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Gumusoglu SB, Kiel MD, Gugel A, Schickling BM, Weaver KR, Lauffer MC, Sullivan HR, Coulter KJ, Blaine BM, Kamal M, Zhang Y, Devor EJ, Santillan DA, Gantz SC, Santillan MK. Anti-angiogenic mechanisms and serotonergic dysfunction in the Rgs2 knockout model for the study of psycho-obstetric risk. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:864-875. [PMID: 37848733 PMCID: PMC10948883 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01749-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric and obstetric diseases are growing threats to public health and share high rates of co-morbidity. G protein-coupled receptor signaling (e.g., vasopressin, serotonin) may be a convergent psycho-obstetric risk mechanism. Regulator of G Protein Signaling 2 (RGS2) mutations increase risk for both the gestational disease preeclampsia and for depression. We previously found preeclampsia-like, anti-angiogenic obstetric phenotypes with reduced placental Rgs2 expression in mice. Here, we extend this to test whether conserved cerebrovascular and serotonergic mechanisms are also associated with risk for neurobiological phenotypes in the Rgs2 KO mouse. Rgs2 KO exhibited anxiety-, depression-, and hedonic-like behaviors. Cortical vascular density and vessel length decreased in Rgs2 KO; cortical and white matter thickness and cell densities were unchanged. In Rgs2 KO, serotonergic gene expression was sex-specifically changed (e.g., cortical Htr2a, Maoa increased in females but all serotonin targets unchanged or decreased in males); redox-related expression increased in paraventricular nucleus and aorta; and angiogenic gene expression was changed in male but not female cortex. Whole-cell recordings from dorsal raphe serotonin neurons revealed altered 5-HT1A receptor-dependent inhibitory postsynaptic currents (5-HT1A-IPSCs) in female but not male KO neurons. Additionally, serotonin transporter blockade by the SSRI sertraline increased the amplitude and time-to-peak of 5-HT1A-IPSCs in KO neurons to a greater extent than in WT neurons in females only. These results demonstrate behavioral, cerebrovascular, and sertraline hypersensitivity phenotypes in Rgs2 KOs, some of which are sex-specific. Disruptions may be driven by vascular and cell stress mechanisms linking the shared pathogenesis of psychiatric and obstetric disease to reveal future targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena B Gumusoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Michaela D Kiel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Aleigha Gugel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Brandon M Schickling
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Kaylee R Weaver
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Marisol C Lauffer
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Neural Circuits and Behavior Core, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Hannah R Sullivan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Kaylie J Coulter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Brianna M Blaine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Mushroor Kamal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Eric J Devor
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Donna A Santillan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Stephanie C Gantz
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Mark K Santillan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
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Weber EM, Zidar J, Ewaldsson B, Askevik K, Udén E, Svensk E, Törnqvist E. Aggression in Group-Housed Male Mice: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010143. [PMID: 36611751 PMCID: PMC9817818 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression among group-housed male mice is a major animal welfare concern often observed at animal facilities. Studies designed to understand the causes of male mice aggression have used different methodological approaches and have been heterogeneous, using different strains, environmental enrichments, housing conditions, group formations and durations. By conducting a systematic literature review based on 198 observed conclusions from 90 articles, we showed that the methodological approach used to study aggression was relevant for the outcome and suggested that home cage observations were better when studying home cage aggression than tests provoking aggression outside the home cage. The study further revealed that aggression is a complex problem; one solution will not be appropriate for all animal facilities and all research projects. Recommendations were provided on promising tools to minimize aggression, based on the results, which included what type of environmental enrichments could be appropriate and which strains of male mice were less likely to be aggressive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin M. Weber
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23 Skara, Sweden
| | - Josefina Zidar
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Birgit Ewaldsson
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, AstraZeneca, 431 83 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Kaisa Askevik
- Swedish 3Rs Center, Swedish Board of Agriculture, 553 29 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Eva Udén
- Swedish 3Rs Center, Swedish Board of Agriculture, 553 29 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Emma Svensk
- Swedish 3Rs Center, Swedish Board of Agriculture, 553 29 Jönköping, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Elin Törnqvist
- Swedish National Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes, Swedish Board of Agriculture, 553 29 Jönköping, Sweden
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Transcription factor gene Pea3 regulates erectile function during copulation in mice. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276069. [PMID: 36301850 PMCID: PMC9612450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Male mice with homozygous loss of function mutations of the transcription factor gene Pea3 (Pea3 null) are infertile due to their inability to inseminate females, however the specific deficits in male sexual behaviors that drive this phenotype are unknown. Here, the copulatory behavior of male mice (Pea3 null and control) with hormonally primed ovariectomized females was monitored via high-speed and high-resolution digital videography to assess for differences in female-directed social behaviors, gross sexual behaviors (mounting, thrusting), and erectile and ejaculatory function. Pea3 null male mice exhibit greatly reduced erectile function, with 44% of males displaying no visible erections during copulation, and 0% achieving sustained erections. As such, Pea3 null males are incapable of intromission and copulatory plug deposition, despite displaying largely normal female-directed social behaviors, mounting behaviors, and ejaculatory grasping behavior. Additionally, the organization and timing of thrusting behaviors is impaired in Pea3 null males. Our results show that the transcription factor gene Pea3 regulates the ability to achieve and maintain erections during copulation in mice.
