tail suspension test, Porsolt forced swim test, and passive avoidance test between repeatedly handled and non-handled mice. This also indicates that there is no need to adapt mice to the experimenter's hand prior to conducting these behavioural tests. www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/

Conclusion
Repeatedly exposing the mice to the experimenter's hand before conducting behavioural tests allows them to get accustomed to it and to reduce anxiety about high altitudes. However, this treatment does not affect other forms of anxiety such as fear of open or illuminated spaces. Furthermore, getting accustomed to the experimenters' hands does not affect the results in most behavioural experiments. Frequent mice handling prior to conducting the behavioural test battery may influence anxiety-like behaviour tests at high altitudes. Our study also indicates that frequent mice handling in order to accustom the mice to the experimenter's hands is not essential prior to conducting the behavioural test battery.  Center. All efforts were made to minimise the number of animals used and to prevent avoidable discomfort. Male C57BL/6 N mice (age: 10 weeks) were purchased from Charles River Laboratories Japan (Kanagawa, Japan). Five mice were housed in a plastic cage (20 × 30 × 20 cm) with a stainless-steel lid, with food and water provided ad libitum under a 12-h light/dark cycle at 23 °C−26 °C, at a humidity of 20-50% with no enrichment structures in the cage. To habituate the mice to behavioural testing room conditions, we placed mouse cages in the laboratory for 1 h daily for 4 days.
Experimental design. The series of experiments were performed by a single male experimenter. Mice were randomly divided into two groups; one group was exposed to repeated handling (n = 10), and the other was not (n = 10). Over the course of 21 days, the mice were handled every day in the evening hours during the light cycle (13:00-17:00). Behavioural experiments began on the 22 nd day (Fig. 8a). All cages were moved to the behavioural testing room, whereas one group was exposed to handling. Handled mice were removed from their home cages with their tails grabbed (Fig. 8b) and placed on the palm of the experimenter for 30 s (Fig. 8c). The researcher's www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ hand was positioned 50 cm above the home cage. Mice were allowed to explore freely during the 30-s handling exposure period. After 30 s, the hand was placed in the home cage, and the mouse was able to jump from the hand into the cage. In contrast, mice in the control group was not handled by the researchers and were only touched by the researchers during cage changes. Handled and non-handled mice were contacted by the same researchers.
Behavioural tests. All behavioural tests were conducted in behavioural testing rooms between 13:00 and 17:00 during the light phase of the light/dark cycle. Behavioural tests were performed in mice between the ages of 13 and 14 weeks. Each behavioural test was performed within at least 1 day of each other. Mice were tested in a random order. After the tests, the equipment was cleaned with 70% ethanol and super hypochlorous water to eliminate olfactory cues. The behavioural testing rooms were illuminated at 100-lux intensity.

