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Lam V, Takechi R, Albrecht MA, D'Alonzo ZJ, Graneri L, Hackett MJ, Coulson S, Fimognari N, Nesbit M, Mamo JCL. Longitudinal Performance of Senescence Accelerated Mouse Prone-Strain 8 (SAMP8) Mice in an Olfactory-Visual Water Maze Challenge. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:174. [PMID: 30210312 PMCID: PMC6121094 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Morris water maze (MWM) is widely used to assess cognitive deficits in pre-clinical rodent models. Latency time to reach escape platform is frequently reported, but may be confounded by deficits in visual acuity, or differences in locomotor activity. This study compared performance of Senescence Accelerated Mouse Prone-Strain 8 (SAMP8) and control Senescence Accelerated Mouse Resistant-Strain 1 (SAMR1) mice in classical MWM, relative to performance in a newly developed olfactory-visual maze testing protocol. Performance indicated as the escape time to rescue platform for classical MWM testing showed that SAMP8 mice as young as 6 weeks of age did poorly relative to age-matched SAMR1 mice. The olfactory-visual maze challenge described better discriminated SAMP8 vs. SAMR1 mice than classical MWM testing, based on latency time measures. Consideration of the distance traveled rather than latency time in the classical MWM found no treatment effects between SAMP8 and SAMR1 at 40 weeks of age and the olfactory-visual measures of performance confirmed the classical MWM findings. Longitudinal (repeat) assessment of SAMP8 and SAMR1 performance at 6, 20, 30, and 40 weeks of age in the olfactory-visual testing protocol showed no age-associated deficits in SAMP8 mice to the last age end-point indicated. Collectively, the results from this study suggest the olfactory-visual testing protocol may be advantageous compared to classical MWM as it avoids potential confounders of visual impairment in some strains of mice and indeed, may offer insight into cognitive and behavioral deficits that develop with advanced age in the widely used SAMP8 murine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Lam
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ryusuke Takechi
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Matthew A Albrecht
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Zachary John D'Alonzo
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Liam Graneri
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mark J Hackett
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephanie Coulson
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nicholas Fimognari
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Michael Nesbit
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - John C L Mamo
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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2
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Schellinck H. Measuring Olfactory Processes in Mus musculus. Behav Processes 2017; 155:19-25. [PMID: 28882652 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper briefly reviews the literature that describes olfactory acuity and odour discrimination learning. The results of current studies that examined the role of the neurotransmitters noradrenalin and acetylcholine in odour discrimination learning are discussed as are those that investigated pattern recognition and models of human disease. The methodology associated with such work is also described and its role in creating disparate results assessed. Recommendations for increasing the reliability and validity of experiments so as to further our understanding of olfactory processes in both healthy mice and those modelling human disease are made throughout the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Schellinck
- Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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3
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Neely BA, Soper JL, Gulland FMD, Bell PD, Kindy M, Arthur JM, Janech MG. Proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) with domoic acid toxicosis identifies proteins associated with neurodegeneration. Proteomics 2015; 15:4051-63. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A. Neely
- Department of Medicine; Division of Nephrology; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
| | | | | | - P. Darwin Bell
- Department of Medicine; Division of Nephrology; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
| | - Mark Kindy
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Research Service; Charleston SC USA
| | - John M. Arthur
- Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Nephrology; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Little Rock AR USA
| | - Michael G. Janech
- Department of Medicine; Division of Nephrology; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston SC USA
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4
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Slotnick B, Coppola DM. Odor-Cued Taste Avoidance: A Simple and Robust Test of Mouse Olfaction. Chem Senses 2015; 40:269-78. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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5
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Roddick KM, Schellinck HM, Brown RE. Olfactory delayed matching to sample performance in mice: Sex differences in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Behav Brain Res 2014; 270:165-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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6
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Sakamoto M, Kageyama R, Imayoshi I. The functional significance of newly born neurons integrated into olfactory bulb circuits. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:121. [PMID: 24904263 PMCID: PMC4033306 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The olfactory bulb (OB) is the first central processing center for olfactory information connecting with higher areas in the brain, and this neuronal circuitry mediates a variety of odor-evoked behavioral responses. In the adult mammalian brain, continuous neurogenesis occurs in two restricted regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the hippocampal dentate gyrus. New neurons born in the SVZ migrate through the rostral migratory stream and are integrated into the neuronal circuits of the OB throughout life. The significance of this continuous supply of new neurons in the OB has been implicated in plasticity and memory regulation. Two decades of huge investigation in adult neurogenesis revealed the biological importance of integration of new neurons into the olfactory circuits. In this review, we highlight the recent findings about the physiological functions of newly generated neurons in rodent OB circuits and then discuss the contribution of neurogenesis in the brain function. Finally, we introduce cutting edge technologies to monitor and manipulate the activity of new neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Sakamoto
- Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryoichiro Kageyama
- Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; World Premier International Research Initiative-Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology Kyoto, Japan
| | - Itaru Imayoshi
- Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; World Premier International Research Initiative-Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; The Hakubi Center, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan ; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology Kyoto, Japan
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7
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Functional implications of hippocampal adult neurogenesis in intellectual disabilities. Amino Acids 2013; 45:113-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1489-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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8
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Lazarov O, Demars MP. All in the Family: How the APPs Regulate Neurogenesis. Front Neurosci 2012; 6:81. [PMID: 22675290 PMCID: PMC3366480 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2012.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent intriguing evidence suggests that metabolites of amyloid precursor protein (APP), mutated in familial forms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), play critical roles in developmental and postnatal neurogenesis. Of note is soluble APPα (sAPPα) that regulates neural progenitor cell proliferation. The APP family encompasses a group of ubiquitously expressed and evolutionarily conserved, type I transmembrane glycoproteins, whose functions have yet to be fully elucidated. APP can undergo proteolytic cleavage by mutually exclusive pathways. The subtle structural differences between metabolites generated in the different pathways, as well as their equilibrium, may be crucial for neuronal function. The implications of this new body of evidence are significant. Miscleavage of APP would readily impact developmental and postnatal neurogenesis, which might contribute to cognitive deficits characterizing Alzheimer’s disease. This review will discuss the implications of the role of the APP family in neurogenesis for neuronal development, cognitive function, and brain disorders that compromise learning and memory, such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orly Lazarov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL, USA
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9
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Kageyama R, Imayoshi I, Sakamoto M. The role of neurogenesis in olfaction-dependent behaviors. Behav Brain Res 2012; 227:459-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2010] [Revised: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 04/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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10
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Eckler MJ, McKenna WL, Taghvaei S, McConnell SK, Chen B. Fezf1 and Fezf2 are required for olfactory development and sensory neuron identity. J Comp Neurol 2011; 519:1829-46. [PMID: 21452247 DOI: 10.1002/cne.22596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The murine olfactory system consists of main and accessory systems that perform distinct and overlapping functions. The main olfactory epithelium (MOE) is primarily involved in the detection of volatile odorants, while neurons in the vomeronasal organ (VNO), part of the accessory olfactory system, are important for pheromone detection. During development, the MOE and VNO both originate from the olfactory pit; however, the mechanisms regulating development of these anatomically distinct organs from a common olfactory primordium are unknown. Here we report that two closely related zinc-finger transcription factors, FEZF1 and FEZF2, regulate the identity of MOE sensory neurons and are essential for the survival of VNO neurons respectively. Fezf1 is predominantly expressed in the MOE while Fezf2 expression is restricted to the VNO. In Fezf1-deficient mice, olfactory neurons fail to mature and also express markers of functional VNO neurons. In Fezf2-deficient mice, VNO neurons degenerate prior to birth. These results identify Fezf1 and Fezf2 as important regulators of olfactory system development and sensory neuron identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Eckler
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
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11
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Continuous neurogenesis in the adult forebrain is required for innate olfactory responses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:8479-84. [PMID: 21536899 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1018782108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the functional significance of adult neurogenesis in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory has been well documented, the role of such neurogenesis in olfactory activity is rather obscure. To understand the significance of adult neurogenesis in olfactory functions, we genetically ablated newly born neurons by using tamoxifen-treated Nestin-CreER(T2);neuron-specific enolase-diphtheria toxin fragment A (NSE-DTA) mice. In these mice, tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase allows the NSE (Eno2) gene to drive DTA expression in differentiating neurons, leading to the efficient ablation of newly born neurons in the forebrain. These mutant mice were capable of discriminating odors as competently as control mice. Strikingly, although control and mutant mice frequently showed freezing behaviors to a fox scent, a predator odor, mutant mice approached this odor when they were conditioned to associate the odor with a reward, whereas control mice did not approach the odor. Furthermore, although mutant males and females showed normal social recognition behaviors to other mice of a different sex, mutant males displayed deficits in male-male aggression and male sexual behaviors toward females, whereas mutant females displayed deficits in fertility and nurturing, indicating that sex-specific activities, which are known to depend on olfaction, are impaired. These results suggest that continuous neurogenesis is required for predator avoidance and sex-specific responses that are olfaction dependent and innately programmed.
