1
|
Suzuki T, Joho D, Kakeyama M. Purposive decision-making task in mice using touchscreen operant apparatus. Neurosci Res 2024; 200:34-40. [PMID: 37758027 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Purposive decision-making, based on sensory input and memory, is a component of executive functioning. Evaluating executive functioning is crucial for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders and brain injuries. However, there's a lack of mouse tests for this purpose. To address this, we developed a novel touchscreen task to assess purposive decision-making in mice. In the present task, the mice had to touch the correct window (left or right), with a visual stimulus as a cue for decision-making. The mice gradually acquired a relationship between the visual stimuli and the action they should take. Each mouse made the correct choice more than 80% of the time based on the visual cue and memory and knowledge of themselves. We could clearly determine when the mice saw the visual cue. The present task offers a valuable tool for investigating the neural mechanisms behind decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takeru Suzuki
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Joho
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
| | - Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1192, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nigri M, Bramati G, Steiner AC, Wolfer DP. Appetitively motivated tasks in the IntelliCage reveal a higher motivational cost of spatial learning in male than female mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1270159. [PMID: 38487348 PMCID: PMC10938600 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1270159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The IntelliCage (IC) permits the assessment of the behavior and learning abilities of mice in a social home cage context. To overcome water deprivation as an aversive driver of learning, we developed protocols in which spatial learning is motivated appetitively by the preference of mice for sweetened over plain water. While plain water is available at all times, only correct task responses give access to sweetened water rewards. Under these conditions, C57BL/6J mice successfully mastered a corner preference task with the reversal and also learned a more difficult time-place task with reversal. However, the rate of responding to sweetened water decreased strongly with increasing task difficulty, indicating that learning challenges and reduced success in obtaining rewards decreased the motivation of the animals to seek sweetened water. While C57BL/6J mice of both sexes showed similar initial taste preferences and learned similarly well in simple learning tasks, the rate of responding to sweetened water and performance dropped more rapidly in male than in female mice in response to increasing learning challenges. Taken together, our data indicate that male mice can have a disadvantage relative to females in mastering difficult, appetitively motivated learning tasks, likely due to sex differences in value-based decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Nigri
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Bramati
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adrian C. Steiner
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P. Wolfer
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Miyazaki Y, Otsuka T, Yamagata Y, Endo T, Sanbo M, Sano H, Kobayashi K, Inahashi H, Kornau HC, Schmitz D, Prüss H, Meijer D, Hirabayashi M, Fukata Y, Fukata M. Oligodendrocyte-derived LGI3 and its receptor ADAM23 organize juxtaparanodal Kv1 channel clustering for short-term synaptic plasticity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113634. [PMID: 38194969 PMCID: PMC10828548 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, and autism, involve altered synaptic transmission and plasticity. Functional characterization of their associated genes is vital for understanding physio-pathological brain functions. LGI3 is a recently recognized ID-associated gene encoding a secretory protein related to an epilepsy-gene product, LGI1. Here, we find that LGI3 is uniquely secreted from oligodendrocytes in the brain and enriched at juxtaparanodes of myelinated axons, forming nanoscale subclusters. Proteomic analysis using epitope-tagged Lgi3 knockin mice shows that LGI3 uses ADAM23 as a receptor and selectively co-assembles with Kv1 channels. A lack of Lgi3 in mice disrupts juxtaparanodal clustering of ADAM23 and Kv1 channels and suppresses Kv1-channel-mediated short-term synaptic plasticity. Collectively, this study identifies an extracellular organizer of juxtaparanodal Kv1 channel clustering for finely tuned synaptic transmission. Given the defective secretion of the LGI3 missense variant, we propose a molecular pathway, the juxtaparanodal LGI3-ADAM23-Kv1 channel, for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Miyazaki
- Division of Neuropharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Takeshi Otsuka
- Section of Cellular Electrophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yoko Yamagata
- Section of Multilayer Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | | | - Makoto Sanbo
- Section of Mammalian Transgenesis, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Hiromi Sano
- Division of Behavioral Neuropharmacology, International Center for Brain Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Section of Viral Vector Development, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroki Inahashi
- Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Hans-Christian Kornau
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Cluster NeuroCure, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Neuroscience Research Center (NWFZ), Cluster NeuroCure, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Harald Prüss
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Helmholtz Innovation Lab BaoBab (Brain Antibody-omics and B-cell Lab), Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dies Meijer
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Masumi Hirabayashi
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan; Section of Mammalian Transgenesis, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Yuko Fukata
- Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan; Division of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Masaki Fukata
- Division of Neuropharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lipp HP, Krackow S, Turkes E, Benner S, Endo T, Russig H. IntelliCage: the development and perspectives of a mouse- and user-friendly automated behavioral test system. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1270538. [PMID: 38235003 PMCID: PMC10793385 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1270538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
IntelliCage for mice is a rodent home-cage equipped with four corner structures harboring symmetrical double panels for operant conditioning at each of the two sides, either by reward (access to water) or by aversion (non-painful stimuli: air-puffs, LED lights). Corner visits, nose-pokes and actual licks at bottle-nipples are recorded individually using subcutaneously implanted transponders for RFID identification of up to 16 adult mice housed in the same home-cage. This allows for recording individual in-cage activity of mice and applying reward/punishment operant conditioning schemes in corners using workflows designed on a versatile graphic user interface. IntelliCage development had four roots: (i) dissatisfaction with standard approaches for analyzing mouse behavior, including standardization and reproducibility issues, (ii) response to handling and housing animal welfare issues, (iii) the increasing number of mouse models had produced a high work burden on classic manual behavioral phenotyping of single mice. and (iv), studies of transponder-chipped mice in outdoor settings revealed clear genetic behavioral differences in mouse models corresponding to those observed by classic testing in the laboratory. The latter observations were important for the development of home-cage testing in social groups, because they contradicted the traditional belief that animals must be tested under social isolation to prevent disturbance by other group members. The use of IntelliCages reduced indeed the amount of classic testing remarkably, while its flexibility was proved in a wide range of applications worldwide including transcontinental parallel testing. Essentially, two lines of testing emerged: sophisticated analysis of spontaneous behavior in the IntelliCage for screening of new genetic models, and hypothesis testing in many fields of behavioral neuroscience. Upcoming developments of the IntelliCage aim at improved stimulus presentation in the learning corners and videotracking of social interactions within the IntelliCage. Its main advantages are (i) that mice live in social context and are not stressfully handled for experiments, (ii) that studies are not restricted in time and can run in absence of humans, (iii) that it increases reproducibility of behavioral phenotyping worldwide, and (iv) that the industrial standardization of the cage permits retrospective data analysis with new statistical tools even after many years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Lipp
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sven Krackow
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emir Turkes
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Seico Benner
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kahnau P, Mieske P, Wilzopolski J, Kalliokoski O, Mandillo S, Hölter SM, Voikar V, Amfim A, Badurek S, Bartelik A, Caruso A, Čater M, Ey E, Golini E, Jaap A, Hrncic D, Kiryk A, Lang B, Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic N, Meziane H, Radzevičienė A, Rivalan M, Scattoni ML, Torquet N, Trifkovic J, Ulfhake B, Thöne-Reineke C, Diederich K, Lewejohann L, Hohlbaum K. A systematic review of the development and application of home cage monitoring in laboratory mice and rats. BMC Biol 2023; 21:256. [PMID: 37953247 PMCID: PMC10642068 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01751-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditionally, in biomedical animal research, laboratory rodents are individually examined in test apparatuses outside of their home cages at selected time points. However, the outcome of such tests can be influenced by various factors and valuable information may be missed when the animals are only monitored for short periods. These issues can be overcome by longitudinally monitoring mice and rats in their home cages. To shed light on the development of home cage monitoring (HCM) and the current state-of-the-art, a systematic review was carried out on 521 publications retrieved through PubMed and Web of Science. RESULTS Both the absolute (~ × 26) and relative (~ × 7) number of HCM-related publications increased from 1974 to 2020. There was a clear bias towards males and individually housed animals, but during the past decade (2011-2020), an increasing number of studies used both sexes and group housing. In most studies, animals were kept for short (up to 4 weeks) time periods in the HCM systems; intermediate time periods (4-12 weeks) increased in frequency in the years between 2011 and 2020. Before the 2000s, HCM techniques were predominantly applied for less than 12 h, while 24-h measurements have been more frequent since the 2000s. The systematic review demonstrated that manual monitoring is decreasing in relation to automatic techniques but still relevant. Until (and including) the 1990s, most techniques were applied manually but have been progressively replaced by automation since the 2000s. Independent of the year of publication, the main behavioral parameters measured were locomotor activity, feeding, and social behaviors; the main physiological parameters were heart rate and electrocardiography. External appearance-related parameters were rarely examined in the home cages. Due to technological progress and application of artificial intelligence, more refined and detailed behavioral parameters have been investigated in the home cage more recently. CONCLUSIONS Over the period covered in this study, techniques for HCM of mice and rats have improved considerably. This development is ongoing and further progress as well as validation of HCM systems will extend the applications to allow for continuous, longitudinal, non-invasive monitoring of an increasing range of parameters in group-housed small rodents in their home cages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Mieske
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Wilzopolski
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Silvia Mandillo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabine M Hölter
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Vootele Voikar
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adriana Amfim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sylvia Badurek
- Preclinical Phenotyping Facility, Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities (VBCF), member of the Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Aleksandra Bartelik
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Angela Caruso
- Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Research Coordination and Support Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Maša Čater
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Elodie Ey
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, 67400, France
| | - Elisabetta Golini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Anne Jaap
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dragan Hrncic
- Institute of Medical Physiology "Richard Burian", Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anna Kiryk
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing of Higher Standard, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Benjamin Lang
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natasa Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hamid Meziane
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Clinique de La Souris (ICS), CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Aurelija Radzevičienė
- Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Marion Rivalan
- Research Institute for Experimental Medicine (FEM) and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Animal Behaviour Phenotyping Facility, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Research Coordination and Support Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Torquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, IGBMC, Institut Clinique de la Souris (ICS), CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, 67400, France
| | - Julijana Trifkovic
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of East Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Brun Ulfhake
- Div. Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Hohlbaum
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany.