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Payet JM, Wilson KE, Russo AM, Angiolino A, Kavanagh-Ryan W, Kent S, Lowry CA, Hale MW. Involvement of dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic systems in social approach-avoidance behaviour and in the response to fluoxetine treatment in peri-adolescent female BALB/c mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113268. [PMID: 33811952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Serotonergic systems are involved in the development and regulation of social behaviour, and drugs that target serotonin neurotransmission, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), also alter aspects of social approach-avoidance. The midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), which is a major serotonergic nucleus and main source of serotonergic innervation of the forebrain, has been proposed as an important target for SSRIs, although evidence in females is lacking. In this study, we examined the involvement of the DR serotonergic systems in social behaviour and in response to SSRI treatment, using peri-adolescent female BALB/c mice. Mice were exposed to the SSRI fluoxetine either chronically (18 mg/kg/day, in drinking water, for 12 days) or acutely (18 mg/kg, i.p.), or to vehicle control condition (0.9 % saline, i.p.), prior to being exposed to the three-chambered sociability test. Activation of serotonergic neurons across subregions of the DR were subsequently measured, using dual-label immunohistochemistry for TPH2 and c-Fos. Acute fluoxetine administration increased generalised and social avoidance, while mice exposed to chronic fluoxetine treatment showed levels of social approach behaviour that were comparable to controls. Serotonergic populations across the DR showed reduced activity following acute fluoxetine treatment. Further, activation of serotonergic neurons in the ventral DR correlated with social approach behaviour in vehicle-treated control mice. These data provide some support for the involvement of discrete populations of DR serotonergic neurons in the regulation of social approach-avoidance, although more research is needed to understand the effects and mechanisms of chronic SSRI treatment in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennyfer M Payet
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Kira-Elise Wilson
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Adrian M Russo
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Anthony Angiolino
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - William Kavanagh-Ryan
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Stephen Kent
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Matthew W Hale
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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Mapping the living mouse brain neural architecture: strain-specific patterns of brain structural and functional connectivity. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:647-669. [PMID: 33635426 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Mapping brain structural and functional connectivity (FC) became an essential approach in neuroscience as network properties can underlie behavioral phenotypes. In mouse models, revealing strain-related patterns of brain wiring is crucial, since these animals are used to answer questions related to neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders. C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ strains are two of the primary "genetic backgrounds" for modeling brain disease and testing therapeutic approaches. However, extensive literature describes basal differences in the behavioral, neuroanatomical and neurochemical profiles of the two strains, which raises questions on whether the observed effects are pathology specific or depend on the genetic background of each strain. Here, we performed a systematic comparative exploration of brain structure and function of C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ mice using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We combined deformation-based morphometry (DBM), diffusion MRI and high-resolution fiber mapping (hrFM) along with resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and demonstrated brain-wide differences in the morphology and "connectome" features of the two strains. Essential inter-strain differences were depicted regarding the size and the fiber density (FD) within frontal cortices, along cortico-striatal, thalamic and midbrain pathways as well as genu and splenium of corpus callosum. Structural dissimilarities were accompanied by specific FC patterns, emphasizing strain differences in frontal and basal forebrain functional networks as well as hubness characteristics. Rs-fMRI data further indicated differences of reward-aversion circuitry and default mode network (DMN) patterns. The inter-hemispherical FC showed flexibility and strain-specific adjustment of their patterns in agreement with the structural characteristics.
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Vassilev P, Pantoja-Urban AH, Giroux M, Nouel D, Hernandez G, Orsini T, Flores C. Unique effects of social defeat stress in adolescent male mice on the Netrin-1/DCC pathway, prefrontal cortex dopamine and cognition (Social stress in adolescent vs. adult male mice). eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0045-21.2021. [PMID: 33619036 PMCID: PMC8051112 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0045-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
For some individuals, social stress is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders characterised by adolescent onset, prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Social stress may be particularly harmful during adolescence when dopamine (DA) axons are still growing to the PFC, rendering them sensitive to environmental influences. The guidance cue Netrin-1 and its receptor, DCC, coordinate to control mesocorticolimbic DA axon targeting and growth during this age. Here we adapted the accelerated social defeat (AcSD) paradigm to expose male mice to social stress in either adolescence or adulthood and categorised them as "resilient" or "susceptible" based on social avoidance behaviour. We examined whether stress would alter the expression of DCC and Netrin-1 in mesolimbic dopamine regions and would have enduring consequences on PFC dopamine connectivity and cognition. While in adolescence the majority of mice are resilient but exhibit risk-taking behaviour, AcSD in adulthood leads to a majority of susceptible mice without altering anxiety-like traits. In adolescent, but not adult mice, AcSD dysregulates DCC and Netrin-1 expression in mesolimbic DA regions. These molecular changes in adolescent mice are accompanied by changes in PFC DA connectivity. Following AcSD in adulthood, cognitive function remains unaffected, but all mice exposed to AcSD in adolescence show deficits in inhibitory control when they reach adulthood. These findings indicate that exposure to AcSD in adolescence vs. adulthood has substantially different effects on brain and behaviour and that stress-induced social avoidance in adolescence does not predict vulnerability to deficits in cognitive performance.Significance statement During adolescence, dopamine circuitries undergo maturational changes which may render them particularly vulnerable to social stress. While social stress can be detrimental to adolescents and adults, it may engage different mechanisms and impact different domains, depending on age. The accelerated social defeat (AcSD) model implemented here allows exposing adolescent and adult male mice to comparable social stress levels. AcSD in adulthood leads to a majority of socially avoidant mice. However, the predominance of AcSD-exposed adolescent mice does not develop social avoidance, and these resilient mice show risk-taking behaviour. Nonetheless, in adolescence only, AcSD dysregulates Netrin-1/DCC expression in mesolimbic dopamine regions, possibly disrupting mesocortical dopamine and cognition. The unique adolescent responsiveness to stress may explain increased psychopathology risk at this age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Vassilev
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Michel Giroux
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Dominique Nouel
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Taylor Orsini
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cecilia Flores
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Collective Housing of Mice of Different Age Groups before Maturity Affects Mouse Behavior. Behav Neurol 2020; 2020:6856935. [PMID: 33273986 PMCID: PMC7676975 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6856935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although population housing is recommended by many animal management and ethical guidelines, the effect of collective housing of mice of different age groups on mouse behavior has not been clarified. Since the development of the central nervous system continues to occur before sexual maturation, the stress of social ranking formation among male individuals in mixed housing conditions can affect postmaturation behavior. To assess these effects, sexually immature mice of different ages were housed in the same cage and a series of behavioral tests were performed after maturation. Results The findings for three groups of mice—junior mice housed with older mice, senior mice housed with younger mice, and mice housed with other mice of the same age—were compared. Junior mice showed higher body weight and activity as well as lower grip strength and anxiety-like behaviors than other mice. In contrast, senior mice showed lower body temperature and increased aggression, antinociceptive effect, and home-cage activity in the dark period in comparison with other mice. Conclusions Thus, combined housing of immature mice of different age groups affects mouse behavior after maturation. Appropriate prematuration housing conditions are crucial to eliminate the uncontrollable bias caused by age-related social stratification.
