Table 2 Statistical analyses of the data for male and female mice in the F1 and F2 generations derived from the paternal aspartame or plain drinking water (control) lineages.

From: Learning and memory deficits produced by aspartame are heritable via the paternal lineage

Behavioral parameter and statistical test

Variable

F(df) mixed model ANOVA

t(df) Post hoc test

χ2(df) Chi square

F1

F2

A

Spontaneous alternations in Y-maze (ANOVA)

Lineage

27.72(2, 33)****

0.1(1,22)

Sex

0.06(1,33)

2.91(1,22)

Lineage × sex

0.52(2, 33)

0.98(2,22)

B

Total number of arm entries in Y-maze (two-way ANOVA)

Lineage

1.21(2,33)

0.25(1,22)

Sex

0.18(2,33)

0.14(1,22)

Lineage × sex

0.29(2,33)

0.06(2,22)

C

Barnes maze, acquisition of learning: primary errors (ANOVA)

Session

287.35(2,171)****

433.31(9,114)****

Lineage

103.99(2,171)****

0.35(1,114)

Sex

0.12 (1,171)

0.14(1,114)

Session × lineage

4.38(18,171)****

0.46(9,114)

Session × sex

1.04(9,141)

0.71(9,114)

Lineage × sex

0.89(1,171)*

0.65(1,114)

Session × lineage × sex

0.86(18,171)

0.95(9,114)

D

Barnes maze, acquisition of learning: primary latency (ANOVA)

Session

303.5(9,171)****

354.07(9,114)****

Lineage

142.65(2,171)****

0.01(1,114)

Sex

0.01(2,171)

4.61(1,114)*

Session × lineage

3.78(18,171)****

0.70(9,114)

Session × sex

0.12(9,171)

1.20(9,114)

Lineage × sex

1.28(2,171)

0.16(1,114)

Session × lineage × sex

1.03(18.171)

0.23(9,114)

E

Transition to spatial search strategy during acquisition of learning (Chi-square)

Male

52.74(14)****

36.36(7)****

Female

61.75(14)****

10.17(7)

F

Barnes maze, probe trial: time in target quadrant (ANOVA)

Lineage

0.23(2,9)

1.48(1,6)

Sex

0.13(1,9)

0.01(1,6)

Lineage × sex

0.13(2,9)

0.14(1,6)

G

Barnes maze, reversal effect: primary errors (ANOVA)

Lineage

1.86(2,9)

0.2(1,6)

Sex

1.48(1,9)

0.0(1,6)

Lineage × sex

0.29(2,9)

2.35(1,6)

H

Barnes maze, reversal effect: primary latency (ANOVA)

Lineage

1.86(1,9)

2.89(1,6)

Sex

1.46(1,9)

0.02(1,6)

Lineage × sex

0.29(1,9)

1.50(1,6)

I

Barnes maze, reversal learning—4 sessions: primary errors (ANOVA)

Session

266.95(3,63)****

131.49(2,30)****

Lineage

1.86(2,63)

0.05(1,30)

Sex

0.19(1,63)

1.30(1,30)

Session × lineage

1.51(6,63)

0.24(2,30)

Session × sex

0.2(3,63)

0.70(1,30)

Lineage × sex

1.01(2,63)

1.30(1,30)

Session × lineage × sex

0.88(6,63)

0.70(2,30)

J

Barnes maze, reversal learning—4 sessions: primary latency (ANOVA)

Session

479.01(3,63)****

605.42(2,30)****

Lineage

0.23(2,63)

0.20(1,30)

Sex

4.38(1,63)*

0.71(1,30)

Session × lineage

0.23(6,63)

1.60(2,30)

Session × sex

0.48(3,63)

7.22(1,30)***

Lineage × sex

0.61(2,63)

0.40(1,30)

Session × lineage × sex

0.87(6,63)

2.02(2,30)

K

Transition to spatial search strategy during reversal learning (Chi-square)

Male

3.94(4)

2.52(2)

Female

8.01(4)

3.94(2)

L

Total time immobile in tail suspension test (ANOVA)

Lineage

0.27(2,33)

N/A

Sex

0.03(1,33)

Lineage × sex

0.28(2,33)

  1. The F1 mice were derived from two paternal aspartame lineages (0.015% and 0.03%) whereas the F2 mice were from a single aspartame lineage (0.03%). A mixed model ANOVA with litter as random factor was used. Spatial working memory was analyzed using spontaneous alternations (A) and total number of arm entries (B) in the Y-maze. Spatial learning and memory [acquisition of learning (C,D), probe trial (E) and reversal learning (F–K)] were analyzed using the Barnes maze. Learned helplessness was analyzed using the tail suspension test (L) in the F1 generation only. Statistical significance is indicated as follows: **p < 0.01 and ****p < 0.0001.
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