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Joho D, Takahashi M, Suzuki T, Ikuta K, Matsumoto M, Kakeyama M. Probiotic treatment with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 + arginine improves cognitive flexibility in middle-aged mice. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad311. [PMID: 38025274 PMCID: PMC10667025 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility, the ability of adapting to an ever-changing environment, declines with aging and impaired in early stages of dementia. Although recent studies have indicated there is a relationship between the intestinal microbiota and cognitive function, few studies have shown relationships between intestinal microbiota and cognitive flexibility because of limited behavioural tasks in mice. We recently established a novel cognitive flexibility task for mice using a touchscreen operant apparatus and found that probiotic treatment with a mixture of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine improved cognitive flexibility in young adult mice. To confirm the effects of the probiotic treatment on cognitive flexibility and to determine whether it is effective even in older age, we here examined the effects of long-term treatment with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine on cognitive flexibility in middle-aged mice. From 8 to 15 months of age, mice received LKM + Arg or vehicle (controls) orally three times per week and were subjected to the cognitive flexibility task at 13-15 months old. In one of indices of cognitive flexibility, both Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine-treated mice and vehicle-treated mice showed progressively improved performance by repeating reversal tasks, with a small trend that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine-treated mice showed better learning performance through reversal phases. With respect to the other index of cognitive flexibility, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine-treated mice showed significantly fewer error choices than control mice at the reversal phase, i.e. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine improved the performance of behavioural sequencing acquired in the previous phase, which allowed Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine-treated mice to show an early onset of shift to reversal contingency. Taken together, long-term treatment with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512 and arginine was found to improve cognitive flexibility in middle-aged mice, indicating that probiotic treatment might contribute to prevention of age-related cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Joho
- Laboratory of Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
| | - Masahira Takahashi
- Laboratory of Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
| | - Takeru Suzuki
- Laboratory of Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
| | - Kayo Ikuta
- Dairy of Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co, Ltd., Tokyo 1900182, Japan
| | - Mitsuharu Matsumoto
- Dairy of Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co, Ltd., Tokyo 1900182, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
| | - Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory of Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa 3591192, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lang B, Kahnau P, Hohlbaum K, Mieske P, Andresen NP, Boon MN, Thöne-Reineke C, Lewejohann L, Diederich K. Challenges and advanced concepts for the assessment of learning and memory function in mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1230082. [PMID: 37809039 PMCID: PMC10551171 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1230082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the formation and retrieval of memories are still an active area of research and discussion. Manifold models have been proposed and refined over the years, with most assuming a dichotomy between memory processes involving non-conscious and conscious mechanisms. Despite our incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms, tests of memory and learning count among the most performed behavioral experiments. Here, we will discuss available protocols for testing learning and memory using the example of the most prevalent animal species in research, the laboratory mouse. A wide range of protocols has been developed in mice to test, e.g., object recognition, spatial learning, procedural memory, sequential problem solving, operant- and fear conditioning, and social recognition. Those assays are carried out with individual subjects in apparatuses such as arenas and mazes, which allow for a high degree of standardization across laboratories and straightforward data interpretation but are not without caveats and limitations. In animal research, there is growing concern about the translatability of study results and animal welfare, leading to novel approaches beyond established protocols. Here, we present some of the more recent developments and more advanced concepts in learning and memory testing, such as multi-step sequential lockboxes, assays involving groups of animals, as well as home cage-based assays supported by automated tracking solutions; and weight their potential and limitations against those of established paradigms. Shifting the focus of learning tests from the classical experimental chamber to settings which are more natural for rodents comes with a new set of challenges for behavioral researchers, but also offers the opportunity to understand memory formation and retrieval in a more conclusive way than has been attainable with conventional test protocols. We predict and embrace an increase in studies relying on methods involving a higher degree of automatization, more naturalistic- and home cage-based experimental setting as well as more integrated learning tasks in the future. We are confident these trends are suited to alleviate the burden on animal subjects and improve study designs in memory research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Lang
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Welfare, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pia Kahnau
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Hohlbaum
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Mieske
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Welfare, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Niek P. Andresen
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus N. Boon
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
- Modeling of Cognitive Processes, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Welfare, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Welfare, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bramati G, Stauffer P, Nigri M, Wolfer DP, Amrein I. Environmental enrichment improves hippocampus-dependent spatial learning in female C57BL/6 mice in novel IntelliCage sweet reward-based behavioral tests. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1256744. [PMID: 37791111 PMCID: PMC10543696 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1256744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The IntelliCage is an automated home-cage system that allows researchers to investigate the spontaneous behavior and learning abilities of group-housed mice. The IntelliCage enables us to increase the standardization and reproducibility of behavioral outcomes by the omission of experimenter-mouse interactions. Although the IntelliCage provides a less stressful environment for animals, standard IntelliCage protocols use controlled water access as the motivational driver for learning. To overcome possible water restrictions in slow learners, we developed a series of novel protocols based on appetitive learning, in which mice had permanent access to plain water but were additionally rewarded with sweetened water upon solving the task. C57BL/6NCrl female mice were used to assess the efficacy of these sweet reward-based protocols in a series of learning tasks. Compared to control mice tested with standard protocols, mice motivated with a sweet reward did equal to or better in operant performance and place learning tasks. Learning of temporal rules was slower than that in controls. When faced with a combined temporal x spatial working memory task, sweet-rewarded mice learned little and chose plain water. In a second set of experiments, the impact of environmental enrichment on appetitive learning was tested. Mice kept under enriched environment (EE) or standard housing (SH) conditions prior to the IntelliCage experiments performed similarly in the sweet-rewarded place learning task. EE mice performed better in the hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory task. The improved performance of EE mice in the hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory task might be explained by the observed larger volume of their mossy fibers. Our results confirm that environmental enrichment increases complex spatial learning abilities and leads to long-lasting morphological changes in the hippocampus. Furthermore, simple standard IntelliCage protocols could easily be adapted to sweet rewards, which improve animal welfare by removing the possibility of water restriction. However, complex behavioral tasks motivated by sweet reward-based learning need further adjustments to reach the same efficacy as standard protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bramati
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pia Stauffer
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Nigri
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P. Wolfer
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Irmgard Amrein
- Division Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, University Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Vogel A, Ueberbach T, Wilken-Schmitz A, Hahnefeld L, Franck L, Weyer MP, Jungenitz T, Schmid T, Buchmann G, Freudenberg F, Brandes RP, Gurke R, Schwarzacher SW, Geisslinger G, Mittmann T, Tegeder I. Repetitive and compulsive behavior after Early-Life-Pain associated with reduced long-chain sphingolipid species. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:155. [PMID: 37635256 PMCID: PMC10463951 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain in early life may impact on development and risk of chronic pain. We developed an optogenetic Cre/loxP mouse model of "early-life-pain" (ELP) using mice with transgenic expression of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) under control of the Advillin (Avil) promoter, which drives expression of transgenes predominantly in isolectin B4 positive non-peptidergic nociceptors in postnatal mice. Avil-ChR2 (Cre +) and ChR2-flfl control mice were exposed to blue light in a chamber once daily from P1-P5 together with their Cre-negative mother. RESULTS ELP caused cortical hyperexcitability at P8-9 as assessed via multi-electrode array recordings that coincided with reduced expression of synaptic genes (RNAseq) including Grin2b, neurexins, piccolo and voltage gated calcium and sodium channels. Young adult (8-16 wks) Avil-ChR2 mice presented with nociceptive hypersensitivity upon heat or mechanical stimulation, which did not resolve up until one year of age. The persistent hypersensitivy to nociceptive stimuli was reflected by increased calcium fluxes in primary sensory neurons of aged mice (1 year) upon capsaicin stimulation. Avil-ChR2 mice behaved like controls in maze tests of anxiety, social interaction, and spatial memory but IntelliCage behavioral studies revealed repetitive nosepokes and corner visits and compulsive lickings. Compulsiveness at the behavioral level was associated with a reduction of sphingomyelin species in brain and plasma lipidomic studies. Behavioral studies were done with female mice. CONCLUSION The results suggest that ELP may predispose to chronic "pain" and compulsive psychopathology in part mediated by alterations of sphingolipid metabolism, which have been previously described in the context of addiction and psychiatric diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Vogel
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Timo Ueberbach
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annett Wilken-Schmitz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lisa Hahnefeld
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Luisa Franck
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Marc-Philipp Weyer
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tassilo Jungenitz
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tobias Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Partner Site Frankfurt, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Giulia Buchmann
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Freudenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf P Brandes
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Robert Gurke
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stephan W Schwarzacher
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Mittmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kahnau P, Jaap A, Urmersbach B, Diederich K, Lewejohann L. Development of an IntelliCage-based cognitive bias test for mice. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 2:128. [PMID: 37799631 PMCID: PMC10548109 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.15294.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The cognitive bias test is used to measure the emotional state of animals with regard to future expectations. Thus, the test offers a unique possibility to assess animal welfare with regard to housing and testing conditions of laboratory animals. So far, however, performing such a test is time-consuming and requires the presence of an experimenter. Therefore, we developed an automated and home-cage based cognitive bias test based on the IntelliCage system. We present several developmental steps to improve the experimental design leading to a successful measurement of cognitive bias in group-housed female C57BL/6J mice. The automated and home-cage based test design allows to obtain individual data from group-housed mice, to test the mice in their familiar environment, and during their active phase. By connecting the test-cage to the home-cage via a gating system, the mice participated in the test on a self-chosen schedule, indicating high motivation to actively participate in the experiment. We propose that this should have a positive effect on the animals themselves as well as on the data. Unexpectedly, the mice showed an optimistic cognitive bias after enrichment was removed and additional restraining. An optimistic expectation of the future as a consequence of worsening environmental conditions, however, can also be interpreted as an active coping strategy in which a potential profit is sought to be maximized through a higher willingness to take risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Anne Jaap
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Birk Urmersbach
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
- Insitute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kahnau P, Jaap A, Urmersbach B, Diederich K, Lewejohann L. Development of an IntelliCage-based cognitive bias test for mice. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 2:128. [PMID: 37799631 PMCID: PMC10548109 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.15294.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The cognitive bias test is used to measure the emotional state of animals with regard to future expectations. Thus, the test offers a unique possibility to assess animal welfare with regard to housing and testing conditions of laboratory animals. So far, however, performing such a test is time-consuming and requires the presence of an experimenter. Therefore, we developed an automated and home-cage based cognitive bias test based on the IntelliCage system. We present several developmental steps to improve the experimental design leading to a successful measurement of cognitive bias in group-housed female C57BL/6J mice. The automated and home-cage based test design allows to obtain individual data from group-housed mice, to test the mice in their familiar environment, and during their active phase. By connecting the test-cage to the home-cage via a gating system, the mice participated in the test on a self-chosen schedule, indicating high motivation to actively participate in the experiment. We propose that this should have a positive effect on the animals themselves as well as on the data. Unexpectedly, the mice showed an optimistic cognitive bias after enrichment was removed and additional restraining. An optimistic expectation of the future as a consequence of worsening environmental conditions, however, can also be interpreted as an active coping strategy in which a potential profit is sought to be maximized through a higher willingness to take risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Anne Jaap
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Birk Urmersbach