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Osadchuk LV, Osadchuk AV. Genotypic Peculiarities of Olfactory Communication in Male Laboratory Mice (Mus musculus) in a Social Competition Model. BIOL BULL+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359019080120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Ferri SL, Pallathra AA, Kim H, Dow HC, Raje P, McMullen M, Bilker WB, Siegel SJ, Abel T, Brodkin ES. Sociability development in mice with cell-specific deletion of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit gene. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12624. [PMID: 31721416 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Social affiliative behavior is an important component of everyday life in many species and is likely to be disrupted in disabling ways in various neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, determining the mechanisms involved in these processes is crucial. A link between N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function and social behaviors has been clearly established. The cell types in which NMDA receptors are critical for social affiliative behavior, however, remain unclear. Here, we use mice carrying a conditional allele of the NMDA R1 subunit to address this question. Mice bearing a floxed NMDAR1 (NR1) allele were crossed with transgenic calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα (CaMKIIα)-Cre mice or parvalbumin (PV)-Cre mice targeting postnatal excitatory forebrain or PV-expressing interneurons, respectively, and assessed using the three-chambered Social Approach Test. We found that deletion of NR1 in PV-positive interneurons had no effect on social sniffing, but deletion of NR1 in glutamatergic pyramidal cells resulted in a significant increase in social approach behavior, regardless of age or sex. Therefore, forebrain excitatory neurons expressing NR1 play an important role in regulating social affiliative behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Ferri
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Ashley A Pallathra
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hyong Kim
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Holly C Dow
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Praachi Raje
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mary McMullen
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Warren B Bilker
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Steven J Siegel
- Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Edward S Brodkin
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Altered NMDAR signaling underlies autistic-like features in mouse models of CDKL5 deficiency disorder. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2655. [PMID: 31201320 PMCID: PMC6572855 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10689-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is characterized by epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autistic features, and CDKL5-deficient mice exhibit a constellation of behavioral phenotypes reminiscent of the human disorder. We previously found that CDKL5 dysfunction in forebrain glutamatergic neurons results in deficits in learning and memory. However, the pathogenic origin of the autistic features of CDD remains unknown. Here, we find that selective loss of CDKL5 in GABAergic neurons leads to autistic-like phenotypes in mice accompanied by excessive glutamatergic transmission, hyperexcitability, and increased levels of postsynaptic NMDA receptors. Acute, low-dose inhibition of NMDAR signaling ameliorates autistic-like behaviors in GABAergic knockout mice, as well as a novel mouse model bearing a CDD-associated nonsense mutation, CDKL5 R59X, implicating the translational potential of this mechanism. Together, our findings suggest that enhanced NMDAR signaling and circuit hyperexcitability underlie autistic-like features in mouse models of CDD and provide a new therapeutic avenue to treat CDD-related symptoms. Mouse models of CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) recapitulate multiple clinical symptoms of CDD, such as intellectual disability and autism. Here, the authors show that selective loss of CDKL5 from GABAergic neurons leads to social deficits and stereotypic behaviors, which can be ameliorated through inhibition of NMDAR signaling.