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12
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Lazarini F, Lledo PM. Is adult neurogenesis essential for olfaction? Trends Neurosci 2011; 34:20-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2010.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 09/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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13
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Olfactory bulb proteins linked to olfactory memory in C57BL/6J mice. Amino Acids 2010; 39:871-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2010] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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14
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Whitman MC, Greer CA. Adult neurogenesis and the olfactory system. Prog Neurobiol 2009; 89:162-75. [PMID: 19615423 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2009] [Revised: 06/01/2009] [Accepted: 07/08/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Though initially described in the early 1960s, it is only within the past decade that the concept of continuing adult neurogenesis has gained widespread acceptance. Neuroblasts from the subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) into the olfactory bulb, where they differentiate into interneurons. Neuroblasts from the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal formation show relatively little migratory behavior, and differentiate into dentate gyrus granule cells. In sharp contrast to embryonic and perinatal development, these newly differentiated neurons must integrate into a fully functional circuit, without disrupting ongoing performance. Here, after a brief historical overview and introduction to olfactory circuitry, we review recent advances in the biology of neural stem cells, mechanisms of migration in the RMS and olfactory bulb, differentiation and survival of new neurons, and finally mechanisms of synaptic integration. Our primary focus is on the olfactory system, but we also contrast the events occurring there with those in the hippocampal formation. Although both SVZ and SGZ neurogenesis are involved in some types of learning, their full functional significance remains unclear. Since both systems offer models of integration of new neuroblasts, there is immense interest in using neural stem cells to replace neurons lost in injury or disease. Though many questions remain unanswered, new insights appear daily about adult neurogenesis, regulatory mechanisms, and the fates of the progeny. We discuss here some of the central features of these advances, as well as speculate on future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Whitman
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, New Haven, CT 06520-8082, United States of America
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15
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Singer BH, Jutkiewicz EM, Fuller CL, Lichtenwalner RJ, Zhang H, Velander AJ, Li X, Gnegy ME, Burant CF, Parent JM. Conditional ablation and recovery of forebrain neurogenesis in the mouse. J Comp Neurol 2009; 514:567-82. [PMID: 19363795 DOI: 10.1002/cne.22052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Forebrain neurogenesis persists throughout life in the rodent subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Several strategies have been employed to eliminate adult neurogenesis and thereby determine whether depleting adult-born neurons disrupts specific brain functions, but some approaches do not specifically target neural progenitors. We have developed a transgenic mouse line to reversibly ablate adult neural stem cells and suppress neurogenesis. The nestin-tk mouse expresses herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (tk) under the control of the nestin 2nd intronic enhancer, which drives expression in neural progenitors. Administration of ganciclovir (GCV) kills actively dividing cells expressing this transgene. We found that peripheral GCV administration suppressed SVZ-olfactory bulb and DG neurogenesis within 2 weeks but caused systemic toxicity. Intracerebroventricular GCV infusion for 28 days nearly completely depleted proliferating cells and immature neurons in both the SVZ and DG without systemic toxicity. Reversibility of the effects after prolonged GCV infusion was slow and partial. Neurogenesis did not recover 2 weeks after cessation of GCV administration, but showed limited recovery 6 weeks after GCV that differed between the SVZ and DG. Suppression of neurogenesis did not inhibit antidepressant responsiveness of mice in the tail suspension test. These findings indicate that SVZ and DG neural stem cells differ in their capacity for repopulation, and that adult-born neurons are not required for antidepressant responses in a common behavioral test of antidepressant efficacy. The nestin-tk mouse should be useful for studying how reversible depletion of adult neurogenesis influences neurophysiology, other behaviors, and neural progenitor dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Singer
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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16