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, 10589, Germany
- Insitute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ikuta K, Joho D, Kakeyama M, Matsumoto M. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and arginine mixture intake improves cognitive flexibility in mice. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1164809. [PMID: 37346910 PMCID: PMC10279864 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1164809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between intestinal microbiota and cognitive function has been investigated as one of the major topics within the intestinal microbiota-gut-brain axis. Although an increasing number of studies have demonstrated an improvement in learning and memory when using probiotics or prebiotics, to date, there are no studies that target the cognitive flexibility observed in the early stages of several neuropsychiatric diseases, including dementia. We have recently developed a novel behavioral task using the touchscreen operant system to assess cognitive flexibility. We found that the disruption of the intestinal microbiota in mice induced a decline in cognitive flexibility. In the present study, we investigated the effects of treatments consisting of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and arginine (Bifal + Arg), which promote the production of intestinal bacterial polyamine, on cognitive flexibility in the mouse model. Male C57BL6 mice orally treated with Bifal + Arg three times a week gradually decreased the 1st-choice incorrect diagonal rate with repeated reversals compared with the control group. Furthermore, in serial reversal phases, Bifal + Arg-treated mice shifted to the behavior of choosing a new correct spot more quickly after the reversal, and this was faster with repeated reversals. These results indicate that this treatment adapts to change and improves cognitive flexibility. This is the first report to show that intestinal environmental control, including probiotics and prebiotics, improves cognitive flexibility in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Ikuta
- Dairy Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Joho
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Comprehensive Research Organization, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuharu Matsumoto
- Dairy Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Comprehensive Research Organization, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ojanen S, Kuznetsova T, Kharybina Z, Voikar V, Lauri SE, Taira T. Interneuronal GluK1 kainate receptors control maturation of GABAergic transmission and network synchrony in the hippocampus. Mol Brain 2023; 16:43. [PMID: 37210550 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Kainate type glutamate receptors (KARs) are strongly expressed in GABAergic interneurons and have the capability of modulating their functions via ionotropic and G-protein coupled mechanisms. GABAergic interneurons are critical for generation of coordinated network activity in both neonatal and adult brain, yet the role of interneuronal KARs in network synchronization remains unclear. Here, we show that GABAergic neurotransmission and spontaneous network activity is perturbed in the hippocampus of neonatal mice lacking GluK1 KARs selectively in GABAergic neurons. Endogenous activity of interneuronal GluK1 KARs maintains the frequency and duration of spontaneous neonatal network bursts and restrains their propagation through the hippocampal network. In adult male mice, the absence of GluK1 in GABAergic neurons led to stronger hippocampal gamma oscillations and enhanced theta-gamma cross frequency coupling, coinciding with faster spatial relearning in the Barnes maze. In females, loss of interneuronal GluK1 resulted in shorter sharp wave ripple oscillations and slightly impaired abilities in flexible sequencing task. In addition, ablation of interneuronal GluK1 resulted in lower general activity and novel object avoidance, while causing only minor anxiety phenotype. These data indicate a critical role for GluK1 containing KARs in GABAergic interneurons in regulation of physiological network dynamics in the hippocampus at different stages of development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simo Ojanen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- HiLife Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana Kuznetsova
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zoia Kharybina
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- HiLife Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vootele Voikar
- HiLife Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sari E Lauri
- HiLife Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Tomi Taira
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jörimann M, Maliković J, Wolfer DP, Pryce CR, Endo T, Benner S, Amrein I. Bank Voles Show More Impulsivity in IntelliCage Learning Tasks than Wood Mice. Neuroscience 2023; 510:157-170. [PMID: 36403688 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Impulsivity is a personality trait of healthy individuals, but in extreme forms common in mental disorders. Previous behavioral testing of wild-caught bank voles and wood mice suggested impulsiveness in bank voles. Here, we compared behavioral performance of bank voles and wood mice in tests for response control in the IntelliCage. In the reaction time task, a test similar to the five-choice serial-reaction time task (5CSRTT), bank voles made more premature responses. Impulsivity in the reaction time task was associated with smaller medial habenular nucleus in bank voles. Additional tests revealed reduced behavioral flexibility in the self-paced flexibility task in bank voles, but equal spatial and reversal learning in the chaining/reversal task in both species. Expression of immediate early gene Arc after behavioral testing was low in medial prefrontal cortex, but high in hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus in bank voles. Wood mice showed the opposite pattern. Numbers of Arc-positive cells in the dorsal hippocampus were higher in bank voles than wood mice. Due to continuous behavioral testing (24/7), associations between behavioral performance and Arc were rare. Corticosterone measurements at the end of experiments suggested that IntelliCage testing did not elicit a stress response in these wild rodents. In summary, habenular size differences and altered activation of brain areas after testing might indicate differently balanced activations of cortico-limbic and cortico-hypothalamic circuits in bank voles compared to wood mice. Behavioral performance of bank voles suggest that these rodents could be a natural animal model for investigating impulsive and perseverative behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marielle Jörimann
- Institute of Anatomy, Division Functional Neuroanatomy, University Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jovana Maliković
- Institute of Anatomy, Division Functional Neuroanatomy, University Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David P Wolfer
- Institute of Anatomy, Division Functional Neuroanatomy, University Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital and University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Seico Benner
- Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu, Japan; Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Irmgard Amrein
- Institute of Anatomy, Division Functional Neuroanatomy, University Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kahnau P, Jaap A, Diederich K, Gygax L, Rudeck J, Lewejohann L. Determining the value of preferred goods based on consumer demand in a home-cage based test for mice. Behav Res Methods 2023; 55:751-766. [PMID: 35469084 PMCID: PMC10027648 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-022-01813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
From the preference of one good over another, the strength of the preference cannot automatically be inferred. While money is the common denominator to assess the value of goods in humans, it appears difficult at first glance to put a price tag on the decisions of laboratory animals. Here we used consumer demand tests to measure how much work female mice expend to obtain access to different liquids. The mice could each choose between two liquids, one of which was free. The amount of work required to access the other liquid, by contrast, increased daily. In this way, the value of the liquid can be determined from a mouse's microeconomic perspective. The unique feature is that our test was carried out in a home-cage based setup. The mice lived in a group but could individually access the test-cage, which was connected to the home-cage via a gate. Thereby the mice were able to perform their task undisturbed by group members and on a self-chosen schedule with minimal influence by the experimenter. Our results show that the maximum number of nosepokes depends on the liquids presented. Mice worked incredibly hard for access to water while a bitter-tasting solution was offered for free whereas they made less nosepokes for sweetened liquids while water was offered for free. The results demonstrate that it is possible to perform automated and home-cage based consumer demand tests in order to ask the mice not only what they like best but also how strong their preference is.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Anne Jaap
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorenz Gygax
- Animal Husbandry and Ethology, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Rudeck
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yesiltepe M, Yin T, Tambini MD, Breuillaud L, Zehntner SP, D’Adamio L. Late-long-term potentiation magnitude, but not Aβ levels and amyloid pathology, is associated with behavioral performance in a rat knock-in model of Alzheimer disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1040576. [PMID: 36438008 PMCID: PMC9691854 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1040576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cleavage of Amyloid precursor protein by β- and γ-secretases lead to Aβ formation. The widely accepted pathogenic model states that these mutations cause AD via an increase in Aβ formation and accumulation of Aβ in Amyloid plaques. APP mutations cause early onset familial forms of Alzheimer's disease (FAD) in humans. We generated App-Swedish (Apps ) knock-in rats, which carry a pathogenic APP mutation in the endogenous rat App gene. This mutation increases β-secretase processing of APP leading to both augmented Aβ production and facilitation of glutamate release in Apps/s rats, via a β-secretase and APP-dependent glutamate release mechanism. Here, we studied 11 to 14-month-old male and female Apps/s rats. To determine whether the Swedish App mutation leads to behavioral deficits, Apps/s knock-in rats were subjected to behavioral analysis using the IntelliCage platform, an automated behavioral testing system. This system allows behavioral assessment in socially housed animals reflecting a more natural, less stress-inducing environment and eliminates experimenter error and bias while increasing precision of measurements. Surprisingly, a spatial discrimination and flexibility task that can reveal deficits in higher order brain function showed that Apps/s females, but not Apps/s male rats, performed significantly worse than same sex controls. Moreover, female control rats performed significantly better than control and Apps/s male rats. The Swedish mutation causes a significant increase in Aβ production in 14-month-old animals of both sexes. Yet, male and female Apps/s rats showed no evidence of AD-related amyloid pathology. Finally, Apps/s rats did not show signs of significant neuroinflammation. Given that the APP Swedish mutation causes alterations in glutamate release, we analyzed Long-term potentiation (LTP), a long-lasting form of synaptic plasticity that is a cellular basis for learning and memory. Strikingly, LTP was significantly increased in Apps/s control females compared to both Apps/s sexes and control males. In conclusion, this study shows that behavioral performances are sex and App-genotype dependent. In addition, they are associated with LTP values and not Aβ or AD-related pathology. These data, and the failures of anti-Aβ therapies in humans, suggest that alternative pathways, such as those leading to LTP dysfunction, should be targeted for disease-modifying AD therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Metin Yesiltepe
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Marc D. Tambini
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lipp HP, Wolfer DP. Behavior is movement only but how to interpret it? Problems and pitfalls in translational neuroscience-a 40-year experience. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:958067. [PMID: 36330050 PMCID: PMC9623569 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.958067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational research in behavioral neuroscience seeks causes and remedies for human mental health problems in animals, following leads imposed by clinical research in psychiatry. This endeavor faces several problems because scientists must read and interpret animal movements to represent human perceptions, mood, and memory processes. Yet, it is still not known how mammalian brains bundle all these processes into a highly compressed motor output in the brain stem and spinal cord, but without that knowledge, translational research remains aimless. Based on some four decades of experience in the field, the article identifies sources of interpretation problems and illustrates typical translational pitfalls. (1) The sensory world of mice is different. Smell, hearing, and tactile whisker sensations dominate in rodents, while visual input is comparatively small. In humans, the relations are reversed. (2) Mouse and human brains are equated inappropriately: the association cortex makes up a large portion of the human neocortex, while it is relatively small in rodents. The predominant associative cortex in rodents is the hippocampus itself, orchestrating chiefly inputs from secondary sensorimotor areas and generating species-typical motor patterns that are not easily reconciled with putative human hippocampal functions. (3) Translational interpretation of studies of memory or emotionality often neglects the ecology of mice, an extremely small species surviving by freezing or flight reactions that do not need much cognitive processing. (4) Further misinterpretations arise from confounding neuronal properties with system properties, and from rigid mechanistic thinking unaware that many experimentally induced changes in the brain do partially reflect unpredictable compensatory plasticity. (5) Based on observing hippocampal lesion effects in mice indoors and outdoors, the article offers a simplistic general model of hippocampal functions in relation to hypothalamic input and output, placing hypothalamus and the supraspinal motor system at the top of a cerebral hierarchy. (6) Many translational problems could be avoided by inclusion of simple species-typical behaviors as end-points comparable to human cognitive or executive processing, and to rely more on artificial intelligence for recognizing patterns not classifiable by traditional psychological concepts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Lipp
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P. Wolfer
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ben-Simon Y, Kaefer K, Velicky P, Csicsvari J, Danzl JG, Jonas P. A direct excitatory projection from entorhinal layer 6b neurons to the hippocampus contributes to spatial coding and memory. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4826. [PMID: 35974109 PMCID: PMC9381769 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32559-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian hippocampal formation (HF) plays a key role in several higher brain functions, such as spatial coding, learning and memory. Its simple circuit architecture is often viewed as a trisynaptic loop, processing input originating from the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex (EC) and sending it back to its deeper layers. Here, we show that excitatory neurons in layer 6b of the mouse EC project to all sub-regions comprising the HF and receive input from the CA1, thalamus and claustrum. Furthermore, their output is characterized by unique slow-decaying excitatory postsynaptic currents capable of driving plateau-like potentials in their postsynaptic targets. Optogenetic inhibition of the EC-6b pathway affects spatial coding in CA1 pyramidal neurons, while cell ablation impairs not only acquisition of new spatial memories, but also degradation of previously acquired ones. Our results provide evidence of a functional role for cortical layer 6b neurons in the adult brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Ben-Simon
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria.