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Kim DG, Gonzales EL, Kim S, Kim Y, Adil KJ, Jeon SJ, Cho KS, Kwon KJ, Shin CY. Social Interaction Test in Home Cage as a Novel and Ethological Measure of Social Behavior in Mice. Exp Neurobiol 2019; 28:247-260. [PMID: 31138992 PMCID: PMC6526108 DOI: 10.5607/en.2019.28.2.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociability is the disposition to interact with one another. Rodents have a rich repertoire of social behaviors and demonstrate strong sociability. Various methods have been established to measure the sociability of rodents in simple and direct ways, which includes reciprocal social interaction, juvenile social play, and three-chamber social tests. There are possible confounding factors while performing some of these tasks, such as aggression, avoidance of interaction by the stimulus mouse, exposure to a new environment, and lengthy procedures. The present study devised a method to complement these shortcomings and measure sociability as a group in the home cage setting, which prevents group-housed mice from isolation or exposure to a new environment. The home cage social test can allow high-throughput screening of social behaviors in a short amount of time. We developed two types of home cage setup: a home cage social target interaction test that measures sociability by putting the wire cage in the center area of the cage and a home cage two-choice sociability and social preference test that measures both sociability or social preference by putting cage racks at opposite sides of the cage. Interestingly, our results showed that the two types of home cage setup that we used in this study can extract abnormal social behaviors in various animal models, similar to the three-chamber assay. Thus, this study establishes a new and effective method to measure sociability or social preference that could be a complementary assay to evaluate the social behavior of mice in various setup conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Gyeong Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Edson Luck Gonzales
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Seonmin Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Yujeong Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Keremkleroo Jym Adil
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Se Jin Jeon
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Kyu Suk Cho
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Kyoung Ja Kwon
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience Research, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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Inhibitory control in BALB/c mice sub-strains during extinction learning. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:509-518. [PMID: 30851996 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of executive function (EF) involves alterations in cognitive flexibility / control and is underscored by learning impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we examine cognitive inflexibility in BALB/cJ mice (a mouse model showing diminished sociability, increased anxiety and inattentive behaviour) and closely related "reference" BALB/cByJ mice. We used an appetitive extinction paradigm to investigate if cognitive flexibility measures are different between learning acquisition and extinction. The two BALB/c sub-strains learned to respond to a stimulus in a touchscreen operant chamber, after which the reward was removed and responses should be inhibited. Both mice sub-strains showed a different rate of learning while acquiring the task, in which the BALB/cJ mice were faster learners compared to the BALB/cByJ mice. This was not observed during the extinction phase, in which the BALB/cJ mice were able to extinguish responding to unrewarded stimuli equally. Within the BALB/cJ sub-strain, variation in the ability to inhibit a learnt response was observed when comparing them to similar grouped BALB/cByJ mice: BALB/cJ animals that reached the criterion were more reward driven, while BALB/cJ mice failing to reach the set criterion during extinction processing make more mistakes. Additionally, the changes observed during acquisition, were driven by animals not reaching the extinction criterion. Our results suggest that the BALB/c mice sub-strains may use different strategies to learn during appetitive extinction. This may be useful in the phenotypic dissection of cognitive flexibility in BALB/c sub-strains and their mapping on genetic variance revealed by next-generation sequencing in future studies.
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Bell MR. Comparing Postnatal Development of Gonadal Hormones and Associated Social Behaviors in Rats, Mice, and Humans. Endocrinology 2018; 159:2596-2613. [PMID: 29767714 PMCID: PMC6692888 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Postnatal development includes dramatic changes in gonadal hormones and the many social behaviors they help regulate, both in rodents and humans. Parental care-seeking is the most salient social interaction in neonates and infants, play and prosocial behaviors are commonly studied in juveniles, and the development of aggression and sexual behavior begins in peripubertal stages but continues through late adolescence into adulthood. Although parental behaviors are shown after reproductive success in adulthood, alloparenting behaviors are actually high in juveniles as well. These behaviors are sensitive to both early-life organizational effects of gonadal hormones and later-life activational regulation. However, changes in circulating gonadal hormones and the display of the previous behaviors over development differ between rats, mice, and humans. These endpoints are of interest to endocrinologist, toxicologists, and neuroscientists because of their relevance to mental health disorders and their vulnerability to effects of endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure. As such, the goal of this mini-review is to succinctly describe and relate the postnatal development of gonadal hormones and social behaviors to each other, over time, and across animal models. Ideally, this will help identify appropriate animal models and age ranges for continued study of both normative development and in contexts of environmental disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret R Bell
- Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Health Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
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15
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Hsueh PT, Lin HH, Wang HH, Liu CL, Ni WF, Liu JK, Chang HH, Sun DS, Chen YS, Chen YL. Immune imbalance of global gene expression, and cytokine, chemokine and selectin levels in the brains of offspring with social deficits via maternal immune activation. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 17:e12479. [PMID: 29656594 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The murine maternal immune activation (MIA) offspring model enables longitudinal studies to explore aberrant social behaviors similar to those observed in humans. High levels of cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules (CAM) have been found in the plasma and/or brains of psychiatric patients. We hypothesized that upregulation of the systemic or brain immune response has an augmenting effect by potentially increasing the interplay between the neuronal and immune systems during the growth of the MIA offspring. In this study, a C57BL/6j MIA female offspring model exhibiting social deficits was established. The expression of fetal interferon (IFN)-stimulated (gbp3, irgm1, ifi44), adolescent immunodevelopmental transcription factor (eg, r2, tfap2b), hormone (pomc, hcrt), adult selectin (sell, selp) and neuroligin (nlgn2) genes was altered. Systemic upregulation of endogenous IL-10 occurred at the adult stage, while both IL-1β and IL-6 were increased and persisted in the sera throughout the growth of the MIA offspring. The cerebral IL-6 levels were endogenously upregulated, but both MCP-1 (macrophage inflammatory protein-1) and L-selectin levels were downregulated at the adolescent and/or adult stages. However, the MIA offspring were susceptible to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. After reinjecting the MIA offspring with LPS in adulthood, a variety of sera and cerebral cytokines, chemokines and CAMs were increased. Particularly, both MCP-1 and L-selectin showed relatively high expression in the brain compared with the expression levels in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated offspring injected with LPS. Potentially, MCP-1 was attracted to the L-selectin-mediated immune cells due to augmentation of the immune response following stimulation in MIA female offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- P-T Hsueh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - H-H Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - H-H Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - C-L Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - W-F Ni
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - J-K Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - H-H Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - D-S Sun
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Y-S Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Y-L Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Heinla I, Åhlgren J, Vasar E, Voikar V. Behavioural characterization of C57BL/6N and BALB/c female mice in social home cage - Effect of mixed housing in complex environment. Physiol Behav 2018; 188:32-41. [PMID: 29382562 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Developing reliable mouse models for social behaviour is challenging. Different tests have been proposed, but most of them consist of rather artificial confrontations of unfamiliar mice in novel arenas or are relying on social stress induced by aggressive conspecifics. Natural social interaction in home cage in laboratory has not been investigated well. IntelliCage is a fully automated home-cage system, where activity of the group-housed mice can be monitored along with various cognitive tasks. Here we report the behavioural profile of C57BL/6N (B6) and BALB/c (BALB) female mice in IntelliCage when separated by strain, followed by monitoring of activity and formation of 'home-base' after mixing two strains. For that purpose, 3 cages were connected. Significant differences between the strains were established in baseline behaviour in conventional tests and in IntelliCage. The B6 mice showed reduced anxiety-like behaviour in open field and light-dark box, slightly enhanced exploratory activity in IntelliCage during initial adaptation and clearly distinct circadian activity. Mixing of two strains resulted in reduction of body weight and anhedonia in B6 mice. In addition, the B6 mice showed clear preference to previous home-cage, and formed a new home-base faster than BALB mice. In contrast, BALB mice showed enhanced activity and moving between the cages without showing any preference to previous home-cage. It could be argued that social challenge caused changes in both strains and different coping styles are responsible for behavioural manifestations. Altogether, this approach could be useful in modelling and validating mouse models for disorders with disturbed social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrek Heinla
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Tartu, Estonia
| | - Johanna Åhlgren
- Laboratory Animal Center, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Vasar
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vootele Voikar
- Laboratory Animal Center, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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17
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Loss of CDKL5 in Glutamatergic Neurons Disrupts Hippocampal Microcircuitry and Leads to Memory Impairment in Mice. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7420-7437. [PMID: 28674172 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0539-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by epileptic seizures, severe intellectual disability, and autistic features. Mice lacking CDKL5 display multiple behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of the disorder, but the cellular origins of these phenotypes remain unclear. Here, we find that ablating CDKL5 expression specifically from forebrain glutamatergic neurons impairs hippocampal-dependent memory in male conditional knock-out mice. Hippocampal pyramidal neurons lacking CDKL5 show decreased dendritic complexity but a trend toward increased spine density. This morphological change is accompanied by an increase in the frequency of spontaneous miniature EPSCs and interestingly, miniature IPSCs. Using voltage-sensitive dye imaging to interrogate the evoked response of the CA1 microcircuit, we find that CA1 pyramidal neurons lacking CDKL5 show hyperexcitability in their dendritic domain that is constrained by elevated inhibition in a spatially and temporally distinct manner. These results suggest a novel role for CDKL5 in the regulation of synaptic function and uncover an intriguing microcircuit mechanism underlying impaired learning and memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the CDKL5 gene. Although Cdkl5 constitutive knock-out mice have recapitulated key aspects of human symptomatology, the cellular origins of CDKL5 deficiency-related phenotypes are unknown. Here, using conditional knock-out mice, we show that hippocampal-dependent learning and memory deficits in CDKL5 deficiency have origins in glutamatergic neurons of the forebrain and that loss of CDKL5 results in the enhancement of synaptic transmission and disruptions in neural circuit dynamics in a spatially and temporally specific manner. Our findings demonstrate that CDKL5 is an important regulator of synaptic function in glutamatergic neurons and serves a critical role in learning and memory.
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Rao NR, Abad C, Perez IC, Srivastava AK, Young JI, Walz K. Rai1 Haploinsufficiency Is Associated with Social Abnormalities in Mice. BIOLOGY 2017; 6:biology6020025. [PMID: 28448442 PMCID: PMC5485472 DOI: 10.3390/biology6020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Autism is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors; with different degrees of severity in each of the core areas. Haploinsufficiency and point mutations of RAI1 are associated with Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), a genetic condition that scores within the autism spectrum range for social responsiveness and communication, and is characterized by neurobehavioral abnormalities, intellectual disability, developmental delay, sleep disturbance, and self-injurious behaviors. Methods: To investigate the relationship between Rai1 and social impairment, we evaluated the Rai1+/− mice with a battery of tests to address social behavior in mice. Results: We found that the mutant mice showed diminished interest in social odors, abnormal submissive tendencies, and increased repetitive behaviors when compared to wild type littermates. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Rai1 contributes to social behavior in mice, and prompt it as a candidate gene for the social behaviors observed in Smith-Magenis Syndrome patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalini R Rao
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Clemer Abad
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Irene C Perez
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Anand K Srivastava
- J.C. Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA.