Habituation test.
To determine whether the mice got accustomed to the researcher's hands, we examined their willingness to explore gloves presented as an unfamiliar cue. A sealed glove was filled with water ( Fig. 1a) and placed on the edge of a new home cage (20 × 30 × 20 cm) (Fig. 1b). The top of the water-filled glove was defined as the "habituation area" (Fig. 1c,d). Each mouse was placed outside this habituation area and was allowed to move freely for 6 min. The movements of these mice were recorded on video, and the number of habitation area entries, distance travelled (m), and time spent in the habituation area (s) were analysed using a video tracking software (ANY-MAZE, Stoelting Co., Wood Dale, IL, USA). Neuromuscular strength evaluation. Neuromuscular strength was examined only one time using the grip strength test according to previous studies 18,55,56 . A grip strength meter was used to assess forelimb strength. Mice were lifted and held by the tail such that their forepaws could grasp a wire grid; they were then pulled back gently until they released the grid. The peak force applied by the forelimbs was recorded in Newton (cN).
Elevated plus-maze test. Anxiety-like behaviour was examined using the elevated plus-maze according to previous studies 18,36,56 . The apparatus consisted of two opposing open and two opposing closed arms (each 8 × 25 cm), with 30-cm high transparent plastic walls. The arms were constructed from white acrylic plates, and the maze was elevated to a height of 40 cm above the floor. The centre of the apparatus was illuminated at 100 lux. Each mouse was placed in the central square of the maze, facing one of the closed arms, and was allowed to explore freely the four arms for 6 min. www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Open-field test. Exploratory behaviour, anxiety-like behaviour, and general locomotor activity were examined using the open-field test according to previous studies 18,56,57 . Each mouse was placed in the centre of the apparatus consisting of a square area surrounded by white acrylic walls (45 × 45 × 40 cm). The total distance travelled (m) and time spent in the central area (s) were recorded. The central area was defined as the middle 20 × 20 cm area of the field. The test chamber was illuminated at 100 lx. Data were collected over a 30-min period. Data analysis was performed using the ANY-MAZE software. www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Y-maze test. Spatial working memory was assessed using a white acrylic Y-maze apparatus (arm length: 40 cm, arm bottom width: 3 cm, arm upper width: 10 cm, wall height: 12 cm). Mice were placed at the centre of the Y-maze for 6 min. Visual cues (circles, triangles and later an X) were placed around the maze in the testing room and were constant throughout the testing sessions. Mice were tested with no previous exposure or habituation to the maze. A spontaneous alternation was defined as an entry into three different arms on consecutive choices. The percentage of alternation was calculated as the ratio of actual to maximum number of alternations. The total distance travelled (m), number of entries, and number of alternations were recorded and analysed using the ANY-MAZE software.
Social interaction test. Social interaction test was examined according to previous studies 18,56,58 . The apparatus consisted of a white acrylic rectangular parallelopiped (30 × 60 × 40 cm; Fig. 5a). Each mouse was placed in the box for 6 min and allowed to freely explore for habituation. In the sociability test, an unfamiliar C57BL/6 N male mouse (stranger mouse) that had no previous contact with the subject mouse was placed into one of the transparent plexiglass cages (7.5 × 7.5 × 10.0 cm, which had several holes with a diameter of 1 cm) located at the corners of each lateral compartment (Fig. 5b). The stranger mouse was enclosed in the transparent cage, which allowed nose contact between the bars but prevented fighting. The subject mouse was placed again in the centre of the box and allowed to explore the entire box for a 6-min session. One side of the rectangular area was defined as the stranger area and the other side as the empty area. The total distance travelled (m) and amount of time spent near each cage (around cage; within 20 cm from the corner) during the 6-min sessions were measured. Data were recorded on video and analysed using the ANY-MAZE software.

Rotarod test.
Motor coordination and balance were tested using the rotarod test according to previous studies 59 . This test, which uses an accelerating rotarod (RTR-M5; Melquest, Toyama, Japan), was performed by placing a mouse on rotating drums (3.9-cm diameter) to measure the time that the animal was able to maintain its balance on this rod. The speed of the rotarod was accelerated from 4 to 40 rpm over a 5-min period. The intertrial interval for this test was 20 min. All mice were subjected to the test without any pre-test training.
Tail suspension test. Depression-like behaviour was examined using the tail suspension test according to previous studies 18,56,60 . Each mouse was suspended by the tail at 60 cm above the floor in a white plastic chamber using adhesive tape placed <1 cm from the tip of the tail. The resultant behaviour was recorded for 6 min. Images were captured via a video camera, and immobility time was measured. In this test, the 'immobile period' was defined as the period when the animals stopped struggling for ≥ 1 s. Data acquisition and analysis were performed using the ANY-MAZE software.
Porsolt forced swim test. The Porsolt forced swim test was also used to examine depression-like behaviour.
The apparatus consisted of four Plexiglas cylinders (20 cm [height] × 10 cm [diameter]). The cylinders were filled with water (23 °C) to a depth of 7.5 cm, based on previous studies 61, 62 . The mice were placed into the cylinders for 6 min and recorded. As in the tail-suspension test, immobility time was evaluated using the ANY-MAZE software.
Step-through passive avoidance test. A two-compartment step-through passive avoidance apparatus (MPB-M020; Melquest) was used according to previous studies 63 . The apparatus is divided by a wall with a guillotine door into a bright (9.0 × 18.0 × 14.5 cm) and a dark (18.0 × 18.0 × 14.5 cm) compartment. The bright compartment was illuminated by fluorescent light (200 lx). Mice were placed in the bright compartment and allowed to explore for 20 s, at which point the guillotine door was raised to allow the mice to enter the dark compartment. When the mice entered the dark compartment, the guillotine door was closed and an electrical foot shock (0.5 mA) was delivered for 3 s. Test sessions were performed 24 h after training sessions. The mice were placed in the bright compartment and allowed to explore for 20 s, and then the guillotine door was raised. The latency to enter the dark compartment was recorded for up to 180 s. Data analyses. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Data were analysed using the two-tailed t-test, one-way ANOVA, or two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Differences with a p-value <0.05 were regarded as statistically significant. Data are presented as box plots or means ± standard errors.

Data availability
All relevant data are presented within the manuscript.