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pharmacology, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Karola Kaefer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Velicky
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Jozsef Csicsvari
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Johann G Danzl
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peter Jonas
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
Until recently laboratory tasks for studying behavior were highly artificial, simplified, and designed without consideration for the environmental or social context. Although such an approach offers good control over behavior, it does not allow for researching either voluntary responses or individual differences. Importantly for neuroscience studies, the activity of the neural circuits involved in producing unnatural, artificial behavior is variable and hard to predict. In addition, different ensembles may be activated depending on the strategy the animal adopts to deal with the spurious problem. Thus, artificial and simplified tasks based on responses, which do not occur spontaneously entail problems with modeling behavioral impairments and underlying brain deficits. To develop valid models of human disorders we need to test spontaneous behaviors consistently engaging well-defined, evolutionarily conserved neuronal circuits. Such research focuses on behavioral patterns relevant for surviving and thriving under varying environmental conditions, which also enable high reproducibility across different testing settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Puścian
- Nencki-EMBL Partnership for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders – BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur 3 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Nencki-EMBL Partnership for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders – BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur 3 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Tamada H, Ikuta K, Makino Y, Joho D, Suzuki T, Kakeyama M, Matsumoto M. Impact of Intestinal Microbiota on Cognitive Flexibility by a Novel Touch Screen Operant System Task in Mice. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:882339. [PMID: 35812208 PMCID: PMC9259885 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.882339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to rapidly adapt to a constantly changing environment. It is impaired by aging as well as in various neurological diseases, including dementia and mild cognitive impairment. In rodents, although many behavioral test protocols have been reported to assess learning and memory dysfunction, few protocols address cognitive flexibility. In this study, we developed a novel cognitive flexibility test protocol using touch screen operant system. This test comprises a behavioral sequencing task, in which mice are required to discriminate between the “rewarded” and “never-rewarded” spots and shuttle between the two distantly positioned rewarded spots, and serial reversals, in which the diagonal spatial patterns of rewarded and never-rewarded spots were reversely changed repetitively. Using this test protocol, we demonstrated that dysbiosis treated using streptomycin induces a decline in cognitive flexibility, including perseveration and persistence. The relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroides were lower and higher, respectively, in the streptomycin-treated mice with less cognitive flexibility than in the control mice. This is the first report to directly show that intestinal microbiota affects cognitive flexibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hazuki Tamada
- Dairy Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kayo Ikuta
- Dairy Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Makino
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Joho
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Takeru Suzuki
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory for Environmental Brain Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Masaki Kakeyama,
| | - Mitsuharu Matsumoto
- Dairy Science and Technology Institute, Kyodo Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Mitsuharu Matsumoto,
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pham H, Yin T, D’Adamio L. Initial assessment of the spatial learning, reversal, and sequencing task capabilities of knock-in rats with humanizing mutations in the Aβ-coding region of App. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263546. [PMID: 35507596 PMCID: PMC9067689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Model organisms mimicking the pathogenesis of human diseases are useful for identifying pathogenic mechanisms and testing therapeutic efficacy of compounds targeting them. Models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) aim to reproduce the brain pathology associated with these neurodegenerative disorders. Transgenic models, which involve random insertion of disease-causing genes under the control of artificial promoters, are efficient means of doing so. There are confounding factors associated with transgenic approaches, however, including target gene overexpression, dysregulation of endogenous gene expression at transgenes' integration sites, and limitations in mimicking loss-of-function mechanisms. Furthermore, the choice of species is important, and there are anatomical, physiological, and cognitive reasons for favoring the rat over the mouse, which has been the standard for models of neurodegeneration and dementia. We report an initial assessment of the spatial learning, reversal, and sequencing task capabilities of knock-in (KI) Long-Evans rats with humanizing mutations in the Aβ-coding region of App, which encodes amyloid precursor protein (Apph/h rats), using the IntelliCage, an automated operant social home cage system, at 6-8 weeks of age, then again at 4-5 months of age. These rats were previously generated as control organisms for studies on neurodegeneration involving other knock-in rat models from our lab. Apph/h rats of either sex can acquire place learning and reversal tasks. They can also acquire a diagonal sequencing task by 6-8 weeks of age, but not a more advanced serial reversal task involving alternating diagonals, even by 4-5 months of age. Thus, longitudinal behavioral analysis with the IntelliCage system can be useful to determine, in follow-up studies, whether KI rat models of Familial AD (FAD), sporadic late onset AD (LOAD), and of ADRD develop aging-dependent learning and memory deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Pham
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Elevated endogenous GDNF induces altered dopamine signalling in mice and correlates with clinical severity in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3247-3261. [PMID: 35618883 PMCID: PMC9708553 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01554-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Presynaptic increase in striatal dopamine is the primary dopaminergic abnormality in schizophrenia, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here, we hypothesized that increased expression of endogenous GDNF could induce dopaminergic abnormalities that resemble those seen in schizophrenia. To test the impact of GDNF elevation, without inducing adverse effects caused by ectopic overexpression, we developed a novel in vivo approach to conditionally increase endogenous GDNF expression. We found that a 2-3-fold increase in endogenous GDNF in the brain was sufficient to induce molecular, cellular, and functional changes in dopamine signalling in the striatum and prefrontal cortex, including increased striatal presynaptic dopamine levels and reduction of dopamine in prefrontal cortex. Mechanistically, we identified adenosine A2a receptor (A2AR), a G-protein coupled receptor that modulates dopaminergic signalling, as a possible mediator of GDNF-driven dopaminergic abnormalities. We further showed that pharmacological inhibition of A2AR with istradefylline partially normalised striatal GDNF and striatal and cortical dopamine levels in mice. Lastly, we found that GDNF levels are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of first episode psychosis patients, and in post-mortem striatum of schizophrenia patients. Our results reveal a possible contributor for increased striatal dopamine signalling in a subgroup of schizophrenia patients and suggest that GDNF-A2AR crosstalk may regulate dopamine function in a therapeutically targetable manner.
Collapse
|
23
|
Caglayan A, Stumpenhorst K, Winter Y. The Stop Signal Task for Measuring Behavioral Inhibition in Mice With Increased Sensitivity and High-Throughput Operation. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:777767. [PMID: 34955779 PMCID: PMC8696275 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.777767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceasing an ongoing motor response requires action cancelation. This is impaired in many pathologies such as attention deficit disorder and schizophrenia. Action cancelation is measured by the stop signal task that estimates how quickly a motor response can be stopped when it is already being executed. Apart from human studies, the stop signal task has been used to investigate neurobiological mechanisms of action cancelation overwhelmingly in rats and only rarely in mice, despite the need for a genetic model approach. Contributing factors to the limited number of mice studies may be the long and laborious training that is necessary and the requirement for a very loud (100 dB) stop signal. We overcame these limitations by employing a fully automated home-cage-based setup. We connected a home-cage to the operant box via a gating mechanism, that allowed individual ID chipped mice to start sessions voluntarily. Furthermore, we added a negative reinforcement consisting of a mild air puff with escape option to the protocol. This specifically improved baseline inhibition to 94% (from 84% with the conventional approach). To measure baseline inhibition the stop is signaled immediately with trial onset thus measuring action restraint rather than action cancelation ability. A high baseline allowed us to measure action cancelation ability with higher sensitivity. Furthermore, our setup allowed us to reduce the intensity of the acoustic stop signal from 100 to 70 dB. We constructed inhibition curves from stop trials with daily adjusted delays to estimate stop signal reaction times (SSRTs). SSRTs (median 88 ms) were lower than reported previously, which we attribute to the observed high baseline inhibition. Our automated training protocol reduced training time by 17% while also promoting minimal experimenter involvement. This sensitive and labor efficient stop signal task procedure should therefore facilitate the investigation of action cancelation pathologies in genetic mouse models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - York Winter
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.,Excellenzcluster NeuroCure, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
A loss-of-function variant in SUV39H2 identified in autism-spectrum disorder causes altered H3K9 trimethylation and dysregulation of protocadherin β-cluster genes in the developing brain. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7550-7559. [PMID: 34262135 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01199-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence has documented the potential roles of histone-modifying enzymes in autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). Aberrant histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) dimethylation resulting from genetic variants in histone methyltransferases is known for neurodevelopmental and behavioral anomalies. However, a systematic examination of H3K9 methylation dynamics in ASD is lacking. Here we resequenced nine genes for histone methyltransferases and demethylases involved in H3K9 methylation in individuals with ASD and healthy controls using targeted next-generation sequencing. We identified a novel rare variant (A211S) in the SUV39H2, which was predicted to be deleterious. The variant showed strongly reduced histone methyltransferase activity in vitro. In silico analysis showed that the variant destabilizes the hydrophobic core and allosterically affects the enzyme activity. The Suv39h2-KO mice displayed hyperactivity and reduced behavioral flexibility in learning the tasks that required complex behavioral adaptation, which is relevant for ASD. The Suv39h2 deficit evoked an elevated expression of a subset of protocadherin β (Pcdhb) cluster genes in the embryonic brain, which is attributable to the loss of H3K9 trimethylation (me3) at the gene promoters. Reduced H3K9me3 persisted in the cerebellum of Suv39h2-deficient mice to an adult stage. Congruently, reduced expression of SUV39H1 and SUV39H2 in the postmortem brain samples of ASD individuals was observed, underscoring the role of H3K9me3 deficiency in ASD etiology. The present study provides direct evidence for the role of SUV39H2 in ASD and suggests a molecular cascade of SUV39H2 dysfunction leading to H3K9me3 deficiency followed by an untimely, elevated expression of Pcdhb cluster genes during early neurodevelopment.