| | - Juan I Young
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Katherina Walz
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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19
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Schoch H, Kreibich AS, Ferri SL, White RS, Bohorquez D, Banerjee A, Port RG, Dow HC, Cordero L, Pallathra AA, Kim H, Li H, Bilker WB, Hirano S, Schultz RT, Borgmann-Winter K, Hahn CG, Feldmeyer D, Carlson GC, Abel T, Brodkin ES. Sociability Deficits and Altered Amygdala Circuits in Mice Lacking Pcdh10, an Autism Associated Gene. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:193-202. [PMID: 27567313 PMCID: PMC5161717 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been attributed to abnormal neuronal connectivity, but the molecular bases of these behavioral and brain phenotypes are largely unknown. Human genetic studies have implicated PCDH10, a member of the δ2 subfamily of nonclustered protocadherin genes, in ASD. PCDH10 expression is enriched in the basolateral amygdala, a brain region implicated in the social deficits of ASD. Previous reports indicate that Pcdh10 plays a role in axon outgrowth and glutamatergic synapse elimination, but its roles in social behaviors and amygdala neuronal connectivity are unknown. We hypothesized that haploinsufficiency of Pcdh10 would reduce social approach behavior and alter the structure and function of amygdala circuits. METHODS Mice lacking one copy of Pcdh10 (Pcdh10+/-) and wild-type littermates were assessed for social approach and other behaviors. The lateral/basolateral amygdala was assessed for dendritic spine number and morphology, and amygdala circuit function was studied using voltage-sensitive dye imaging. Expression of Pcdh10 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits was assessed in postsynaptic density fractions of the amygdala. RESULTS Male Pcdh10+/- mice have reduced social approach behavior, as well as impaired gamma synchronization, abnormal spine morphology, and reduced levels of NMDAR subunits in the amygdala. Social approach deficits in Pcdh10+/- male mice were rescued with acute treatment with the NMDAR partial agonist d-cycloserine. CONCLUSIONS Our studies reveal that male Pcdh10+/- mice have synaptic and behavioral deficits, and establish Pcdh10+/- mice as a novel genetic model for investigating neural circuitry and behavioral changes relevant to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Schoch
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 10-170, Building 421, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6168, USA
| | - Arati S. Kreibich
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Sarah L. Ferri
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 10-133, Building 421, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6168, USA
| | - Rachel S. White
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Dominique Bohorquez
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Anamika Banerjee
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Russell G. Port
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Holly C. Dow
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Lucero Cordero
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Ashley A. Pallathra
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Hyong Kim
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Honghze Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 215 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA
| | - Warren B. Bilker
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 215 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA
| | - Shinji Hirano
- Department of Cell Biology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata City, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Robert T. Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karin Borgmann-Winter
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Chang-Gyu Hahn
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Dirk Feldmeyer
- Forschungzentrum Julich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-2, D-52425, Julich, Germany,RWTH Aachen University, Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Gregory C. Carlson
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 10-133, Building 421, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6168, USA
| | - Edward S. Brodkin
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research Laboratory, 125 South 31 Street, Room 2220, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403, USA
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Panksepp JB, Rodriguez ED, Ryabinin AE. Sweetened ethanol drinking during social isolation: enhanced intake, resistance to genetic heterogeneity and the emergence of a distinctive drinking pattern in adolescent mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:369-383. [PMID: 27706910 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
With its ease of availability during adolescence, sweetened ethanol ('alcopops') is consumed within many contexts. We asked here whether genetically based differences in social motivation are associated with how the adolescent social environment impacts voluntary ethanol intake. Mice with previously described differences in sociability (BALB/cJ, C57BL/6J, FVB/NJ and MSM/MsJ strains) were weaned into isolation or same-sex pairs (postnatal day, PD, 21), and then given continuous access to two fluids on PDs 34-45: one containing water and the other containing an ascending series of saccharin-sweetened ethanol (3-6-10%). Prior to the introduction of ethanol (PDs 30-33), increased water and food intake was detected in some of the isolation-reared groups, and controls indicated that isolated mice also consumed more 'saccharin-only' solution. Voluntary drinking of 'ethanol-only' was also higher in a subset of the isolated groups on PDs 46-49. However, sweetened ethanol intake was increased in all isolated strain × sex combinations irrespective of genotype. Surprisingly, blood ethanol concentration (BEC) was not different between these isolate and socially housed groups 4 h into the dark phase. Using lickometer-based measures of intake in FVB mice, we identified that a predominance of increased drinking during isolation transpired outside of the typical circadian consumption peak, occurring ≈8.5 h into the dark phase, with an associated difference in BEC. These findings collectively indicate that isolate housing leads to increased consumption of rewarding substances in adolescent mice independent of their genotype, and that for ethanol this may be because of when individuals drink during the circadian cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Panksepp
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - E D Rodriguez
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - A E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Kazdoba TM, Leach PT, Yang M, Silverman JL, Solomon M, Crawley JN. Translational Mouse Models of Autism: Advancing Toward Pharmacological Therapeutics. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2016; 28:1-52. [PMID: 27305922 PMCID: PMC5116923 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_5003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Animal models provide preclinical tools to investigate the causal role of genetic mutations and environmental factors in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Knockout and humanized knock-in mice, and more recently knockout rats, have been generated for many of the de novo single gene mutations and copy number variants (CNVs) detected in ASD and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. Mouse models incorporating genetic and environmental manipulations have been employed for preclinical testing of hypothesis-driven pharmacological targets, to begin to develop treatments for the diagnostic and associated symptoms of autism. In this review, we summarize rodent behavioral assays relevant to the core features of autism, preclinical and clinical evaluations of pharmacological interventions, and strategies to improve the translational value of rodent models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana M Kazdoba
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Prescott T Leach
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Mu Yang
