Assessment of Executive Function Using a Series of Operant Conditioning Based Tasks in T1DM Rodents
Abstract
This study examined the impact of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) on executive function using a series of operant conditioning based tasks in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to either non-diabetic (n = 12; 6 male) or diabetic (n = 14; 6 male) groups. Diabetes was induced using multiple low-dose streptozotocin injections. All diabetic rodents were insulin-treated using subcutaneous insulin pellet implants. At week 14 of the study, rats were placed on a food restricted diet to induce 5 - 10% weight loss. Rodents were familiarized and tested on a series of tasks that required continuous adjustments to novel stimulus-reward paradigms in order to receive food rewards. No differences were observed in the number of trials, nor number / type of errors made to successfully complete each task between groups. Therefore, we report no differences in executive function, or more specifically set-shifting abilities between non-diabetic and diabetic rodents.