Collapse
|
25
|
Iman IN, Ahmad NAZ, Mohd Yusof NA, Talib UN, Norazit A, Kumar J, Mehat MZ, Hassan Z, Müller CP, Muzaimi M. Mitragynine (Kratom)-Induced Cognitive Impairments in Mice Resemble Δ9-THC and Morphine Effects: Reversal by Cannabinoid CB 1 Receptor Antagonism. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:708055. [PMID: 34603022 PMCID: PMC8481666 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.708055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Kratom is a widely abused plant-based drug preparation with a global interest in recent years, well beyond its native grounds in Southeast Asia. Mitragynine, its major psychoactive constituent is known to exhibit opioid-like behavioral effects with resultant neuroplasticity in the brain reward system. Its chronic administration is associated with cognitive impairments in animal studies. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for such a deficit remains elusive. In this study, the involvement of cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in cognitive deficits after chronic mitragynine exposures was investigated for 28 days (with incremental dose sensitization from 1 to 25 mg/kg) in adult male Swiss albino mice using the IntelliCage® system. Chronic high-dose mitragynine exposure (5–25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.]), but not low-dose exposure (1–4 mg/kg, i.p.), induced hyperlocomotion, potentiated the preference for sucrose reward, increased resistance to punishment, and impaired place learning and its reversal. Comparable deficits were also observed after chronic treatments with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) or morphine (5 mg/kg, subcutaneous). Mitragynine-, morphine-, and THC-induced learning and memory deficits were reversed by co-treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist, NIDA-41020 (10 mg/kg, i.p.). A significant upregulation of CB1 receptor expression was found in the hippocampal CA1 region and ventral tegmental area after chronic high-dose mitragynine and morphine, whereas a downregulation was observed after chronic THC. In conclusion, the present study suggests a plausible role of the CB1 receptor in mediating the dose-dependent cognitive deficits after chronic high-dose mitragynine exposure. This also highlights the potential of CB1 receptor antagonism in ameliorating the cognitive deficits associated with long-term kratom/mitragynine consumption in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Nurul Iman
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aimi Zawami Ahmad
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Ummi Nasrah Talib
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Anwar Norazit
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zulfadli Mehat
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Zurina Hassan
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | - Christian P Müller
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia.,Section of Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mustapha Muzaimi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kahnau P, Guenther A, Boon MN, Terzenbach JD, Hanitzsch E, Lewejohann L, Brust V. Lifetime Observation of Cognition and Physiological Parameters in Male Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:709775. [PMID: 34539359 PMCID: PMC8442583 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.709775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice are predominantly used for one experiment only, i.e., new mice are ordered or bred for every new experiment. Moreover, most experiments use relatively young mice in the range of late adolescence to early adulthood. As a consequence, little is known about the day-to-day life of adult and aged laboratory mice. Here we present a long-term data set with three consecutive phases conducted with the same male mice over their lifetime in order to shed light on possible long-term effects of repeated cognitive stimulation. One third of the animals was trained by a variety of learning tasks conducted up to an age of 606 days. The mice were housed in four cages with 12 animals per cage; only four mice per cage had to repeatedly solve cognitive tasks for getting access to water using the IntelliCage system. In addition, these learner mice were tested in standard cognitive tests outside their home-cage. The other eight mice served as two control groups living in the same environment but without having to solve tasks for getting access to water. One control group was additionally placed on the test set-ups without having to learn the tasks. Next to the cognitive tasks, we took physiological measures (body mass, resting metabolic rate) and tested for dominance behavior, and attractivity in a female choice experiment. Overall, the mice were under surveillance until they died a natural death, providing a unique data set over the course of virtually their entire lives. Our data showed treatment differences during the first phase of our lifetime data set. Young learner mice showed a higher activity, less growth and resting metabolic rate, and were less attractive for female mice. These effects, however, were not preserved over the long-term. We also did not find differences in dominance or effects on longevity. However, we generated a unique and valuable set of long-term behavioral and physiological data from a single group of male mice and note that our long-term data contribute to a better understanding of the behavioral and physiological processes in male C57Bl/6J mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Guenther
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Marcus Nicolaas Boon
- Department for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Modeling of Cognitive Processes, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Exzellenzcluster Science of Intelligence, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Eric Hanitzsch
- Behavioral Phenotyping Unit, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- Laboratory Animal Science, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
- Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Brust
- Behavioral Phenotyping Unit, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Caglayan A, Stumpenhorst K, Winter Y. Learning Set Formation and Reversal Learning in Mice During High-Throughput Home-Cage-Based Olfactory Discrimination. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:684936. [PMID: 34177482 PMCID: PMC8219855 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.684936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent behavioral tasks are crucial to understanding the nature and underlying biology of cognition and cognitive deficits observed in psychiatric and neurological pathologies. Olfaction, as the primary sensory modality in rodents, is widely used to investigate cognition in rodents. In recent years, automation of olfactory tasks has made it possible to conduct olfactory experiments in a time- and labor-efficient manner while also minimizing experimenter-induced variability. In this study, we bring automation to the next level in two ways: First, by incorporating a radio frequency identification-based sorter that automatically isolates individuals for the experimental session. Thus, we can not only test animals during defined experimental sessions throughout the day but also prevent cagemate interference during task performance. Second, by implementing software that advances individuals to the next test stage as soon as performance criteria are reached. Thus, we can prevent overtraining, a known confounder especially in cognitive flexibility tasks. With this system in hand, we trained mice on a series of four odor pair discrimination tasks as well as their respective reversals. Due to performance-based advancement, mice normally advanced to the next stage in less than a day. Over the series of subsequent odor pair discriminations, the number of errors to criterion decreased significantly, thus indicating the formation of a learning set. As expected, errors to criterion were higher during reversals. Our results confirm that the system allows investigating higher-order cognitive functions such as learning set formation (which is understudied in mice) and reversal learning (which is a measure of cognitive flexibility and impaired in many clinical populations). Therefore, our system will facilitate investigations into the nature of cognition and cognitive deficits in pathological conditions by providing a high-throughput and labor-efficient experimental approach without the risks of overtraining or cagemate interference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alican Caglayan
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - York Winter
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany.,Neurocure, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Iman IN, Yusof NAM, Talib UN, Ahmad NAZ, Norazit A, Kumar J, Mehat MZ, Jayabalan N, Muthuraju S, Stefaniuk M, Kaczmarek L, Muzaimi M. The IntelliCage System: A Review of Its Utility as a Novel Behavioral Platform for a Rodent Model of Substance Use Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:683780. [PMID: 34149373 PMCID: PMC8211779 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.683780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animal models for substance use disorder (SUD) has made an important contribution in the investigation of the behavioral and molecular mechanisms underlying substance abuse and addiction. Here, we review a novel and comprehensive behavioral platform to characterize addiction-like traits in rodents using a fully automated learning system, the IntelliCage. This system simultaneously captures the basic behavioral navigation, reward preference, and aversion, as well as the multi-dimensional complex behaviors and cognitive functions of group-housed rodents. It can reliably capture and track locomotor and cognitive pattern alterations associated with the development of substance addiction. Thus, the IntelliCage learning system offers a potentially efficient, flexible, and sensitive tool for the high-throughput screening of the rodent SUD model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Nurul Iman
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Ummi Nasrah Talib
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aimi Zawami Ahmad
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Anwar Norazit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zulfadli Mehat
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nanthini Jayabalan
- Translational Neuroscience Lab, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sangu Muthuraju
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Marzena Stefaniuk
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Leszek Kaczmarek
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mustapha Muzaimi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Antidepressant treatment is associated with epigenetic alterations of Homer1 promoter in a mouse model of chronic depression. J Affect Disord 2021; 279:501-509. [PMID: 33128940 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the neurobiology of depression and the mechanism of action of therapeutic measures is currently a research priority. We have shown that the expression of the synaptic protein Homer1a correlates with depression-like behavior and its induction is a common mechanism of action of different antidepressant treatments. However, the mechanism of Homer1a regulation is still unknown. METHODS We combined the chronic despair mouse model (CDM) of chronic depression with different antidepressant treatments. Depression-like behavior was characterized by forced swim and tail suspension tests, and via automatic measurement of sucrose preference in IntelliCage. The Homer1 mRNA expression and promoter DNA methylation were analyzed in cortex and peripheral blood by qRT-PCR and pyrosequencing. RESULTS CDM mice show decreased Homer1a and Homer1b/c mRNA expression in cortex and blood samples, while chronic treatment with imipramine and fluoxetine or acute ketamine application increases their level only in the cortex. The quantitative analyses of the methylation of 7 CpG sites, located on the Homer1 promoter region containing several CRE binding sites, show a significant increase in DNA methylation in the cortex of CDM mice. In contrast, antidepressant treatments reduce the methylation level. LIMITATIONS Homer1 expression and promotor methylation were not analyzed in different blood cell types. Other CpG sites of Homer1 promoter should be investigated in future studies. Our experimental approach does not distinguish between methylation and hydroxymethylation. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that stress-induced depression-like behavior and antidepressant treatments are associated with epigenetic alterations of Homer1 promoter, providing new insights into the mechanism of antidepressant treatment.