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Ingrao JC, Ruggiero L, Batista L, Ovari J, Hammermueller J, Armstrong JN, Bienzle D, Choleris E, Turner PV. Long-Term Provision of Environmental Resources Alters Behavior but not Physiology or Neuroanatomy of Male and Female BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2015; 54:718-730. [PMID: 26632781 PMCID: PMC4671787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have evaluated the long-term effects of providing environmental resources to mice. This consideration is important given that mice are often maintained in vivaria for months. We evaluated the effects of providing simple cage resources (wood wool, cotton nesting material, a plastic tunnel, and oat cereal) compared with standard housing (solid-bottom cage with hardwood chips) to group-housed adult male and female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice (n = 20/sex/strain/group) over 6 mo to determine whether these resources had a lasting effect on animal physiology, anatomy, and behavior. Body weights increased in all groups over time but were proportionately higher in male and female BALB/c mice housed in resource-supplemented environments. Throughout the study, adding environmental resources had no effect on hematology and lymphocyte subsets, fecal corticoid metabolite levels, response to LPS injection, or dendritic spine length or density. Strain- or sex×environmentspecific changes occurred in dark-light activity and thermal nociceptive responses. Dominant agonistic behaviors, abnormal conspecific sexual behaviors, and social nonagonistic behaviors demonstrated sex and strain×environment interactions such that fewer maladaptive social behaviors were noted in mice that were provided with environmental resources. This association was particularly evident in male mice of both strains in resource-supplemented environments. A small but significant increase in brain weight:body weight ratios occurred in mice in resource-supplemented environments. Under the conditions evaluated here, consistent use of simple environmental resources had a positive long-term effect on the behavioral wellbeing of male and female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice yet minimally affected other aspects of murine physiology and neuroanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Clipperton-Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Joelle C Ingrao
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Laura Ruggiero
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Lucas Batista
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada; Nutriza Agroindustrial de Alimentos S.A., Goias, Brazil
| | - Jelena Ovari
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | | | - John N Armstrong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada; Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
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Effects of VU0410120, a novel GlyT1 inhibitor, on measures of sociability, cognition and stereotypic behaviors in a mouse model of autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2015; 61:10-7. [PMID: 25784602 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The NMDA receptor is a highly regulated glutamate-gated cationic channel receptor that has an important role in the regulation of sociability and cognition. The genetically-inbred Balb/c mouse has altered endogenous tone of NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission and is a model of impaired sociability, relevant to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Because glycine is an obligatory co-agonist that works cooperatively with glutamate to promote opening of the ion channel, one prominent strategy to promote NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission involves inhibition of the glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1). The current study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of VU0410120, a selective, high-affinity competitive GlyT1 inhibitor, on measures of sociability, cognition and stereotypic behaviors in Balb/c and Swiss Webster mice. The data show that doses of VU0410120 (i.e., 18 and 30mg/kg) that improve measures of sociability and spatial working memory in the Balb/c mouse strain elicit intense stereotypic behaviors in the Swiss Webster comparator strain (i.e., burrowing and jumping). Furthermore, the data suggest that selective GlyT1 inhibition improves sociability and spatial working memory at doses that do not worsen or elicit stereotypic behaviors in a social situation in the Balb/c strain. However, the elicitation of stereotypic behaviors in the Swiss Webster comparator strain at therapeutically relevant doses of VU0410120 suggest that genetic factors (i.e., mouse strain differences) influence sensitivity to GlyT1-elicited stereotypic behaviors, and emergence of intense stereotypic behaviors may be dose-limiting side effects of this interventional strategy.
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Nosjean A, Cressant A, de Chaumont F, Olivo-Marin JC, Chauveau F, Granon S. Acute stress in adulthood impoverishes social choices and triggers aggressiveness in preclinical models. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 8:447. [PMID: 25610381 PMCID: PMC4285129 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult C57BL/6J mice are known to exhibit high level of social flexibility while mice lacking the β2 subunit of nicotinic receptors (β2(-/-) mice) present social rigidity. We asked ourselves what would be the consequences of a restraint acute stress (45 min) on social interactions in adult mice of both genotypes, hence the contribution of neuronal nicotinic receptors in this process. We therefore dissected social interaction complexity of stressed and not stressed dyads of mice in a social interaction task. We also measured plasma corticosterone levels in our experimental conditions. We showed that a single stress exposure occurring in adulthood reduced and disorganized social interaction complexity in both C57BL/6J and β2(-/-) mice. These stress-induced maladaptive social interactions involved alteration of distinct social categories and strategies in both genotypes, suggesting a dissociable impact of stress depending on the functioning of the cholinergic nicotinic system. In both genotypes, social behaviors under stress were coupled to aggressive reactions with no plasma corticosterone changes. Thus, aggressiveness appeared a general response independent of nicotinic function. We demonstrate here that a single stress exposure occurring in adulthood is sufficient to impoverish social interactions: stress impaired social flexibility in C57BL/6J mice whereas it reinforced β2(-/-) mice behavioral rigidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Nosjean
- Centre de Neuroscience Paris Sud, Université Paris Sud 11 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8195 Orsay, France
| | - Arnaud Cressant
- Centre de Neuroscience Paris Sud, Université Paris Sud 11 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8195 Orsay, France
| | - Fabrice de Chaumont
- Unité d'Analyse d'Images Quantitative, Institut Pasteur, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique URA 2582 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin
- Unité d'Analyse d'Images Quantitative, Institut Pasteur, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique URA 2582 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Chauveau
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, NCO, Unité NPS Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Sylvie Granon
- Centre de Neuroscience Paris Sud, Université Paris Sud 11 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8195 Orsay, France
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25
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Shimamoto C, Ohnishi T, Maekawa M, Watanabe A, Ohba H, Arai R, Iwayama Y, Hisano Y, Toyota T, Toyoshima M, Suzuki K, Shirayama Y, Nakamura K, Mori N, Owada Y, Kobayashi T, Yoshikawa T. Functional characterization of FABP3, 5 and 7 gene variants identified in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder and mouse behavioral studies. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:6495-511. [PMID: 25027319 PMCID: PMC4240203 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Disturbances of lipid metabolism have been implicated in psychiatric illnesses. We previously reported an association between the gene for fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) and schizophrenia. Furthermore, we identified and reported several rare non-synonymous polymorphisms of the brain-expressed genes FABP3, FABP5 and FABP7 from schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), diseases known to part share genetic architecture. Here, we conducted further studies to better understand the contribution these genes make to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and ASD. In postmortem brains, we detected altered mRNA expression levels of FABP5 in schizophrenia, and of FABP7 in ASD and altered FABP5 in peripheral lymphocytes. Using a patient cohort, comprehensive mutation screening identified six missense and two frameshift variants from the three FABP genes. The two frameshift proteins, FABP3 E132fs and FABP7 N80fs, formed cellular aggregates and were unstable when expressed in cultured cells. The four missense mutants with predicted possible damaging outcomes showed no changes in intracellular localization. Examining ligand binding properties, FABP7 S86G and FABP7 V126L lost their preference for docosahexaenoic acid to linoleic acid. Finally, mice deficient in Fabp3, Fabp5 and Fabp7 were evaluated in a systematic behavioral test battery. The Fabp3 knockout (KO) mice showed decreased social memory and novelty seeking, and Fabp7 KO mice displayed hyperactive and anxiety-related phenotypes, while Fabp5 KO mice showed no apparent phenotypes. In conclusion, disturbances in brain-expressed FABPs could represent an underlying disease mechanism in a proportion of schizophrenia and ASD sufferers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Shimamoto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan, Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ohnishi
