Effects of Sex Differences on Conditioned Fear Extinction in Wild-Type C57 Mice

WU Longxin 1, 2 , LIU Zhuoqun 1, 2 , SUN Xiaohong 1, 2 , ZHOU Yan 1, 2 , XU Qunyuan 1 , LEI Huimeng 1, 2 .

Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction ›› 2025, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (12) : 683-687.

PDF(3074 KB)
中国科技核心期刊
美国《化学文摘》CAS数据库收录
日本科学技术振兴机构数据库收录
湖北省优秀期刊
中国知网网络首发期刊
PDF(3074 KB)
Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction ›› 2025, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (12) : 683-687.

Effects of Sex Differences on Conditioned Fear Extinction in Wild-Type C57 Mice

  • WU Longxin 1,2 ,LIU Zhuoqun 1,2 , SUN Xiaohong 1,2 , ZHOU Yan 1,2 , XU Qunyuan 1 , LEI Huimeng 1,2 
Author information +
History +

Abstract

To investigate whether behavioral differences exist between female and male wild-type C57 mice in conditioned fear extinction experiments, providing a reference for the equal use of both sexes in fear conditioning and extinction-related studies. Methods: Fear levels, freezing episodes, freezing level per episode, and locomotor activity during conditioned stimulus presentation were measured through auditory-cued fear conditioning, extinction, and retrieval experiments. Behavioral differences between sexes were compared. Results: In fear conditioning and extinction experiments, no significant differences were observed between female and male mice across the four behavioral metrics. During the fear extinction retrieval test, female mice exhibited a higher freezing level per episode upon the first conditioned stimulus presentation, while no significant differences were found in other metrics. Conclusion: Wild-type C57 mice of both sexes show no behavioral differences in fear conditioning and extinction experiments, supporting their equal use in such studies. However, potential sex-based differences in the ability to maintain extinction memory suggest caution when investigating fear memory retention.

Key words

fear extinction / sex differences / conditioned fear / extinction retrieval / freezing / fear conditioning

Cite this article

Download Citations
WU Longxin 1, 2 , LIU Zhuoqun 1, 2 , SUN Xiaohong 1, 2 , ZHOU Yan 1, 2 , XU Qunyuan 1 , LEI Huimeng 1, 2 .. Effects of Sex Differences on Conditioned Fear Extinction in Wild-Type C57 Mice[J]. Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction. 2025, 20(12): 683-687
PDF(3074 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/