Collapse
|
30
|
Bernhard SM, Lee J, Zhu M, Hsu A, Erskine A, Hires SA, Barth AL. An automated homecage system for multiwhisker detection and discrimination learning in mice. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232916. [PMID: 33264281 PMCID: PMC7710058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Automated, homecage behavioral training for rodents has many advantages: it is low stress, requires little interaction with the experimenter, and can be easily manipulated to adapt to different experimental conditions. We have developed an inexpensive, Arduino-based, homecage training apparatus for sensory association training in freely-moving mice using multiwhisker air current stimulation coupled to a water reward. Animals learn this task readily, within 1–2 days of training, and performance progressively improves with training. We examined the parameters that regulate task acquisition using different stimulus intensities, directions, and reward valence. Learning was assessed by comparing anticipatory licking for the stimulus compared to the no-stimulus (blank) trials. At high stimulus intensities (>9 psi), animals showed markedly less participation in the task. Conversely, very weak air current intensities (1–2 psi) were not sufficient to generate rapid learning behavior. At intermediate stimulus intensities (5–6 psi), a majority of mice learned that the multiwhisker stimulus predicted the water reward after 24–48 hrs of training. Both exposure to isoflurane and lack of whiskers decreased animals’ ability to learn the task. Following training at an intermediate stimulus intensity, mice were able to transfer learning behavior when exposed to a lower stimulus intensity, an indicator of perceptual learning. Mice learned to discriminate between two directions of stimulation rapidly and accurately, even when the angular distance between the stimuli was <15 degrees. Switching the reward to a more desirable reward, aspartame, had little effect on learning trajectory. Our results show that a tactile association task in an automated homecage environment can be monitored by anticipatory licking to reveal rapid and progressive behavioral change. These Arduino-based, automated mouse cages enable high-throughput training that facilitate analysis of large numbers of genetically modified mice with targeted manipulations of neural activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Bernhard
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jiseok Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mo Zhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alex Hsu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Andrew Erskine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Neurobiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Samuel A. Hires
- Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Neurobiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Alison L. Barth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Voikar V, Gaburro S. Three Pillars of Automated Home-Cage Phenotyping of Mice: Novel Findings, Refinement, and Reproducibility Based on Literature and Experience. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:575434. [PMID: 33192366 PMCID: PMC7662686 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.575434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders require extensive behavioral phenotyping. Currently, this presents several caveats and the most important are: (i) rodents are nocturnal animals, but mostly tested during the light period; (ii) the conventional behavioral experiments take into consideration only a snapshot of a rich behavioral repertoire; and (iii) environmental factors, as well as experimenter influence, are often underestimated. Consequently, serious concerns have been expressed regarding the reproducibility of research findings on the one hand, and appropriate welfare of the animals (based on the principle of 3Rs-reduce, refine and replace) on the other hand. To address these problems and improve behavioral phenotyping in general, several solutions have been proposed and developed. Undisturbed, 24/7 home-cage monitoring (HCM) is gaining increased attention and popularity as demonstrating the potential to substitute or complement the conventional phenotyping methods by providing valuable data for identifying the behavioral patterns that may have been missed otherwise. In this review, we will briefly describe the different technologies used for HCM systems. Thereafter, based on our experience, we will focus on two systems, IntelliCage (NewBehavior AG and TSE-systems) and Digital Ventilated Cage (DVC®, Tecniplast)-how they have been developed and applied during recent years. Additionally, we will touch upon the importance of the environmental/experimenter artifacts and propose alternative suggestions for performing phenotyping experiments based on the published evidence. We will discuss how the integration of telemetry systems for deriving certain physiological parameters can help to complement the description of the animal model to offer better translation to human studies. Ultimately, we will discuss how such HCM data can be statistically interpreted and analyzed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vootele Voikar
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kimura E, Suzuki G, Uramaru N, Endo T, Maekawa F. Behavioral impairments in infant and adult mouse offspring exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzofuran in utero and via lactation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 142:105833. [PMID: 32559560 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/DFs) have been unintentionally produced and emitted from the lifecycle of products containing brominated flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ether, which is suspected to cause developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Although it is plausible that PBDD/DFs can also induce DNT, information regarding their neurotoxic potential is currently limited. Hence, in the present study, we examined the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to brominated dibenzofurans on infant and adult offspring behavior to understand the mechanism of PBDD/DFs toxicity and detect effective behavioral endpoints in DNT assessment. We analyzed the behavior of mouse offspring born to dams administered 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzofuran (2,3,7,8-TeBDF; dose of 0, 9, or 45 μg/kg) or 2,3,8-tribromodibenzofuran (2,3,8-TrBDF; dose of 0, 75.6, or 378 μg/kg) on gestational day 12.5. In mouse offspring born to dams exposed to 2,3,7,8-TeBDF, the exploratory behavior in a novel environment in adulthood and ultrasonic vocalization (USV) during infancy were significantly reduced. Additionally, AhR-target genes, such as Cyp1a1, were induced in the liver of 2,3,7,8-TeBDF-exposed offspring in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, no significant changes in the infant and adult behaviors and expression level of AhR-target genes were observed in the 2,3,8-TrBDF-exposed offspring. These results suggest that 2,3,7,8-TeBDF can induce DNT and that the analysis of exploratory behavior in a novel environment and USV may be useful endpoints to assess DNT of dioxin-related substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiki Kimura
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Go Suzuki
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Naoto Uramaru
- Nihon Pharmaceutical University, 10281 Komuro Ina-machi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Endo
- Phenovance Research & Technology, 5-4-19-302A, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Maekawa
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Horigane S, Ozawa Y, Zhang J, Todoroki H, Miao P, Haijima A, Yanagawa Y, Ueda S, Nakamura S, Kakeyama M, Takemoto‐Kimura S. A mouse model of Timothy syndrome exhibits altered social competitive dominance and inhibitory neuron development. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 10:1436-1446. [PMID: 32598571 PMCID: PMC7396430 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple genetic factors related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been identified, but the biological mechanisms remain obscure. Timothy syndrome (TS), associated with syndromic ASD, is caused by a gain-of-function mutation, G406R, in the pore-forming subunit of L-type Ca2+ channels, Cav 1.2. In this study, a mouse model of TS, TS2-neo, was used to enhance behavioral phenotyping and to identify developmental anomalies in inhibitory neurons. Using the IntelliCage, which enables sequential behavioral tasks without human handling and mouse isolation stress, high social competitive dominance was observed in TS2-neo mice. Furthermore, histological analysis demonstrated inhibitory neuronal abnormalities in the neocortex, including an excess of smaller-sized inhibitory presynaptic terminals in the somatosensory cortex of young adolescent mice and higher numbers of migrating inhibitory neurons from the medial ganglionic eminence during embryonic development. In contrast, no obvious changes in excitatory synaptic terminals were found. These novel neural abnormalities in inhibitory neurons of TS2-neo mice may result in a disturbed excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance, a key feature underlying ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shin‐ichiro Horigane
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
| | - Yukihiro Ozawa
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineNagoya University HospitalNagoyaJapan
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
| | - Hiroe Todoroki
- Laboratory for Systems Neurosciences and Preventive MedicineFaculty of Human SciencesWaseda UniversityTokorozawaJapan
| | - Pan Miao
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
| | - Asahi Haijima
- Laboratory for Systems Neurosciences and Preventive MedicineFaculty of Human SciencesWaseda UniversityTokorozawaJapan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical SciencesWaseda UniversityTokorozawaJapan
| | - Yuchio Yanagawa
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral NeuroscienceGunma University Graduate School of MedicineMaebashiJapan
| | - Shuhei Ueda
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
| | - Shigeo Nakamura
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineNagoya University HospitalNagoyaJapan
| | - Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory for Systems Neurosciences and Preventive MedicineFaculty of Human SciencesWaseda UniversityTokorozawaJapan
- Research Institute for Environmental Medical SciencesWaseda UniversityTokorozawaJapan
| | - Sayaka Takemoto‐Kimura
- Department of Neuroscience IResearch Institute of Environmental MedicineNagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
- Molecular/Cellular NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoyaJapan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO)Japan Science and Technology AgencySaitamaJapan
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Oizumi H, Miyazaki S, Tabuchi M, Endo T, Omiya Y, Mizoguchi K. Kamikihito Enhances Cognitive Functions and Reward-Related Behaviors of Aged C57BL/6J Mice in an Automated Behavioral Assay System. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1037. [PMID: 32765263 PMCID: PMC7379479 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cognitive and psychological domains of frailty in the elderly have drawn increasing attention given the aging of society. However, therapeutics to treat minor deficits in cognition and mental state in the elderly remain an unmet need. Kamikihito (KKT), a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine indicated for neuroses, anxiety, and insomnia, is effective for treating cognitive dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors in animal models, suggesting that it may have therapeutic potential for treating cognitive and/or mental frailty. In this study, we first validated the known anxiolytic effects of KKT in a conventional maze test. We then introduced an automated behavioral assay system, IntelliCage, to evaluate the therapeutic potential of KKT for age-related and diverse central functions by performing sequential behavioral tasks in young and aged mice to assess basal activities, cognitive functions, perseveration, and hedonic-related behaviors. Although young mice treated with KKT did not exhibit changes in diurnal variation, KKT-administered aged mice exhibited an accelerated decline in voluntary activity during the early part of the light period, implying that KKT may promote sleep onset in aged mice. Neither place learning acquisition for gaining rewards nor subsequent behavioral flexibility performance was altered by KKT in the young group, whereas the aged KKT group exhibited significantly enhanced performance in both phases of learning relative to age-matched controls. Conversely, perseverative nose-pokes (NPs) to gain rewards observed during place learning, indicative of compulsivity, were attenuated by KKT in both age groups. Regarding hedonic processing, aged mice exhibited a decreased preference for sweet solutions compared to young mice, which was effectively reversed by KKT treatment. Furthermore, KKT elevated high-effort choices for high-value reward in an effort-based decision-making paradigm in both age groups, implying augmentation of motivational behaviors by KKT. Collectively, KKT exerted various beneficial effects in cognitive and emotional domains, several of which were more evident in aged mice than in young mice, suggesting the potential of KKT for treating cognitive and mental frailty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Oizumi
- Tsumura Kampo Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shinji Miyazaki
- Tsumura Kampo Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tabuchi
- Tsumura Kampo Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Yuji Omiya
- Tsumura Kampo Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Prevention of age-associated neuronal hyperexcitability with improved learning and attention upon knockout or antagonism of LPAR2. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:1029-1050. [PMID: 32468095 PMCID: PMC7897625 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03553-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that synaptic lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) augment glutamate-dependent cortical excitability and sensory information processing in mice and humans via presynaptic LPAR2 activation. Here, we studied the consequences of LPAR2 deletion or antagonism on various aspects of cognition using a set of behavioral and electrophysiological analyses. Hippocampal neuronal network activity was decreased in middle-aged LPAR2−/− mice, whereas hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) was increased suggesting cognitive advantages of LPAR2−/− mice. In line with the lower excitability, RNAseq studies revealed reduced transcription of neuronal activity markers in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in naïve LPAR2−/− mice, including ARC, FOS, FOSB, NR4A, NPAS4 and EGR2. LPAR2−/− mice behaved similarly to wild-type controls in maze tests of spatial or social learning and memory but showed faster and accurate responses in a 5-choice serial reaction touchscreen task requiring high attention and fast spatial discrimination. In IntelliCage learning experiments, LPAR2−/− were less active during daytime but normally active at night, and showed higher accuracy and attention to LED cues during active times. Overall, they maintained equal or superior licking success with fewer trials. Pharmacological block of the LPAR2 receptor recapitulated the LPAR2−/− phenotype, which was characterized by economic corner usage, stronger daytime resting behavior and higher proportions of correct trials. We conclude that LPAR2 stabilizes neuronal network excitability upon aging and allows for more efficient use of resting periods, better memory consolidation and better performance in tasks requiring high selective attention. Therapeutic LPAR2 antagonism may alleviate aging-associated cognitive dysfunctions.