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Matzel LD, Babiarz J, Townsend DA, Grossman HC, Grumet M. Neuronal cell adhesion molecule deletion induces a cognitive and behavioral phenotype reflective of impulsivity. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2007; 7:470-80. [PMID: 18081712 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2007.00382.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecules, such as neuronal cell adhesion molecule (Nr-CAM), mediate cell-cell interactions in both the developing and mature nervous system. Neuronal cell adhesion molecule is believed to play a critical role in cell adhesion and migration, axonal growth, guidance, target recognition and synapse formation. Here, wild-type, heterozygous and Nr-CAM null mice were assessed on a battery of five learning tasks (Lashley maze, odor discrimination, passive avoidance, spatial water maze and fear conditioning) previously developed to characterize the general learning abilities of laboratory mice. Additionally, all animals were tested on 10 measures of sensory/motor function, emotionality and stress reactivity. We report that the Nr-CAM deletion had no impact on four of the learning tasks (fear conditioning, spatial water maze, Lashley maze and odor discrimination). However, Nr-CAM null mice exhibited impaired performance on a task that required animals to suppress movement (passive avoidance). Although Nr-CAM mutants expressed normal levels of general activity and body weights, they did exhibit an increased propensity to enter stressful areas of novel environments (the center of an open field and the lighted side of a dark/light box), exhibited higher sensitivity to pain (hot plate) and were more sensitive to the aversive effects of foot shock (shock-induced freezing). This behavioral phenotype suggests that Nr-CAM does not play a central role in the regulation of general cognitive abilities but may have a critical function in regulating impulsivity and possibly an animal's susceptibility to drug abuse and addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- L D Matzel
- Department of Psychology, Program in Behavioural Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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Brown RE, Wong AA. The influence of visual ability on learning and memory performance in 13 strains of mice. Learn Mem 2007; 14:134-44. [PMID: 17351136 PMCID: PMC1838554 DOI: 10.1101/lm.473907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We calculated visual ability in 13 strains of mice (129SI/Sv1mJ, A/J, AKR/J, BALB/cByJ, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, CAST/EiJ, DBA/2J, FVB/NJ, MOLF/EiJ, SJL/J, SM/J, and SPRET/EiJ) on visual detection, pattern discrimination, and visual acuity and tested these and other mice of the same strains in a behavioral test battery that evaluated visuo-spatial learning and memory, conditioned odor preference, and motor learning. Strain differences in visual acuity accounted for a significant proportion of the variance between strains in measures of learning and memory in the Morris water maze. Strain differences in motor learning performance were not influenced by visual ability. Conditioned odor preference was enhanced in mice with visual defects. These results indicate that visual ability must be accounted for when testing for strain differences in learning and memory in mice because differences in performance in many tasks may be due to visual deficits rather than differences in higher order cognitive functions. These results have significant implications for the search for the neural and genetic basis of learning and memory in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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18
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Bonfanti L. PSA-NCAM in mammalian structural plasticity and neurogenesis. Prog Neurobiol 2006; 80:129-64. [PMID: 17029752 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2006.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2006] [Revised: 08/04/2006] [Accepted: 08/21/2006] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Polysialic acid (PSA) is a linear homopolymer of alpha2-8-N acetylneuraminic acid whose major carrier in vertebrates is the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). PSA serves as a potent negative regulator of cell interactions via its unusual biophysical properties. PSA on NCAM is developmentally regulated thus playing a prominent role in different forms of neural plasticity spanning from embryonic to adult nervous system, including axonal growth, outgrowth and fasciculation, cell migration, synaptic plasticity, activity-induced plasticity, neuronal-glial plasticity, embryonic and adult neurogenesis. The cellular distribution, developmental changes and possible function(s) of PSA-NCAM in the central nervous system of mammals here are reviewed, along with recent findings and theories about the relationships between NCAM protein and PSA as well as the role of different polysialyltransferases. Particular attention is focused on postnatal/adult neurogenesis, an issue which has been deeply investigated in the last decade as an example of persisting structural plasticity with potential implications for brain repair strategies. Adult neurogenic sites, although harbouring all subsequent steps of cell differentiation, from stem cell division to cell replacement, do not faithfully recapitulate development. After birth, they undergo morphological and molecular modifications allowing structural plasticity to adapt to the non-permissive environment of the mature nervous tissue, that are paralled by changes in the expression of PSA-NCAM. The use of PSA-NCAM as a marker for exploring differences in structural plasticity and neurogenesis among mammalian species is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bonfanti
- Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
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