Collapse
|
36
|
Stephan M, Volkmann P, Rossner MJ. Assessing behavior and cognition in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans: where are the limits of translation?
. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 21:249-259. [PMID: 31749649 PMCID: PMC6829167 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2019.21.3/mrossner] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
New psychopharmacological treatments are needed for affective and nonaffective
psychoses, especially for the associated negative and cognitive symptoms. Earlier
developments mostly failed, probably partly because of limitations in behavioral models
used for validation. Now, deeper understanding of the genetics underlying disease
pathogenesis and progress in genetic engineering will generate many rodent models with
increased construct validity. To improve these models’ translational value, we need
complementary data from nonhuman primates. We also have to improve and streamline
behavioral test systems to cope with increased demand. Here, we propose a comprehensive
neurocognitive test battery that should overcome the disadvantages of single tests and
yield cognitive/behavioral profiles for modeling subsets of patient symptoms. Further,
we delineate a concept for classifying disease-relevant cognitive endophenotypes to
balance between face and construct validity and clinical diagnostics. In summary, this
review discusses new concepts and the limitations and future potential of translational
research on cognition in psychiatry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marius Stephan
- Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Volkmann
- Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz J Rossner
- Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Kiryk A, Janusz A, Zglinicki B, Turkes E, Knapska E, Konopka W, Lipp HP, Kaczmarek L. IntelliCage as a tool for measuring mouse behavior - 20 years perspective. Behav Brain Res 2020; 388:112620. [PMID: 32302617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since the 1980s, we have witnessed the rapid development of genetically modified mouse models of human diseases. A large number of transgenic and knockout mice have been utilized in basic and applied research, including models of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. To assess the biological function of mutated genes, modern techniques are critical to detect changes in behavioral phenotypes. We review the IntelliCage, a high-throughput system that is used for behavioral screening and detailed analyses of complex behaviors in mice. The IntelliCage was introduced almost two decades ago and has been used in over 150 studies to assess both spontaneous and cognitive behaviors. We present a critical analysis of experimental data that have been generated using this device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kiryk
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Janusz
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Zglinicki
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emir Turkes
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Witold Konopka
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hans-Peter Lipp
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leszek Kaczmarek
- BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Mehr A, Hick M, Ludewig S, Müller M, Herrmann U, von Engelhardt J, Wolfer DP, Korte M, Müller UC. Lack of APP and APLP2 in GABAergic Forebrain Neurons Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Cognition. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4044-4063. [PMID: 32219307 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, yet its physiological functions remain incompletely understood. Previous studies had indicated important synaptic functions of APP and the closely related homologue APLP2 in excitatory forebrain neurons for spine density, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Here, we show that APP is also widely expressed in several interneuron subtypes, both in hippocampus and cortex. To address the functional role of APP in inhibitory neurons, we generated mice with a conditional APP/APLP2 double knockout (cDKO) in GABAergic forebrain neurons using DlxCre mice. These DlxCre cDKO mice exhibit cognitive deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory tasks, as well as impairments in species-typic nesting and burrowing behaviors. Deficits at the behavioral level were associated with altered neuronal morphology and synaptic plasticity Long-Term Potentiation (LTP). Impaired basal synaptic transmission at the Schafer collateral/CA1 pathway, which was associated with altered compound excitatory/inhibitory synaptic currents and reduced action potential firing of CA1 pyramidal cells, points to a disrupted excitation/inhibition balance in DlxCre cDKOs. Together, these impairments may lead to hippocampal dysfunction. Collectively, our data reveal a crucial role of APP family proteins in inhibitory interneurons to maintain functional network activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika Mehr
- Department of Functional Genomics, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Meike Hick
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susann Ludewig
- Division of Cellular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michaela Müller
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ulrike Herrmann
- Division of Cellular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jakob von Engelhardt
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - David P Wolfer
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Korte
- Division of Cellular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.,AG Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ulrike C Müller
- Department of Functional Genomics, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Cellular Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Serchov T, Schwarz I, Theiss A, Sun L, Holz A, Döbrössy MD, Schwarz MK, Normann C, Biber K, van Calker D. Enhanced adenosine A 1 receptor and Homer1a expression in hippocampus modulates the resilience to stress-induced depression-like behavior. Neuropharmacology 2019; 162:107834. [PMID: 31682853 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Resilience to stress is critical for the development of depression. Enhanced adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) signaling mediates the antidepressant effects of acute sleep deprivation (SD). However, chronic SD causes long-lasting upregulation of brain A1R and increases the risk of depression. To investigate the effects of A1R on mood, we utilized two transgenic mouse lines with inducible A1R overexpression in forebrain neurons. These two lines have identical levels of A1R increase in the cortex, but differ in the transgenic A1R expression in the hippocampus. Switching on the transgene promotes robust antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in both lines. The mice of the line without transgenic A1R overexpression in the hippocampus (A1Hipp-) show very strong resistance towards development of stress-induced chronic depression-like behavior. In contrast, the mice of the line in which A1R upregulation extends to the hippocampus (A1Hipp+), exhibit decreased resilience to depression as compared to A1Hipp-. Similarly, automatic analysis of reward behavior of the two lines reveals that depression resistant A1Hipp-transgenic mice exhibit high sucrose preference, while mice of the vulnerable A1Hipp + line developed stress-induced anhedonic phenotype. The A1Hipp + mice have increased Homer1a expression in hippocampus, correlating with impaired long-term potentiation in the CA1 region, mimicking the stressed mice. Furthermore, virus-mediated overexpression of Homer1a in the hippocampus decreases stress resilience. Taken together our data indicate for first time that increased expression of A1R and Homer1a in the hippocampus modulates the resilience to stress-induced depression and thus might potentially mediate the detrimental effects of chronic sleep restriction on mood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsvetan Serchov
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Inna Schwarz
- Functional Neuroconnectomics Group, Department of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Centre, University of Bonn, Medical School, 53105, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alice Theiss
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lu Sun
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany; Department Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713, AV Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Amrei Holz
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mate D Döbrössy
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin K Schwarz
- Functional Neuroconnectomics Group, Department of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Centre, University of Bonn, Medical School, 53105, Bonn, Germany
| | - Claus Normann
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Knut Biber
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany; Department Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713, AV Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dietrich van Calker
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
van Dijk RM, Wiget F, Wolfer DP, Slomianka L, Amrein I. Consistent within-group covariance of septal and temporal hippocampal neurogenesis with behavioral phenotypes for exploration and memory retention across wild and laboratory small rodents. Behav Brain Res 2019; 372:112034. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
41
|
Peleh T, Bai X, Kas MJ, Hengerer B. RFID-supported video tracking for automated analysis of social behaviour in groups of mice. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 325:108323. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
42
|
Marwari S, Dawe GS. Effects of haloperidol on cognitive function and behavioural flexibility in the IntelliCage social home cage environment. Behav Brain Res 2019; 371:111976. [PMID: 31136773 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the effects of chronic administration of haloperidol in female C57BL/6 mice. As patients with schizophrenia often show perseverant behaviours and lack of behavioural flexibility, it is important to know whether the effect of haloperidol makes these traits worse. This study, therefore, was designed to evaluate the effects of haloperidol on the learning performance of mice using an automated home cage environment, the IntelliCage. Behavioural shuttling in the IntelliCage enabled us to assess learning in tasks including place discrimination learning and reversal place learning. In reversal place learning, spatial patterns of rewarded and non-rewarded places that mice had learned to discriminate were reversed, and the adaptability of mice to change the previously acquired place learning was measured. Haloperidol (1 mg/kg/day) reduced locomotor activity and water intake. Haloperidol impaired the cognitive flexibility of mice during reversal place learning rewarded by access to water but enhanced the rapid acquisition of behavioural flexibility when airpuff punishment was applied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhi Marwari
- Drug Development Unit, Life Sciences Institute, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, 117456, Singapore
| | - Gavin S Dawe
- Drug Development Unit, Life Sciences Institute, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, 117456, Singapore; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 16 Medical Drive, 117600, Singapore; Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, 117456, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Peleh T, Ike KG, Wams EJ, Lebois EP, Hengerer B. The reverse translation of a quantitative neuropsychiatric framework into preclinical studies: Focus on social interaction and behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 97:96-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
44
|
Hikida T. [Homeostatic regulation of basal ganglia circuit for flexible behavior]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2018; 152:295-298. [PMID: 30531100 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.152.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral inflexibility has been reported in various psychiatric disorders including drug addiction and schizophrenia. Considerable evidence has demonstrated a critical role for the basal ganglia in the flexibility of behavioral strategies. These processes are guided by the activity of two discrete neuron types, dopamine D1- or D2-receptor expressing medium spiny neurons (D1-/D2-MSNs) in the basal ganglia circuit. We used a reversible neurotransmission blocking technique to examine the role of D1- and D2-MSNs in the acquisition and reversal learning of a place discrimination task in the IntelliCage. We demonstrated that D1- and D2-MSNs do not mediate the acquisition of the task, but that suppression of activity in D2-MSNs impairs reversal learning and increased perseverative errors. Additionally, global knockout of the dopamine D2L receptor isoform produced a similar behavioral phenotype to D2-MSN-blocked mice. We also showed that D2L receptors are necessary for visual discrimination and reversal learning. These results suggest that D2L receptors and D2-MSNs have a critical role in the homeostatic regulation of basal ganglia circuit for flexible behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takatoshi Hikida
- Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Atlan G, Terem A, Peretz-Rivlin N, Sehrawat K, Gonzales BJ, Pozner G, Tasaka GI, Goll Y, Refaeli R, Zviran O, Lim BK, Groysman M, Goshen I, Mizrahi A, Nelken I, Citri A. The Claustrum Supports Resilience to Distraction. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2752-2762.e7. [PMID: 30122531 PMCID: PMC6485402 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A barrage of information constantly assaults our senses, of which only a fraction is relevant at any given point in time. However, the neural circuitry supporting the suppression of irrelevant sensory distractors is not completely understood. The claustrum, a circuit hub with vast cortical connectivity, is an intriguing brain structure, whose restrictive anatomy, thin and elongated, has precluded functional investigation. Here, we describe the use of Egr2-CRE mice to access genetically defined claustral neurons. Utilizing conditional viruses for anterograde axonal labeling and retrograde trans-synaptic tracing, we validated this transgenic model for accessing the claustrum and extended the known repertoire of claustral input/output connectivity. Addressing the function of the claustrum, we inactivated CLEgr2+ neurons, chronically as well as acutely, in mice performing an automated two-alternative forced-choice behavioral task. Strikingly, inhibition of CLEgr2+ neurons did not significantly impact task performance under varying delay times and cue durations, but revealed a selective role for the claustrum in supporting performance in the presence of an irrelevant auditory distractor. Further investigation of behavior, in the naturalistic maternal pup-retrieval task, replicated the result of sensitization to an auditory distractor following inhibition of CLEgr2+ neurons. Initiating investigation into the underlying mechanism, we found that activation of CLEgr2+ neurons modulated cortical sensory processing, suppressing tone representation in the auditory cortex. This functional study, utilizing selective genetic access, implicates the claustrum in supporting resilience to distraction, a fundamental aspect of attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gal Atlan
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anna Terem
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Kamini Sehrawat
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ben Jerry Gonzales
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Guy Pozner
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Gen-Ichi Tasaka
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yael Goll
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Ron Refaeli
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ori Zviran
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Maya Groysman
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Inbal Goshen
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Adi Mizrahi
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel; Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Israel Nelken
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel; Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Ami Citri
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel; Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel; Program in Child and Brain Development, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre, West Tower, 661 University Avenue, Suite 505, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Umemori J, Winkel F, Didio G, Llach Pou M, Castrén E. iPlasticity: Induced juvenile-like plasticity in the adult brain as a mechanism of antidepressants. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:633-653. [PMID: 29802758 PMCID: PMC6174980 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The network hypothesis of depression proposes that mood disorders reflect problems in information processing within particular neural networks. Antidepressants (AD), including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), function by gradually improving information processing within these networks. AD have been shown to induce a state of juvenile-like plasticity comparable to that observed during developmental critical periods: Such critical-period-like plasticity allows brain networks to better adapt to extrinsic and intrinsic signals. We have coined this drug-induced state of juvenile-like plasticity 'iPlasticity.' A combination of iPlasticity induced by chronic SSRI treatment together with training, rehabilitation, or psychotherapy improves symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders and issues underlying the developmentally or genetically malfunctioning networks. We have proposed that iPlasticity might be a critical component of AD action. We have demonstrated that iPlasticity occurs in the visual cortex, fear erasure network, extinction of aggression caused by social isolation, and spatial reversal memory in rodent models. Chronic SSRI treatment is known to promote neurogenesis and to cause dematuration of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and of interneurons, especially parvalbumin interneurons enwrapped by perineuronal nets in the prefrontal cortex, visual cortex, and amygdala. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), via its receptor tropomyosin kinase receptor B, is involved in the processes of synaptic plasticity, including neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, weight of synapses, and gene regulation of synaptic formation. BDNF can be activated by both chronic SSRI treatment and neuronal activity. Accordingly, the BDNF/tropomyosin kinase receptor B pathway is critical for iPlasticity, but further analyses will be needed to provide mechanical insight into the processes of iPlasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juzoh Umemori
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Frederike Winkel
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Giuliano Didio
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Maria Llach Pou
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Torquet N, Marti F, Campart C, Tolu S, Nguyen C, Oberto V, Benallaoua M, Naudé J, Didienne S, Debray N, Jezequel S, Le Gouestre L, Hannesse B, Mariani J, Mourot A, Faure P. Social interactions impact on the dopaminergic system and drive individuality. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3081. [PMID: 30082725 PMCID: PMC6079008 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05526-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuality is a striking feature of animal behavior. Individual animals differ in traits and preferences which shape their interactions and their prospects for survival. However, the mechanisms underlying behavioral individuation are poorly understood and are generally considered to be genetic-based. Here, we devised a large environment, Souris City, in which mice live continuously in large groups. We observed the emergence of individual differences in social behavior, activity levels, and cognitive traits, even though the animals had low genetic diversity (inbred C57BL/6J strain). We further show that the phenotypic divergence in individual behaviors was mirrored by developing differences in midbrain dopamine neuron firing properties. Strikingly, modifying the social environment resulted in a fast re-adaptation of both the animal's traits and its dopamine firing pattern. Individuality can rapidly change upon social challenges, and does not just depend on the genetic status or the accumulation of small differences throughout development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Torquet
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - F Marti
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - C Campart
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - S Tolu
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - C Nguyen
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - V Oberto
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - M Benallaoua
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - J Naudé
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - S Didienne
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - N Debray
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Biological Adaptation and Ageing - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (B2A - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France.,APHP Hôpital Charles Foix, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France
| | - S Jezequel
- APHP Hôpital Charles Foix, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France.,Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS UMS, 28 Phénotypage du Petit Animal, 75005, Paris, France
| | - L Le Gouestre
- APHP Hôpital Charles Foix, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France.,Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS UMS, 28 Phénotypage du Petit Animal, 75005, Paris, France
| | - B Hannesse
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - J Mariani
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Biological Adaptation and Ageing - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (B2A - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France.,APHP Hôpital Charles Foix, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France
| | - A Mourot
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France
| | - P Faure
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Masuda A, Kobayashi Y, Itohara S. Automated, Long-term Behavioral Assay for Cognitive Functions in Multiple Genetic Models of Alzheimer's Disease, Using IntelliCage. J Vis Exp 2018:58009. [PMID: 30124661 PMCID: PMC6126617 DOI: 10.3791/58009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple factors-such as aging and genes-are frequently associated with cognitive decline. Genetically modified mouse models of cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), have become a promising tool to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and promote the therapeutic advances. An important step is the validation and characterization of expected behavioral abnormality in the models, in the case of AD, cognitive decline. The long-term behavioral investigations of laboratory animals to study the effect of aging demand substantial efforts from researchers. The IntelliCage system is a high-throughput and cost-effective test battery for mice that eliminates the need for daily human handling. Here, we describe how the system is utilized in the long-term phenotyping of a genetic Alzheimer's disease model, specifically focusing on the cognitive functions. The experiment employs repeated battery of tests that assess spatial learning and executive functions. This cost-effective age-dependent phenotyping allows us to identify the transient and/or permanent effects of genes on various cognitive aspects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akira Masuda
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN; Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University;
| | - Yuki Kobayashi
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Kakeyama M. [Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Affecting High Brain Function]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2018; 73:110-114. [PMID: 29848860 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.73.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The brain and mind are not only determined genetically but are also nurtured by environmental stimuli in early life. However, the relationship between early life environment and phenotypes in adulthood remains elusive. Using the IntelliCage-based competition task for group-housed mice, we previously found that maternal exposure to a low dose of an environmental pollutant, dioxin, resulted in abnormal social behavior, that is, low competitive dominance, which is defined by decreased occupancy of limited resource sites under highly competitive circumstances. Although we were unable to identify which behavioral phenotype applies to abnormalities such as "human social nature", we found signs of hypoactivation of the medial prefrontal cortex, as seen in patients with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, another model of environmental factors, repeated isolation during development, and that of genetic factors including mice with neuronal heterotopia, which refers to brain malformations resulting from deficits of neuronal migration, showed low competitive dominance. These results indicate that a constitutive approach to capture the neural network of the whole brain is necessary especially in cases where the temporal gap of causal relationships is large such as DOHaD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Kakeyama
- Laboratory for Systems Neuroscience and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University.,Research Institute of Environmental Medical Sciences, Waseda University
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Reinagel P. Training Rats Using Water Rewards Without Water Restriction. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:84. [PMID: 29773982 PMCID: PMC5943498 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput behavioral training of rodents has been a transformative development for systems neuroscience. Water or food restriction is typically required to motivate task engagement. We hypothesized a gap between physiological water need and hedonic water satiety that could be leveraged to train rats for water rewards without water restriction. We show that when Citric Acid (CA) is added to water, female rats drink less, yet consume enough to maintain long term health. With 24 h/day access to a visual task with water rewards, rats with ad lib CA water performed 84% ± 18% as many trials as in the same task under water restriction. In 2-h daily sessions, rats with ad lib CA water performed 68% ± 13% as many trials as under water restriction. Using reward sizes <25 μl, rats with ad lib CA performed 804 ± 285 trials/day in live-in sessions or 364 ± 82 trials/day in limited duration daily sessions. The safety of CA water amendment was previously shown for male rats, and the gap between water need and satiety was similar to what we observed in females. Therefore, it is likely that this method will generalize to male rats, though this remains to be shown. We conclude that at least in some contexts rats can be trained using water rewards without water restriction, benefitting both animal welfare and scientific productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Reinagel
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|