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Motoko Maekawa
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Akiko Watanabe
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hisako Ohba
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Arai
- Division of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Iwayama
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yasuko Hisano
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tomoko Toyota
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Manabu Toyoshima
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Katsuaki Suzuki
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Yukihiko Shirayama
- Department of Psychiatry, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Chiba 299-0111, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakamura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Aomori 036-8562, Japan and
| | - Norio Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Yuji Owada
- Department of Organ Anatomy, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Tetsuyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan
| | - Takeo Yoshikawa
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan,
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26
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Sittig LJ, Jeong C, Tixier E, Davis J, Barrios-Camacho CM, Palmer AA. Phenotypic instability between the near isogenic substrains BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ. Mamm Genome 2014; 25:564-72. [PMID: 24997021 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-014-9531-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Closely related substrains of inbred mice often show phenotypic differences that are presumed to be caused by recent mutations. The substrains BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ, which were separated in 1935, have been reported to show numerous highly significant behavioral and morphological differences. In an effort to identify some of the causal mutations, we phenotyped BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice as well as their F1, F2, and N2 progeny for behavioral and morphological phenotypes. We also generated whole-genome sequence data for both inbred strains (~3.5× coverage) with the intention of identifying polymorphic markers to be used for linkage analysis. We observed significant differences in body weight, the weight of the heart, liver, spleen and brain, and corpus callosum length between the two substrains. We also observed that BALB/cJ animals showed greater anxiety-like behavior in the open field test, less depression-like behavior in the tail suspension test, and reduced aggression compared to BALB/cByJ mice. Some but not all of these physiological and behavioral results were inconsistent with prior publications. These inconsistencies led us to suspect that the differences were due to, or modified by, non-genetic factors. Thus, we did not perform linkage analysis. We provide a comprehensive summary of the prior literature about phenotypic differences between these substrains as well as our current findings. We conclude that many differences between these strains are unstable and therefore ill-suited to linkage analysis; the source of this instability is unclear. We discuss the broader implications of these observations for the design of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Sittig
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, 920 E 58th St. CLSC-501, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA,
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27
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Stewart AM, Nguyen M, Wong K, Poudel MK, Kalueff AV. Developing zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 50:27-36. [PMID: 24315837 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder with complex symptoms and unclear, multi-factorial pathogenesis. Animal (rodent) models of ASD-like behavior are extensively used to study genetics, circuitry and molecular mechanisms of ASD. The evolutionarily conserved nature of social behavior and its molecular pathways suggests that alternative experimental models can be developed to complement and enhance the existing rodent ASD paradigms. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a popular model organism in neuroscience and biological psychiatry to study brain function, model human brain disorders and explore their genetic or pharmacological modulation. Representing highly social animals, zebrafish emerge as a strong potential model organism to study normal and pathological social phenotypes, as well as several other ASD-like symptoms. Here, we discuss the developing utility of zebrafish in modeling ASD as a new emerging field in translational neuroscience and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Michael Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Keith Wong
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Manoj K Poudel
- ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute and Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
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28
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Nguyen M, Roth A, Kyzar EJ, Poudel MK, Wong K, Stewart AM, Kalueff AV. Decoding the contribution of dopaminergic genes and pathways to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurochem Int 2014; 66:15-26. [PMID: 24412511 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2013] [Revised: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a debilitating brain illness causing social deficits, delayed development and repetitive behaviors. ASD is a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder with poorly understood and complex etiology. The central dopaminergic system is strongly implicated in ASD pathogenesis. Genes encoding various elements of this system (including dopamine receptors, the dopamine transporter or enzymes of synthesis and catabolism) have been linked to ASD. Here, we comprehensively evaluate known molecular interactors of dopaminergic genes, and identify their potential molecular partners within up/down-steam signaling pathways associated with dopamine. These in silico analyses allowed us to construct a map of molecular pathways, regulated by dopamine and involved in ASD. Clustering these pathways reveals groups of genes associated with dopamine metabolism, encoding proteins that control dopamine neurotransmission, cytoskeletal processes, synaptic release, Ca(2+) signaling, as well as the adenosine, glutamatergic and gamma-aminobutyric systems. Overall, our analyses emphasize the important role of the dopaminergic system in ASD, and implicate several cellular signaling processes in its pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
| | - Andrew Roth
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Evan J Kyzar
- College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood Street, Room 165 CME, M/C 783, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Manoj K Poudel
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA
| | - Keith Wong
- University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, A210 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- ZENEREI Institute, 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
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29
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Hurwitz ZE, Cobuzzi JL, Merluzzi AP, Wetzell B, Riley AL. Prepubertal Fischer 344 rats display stronger morphine-induced taste avoidance than prepubertal Lewis rats. Dev Psychobiol 2013; 56:979-88. [PMID: 24166592 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present report asked if the previously reported differences in morphine-induced conditioned taste avoidance between adult F344 and LEW rats (F344 > LEW) are also evident in prepubescence (early adolescence). To assess this possibility, adult (Experiment 1) and prepubertal (Experiment 2) F344 and LEW rats were assessed for their ability to acquire morphine-induced taste avoidance (0, 3.2, 10, or 18 mg/kg) in a modified taste avoidance procedure. In each experiment, rats of both strains were given repeated pairings of saccharin and morphine followed by a final two-bottle avoidance test. Adult and prepubertal F344 subjects displayed a more rapid acquisition of the avoidance response as well as stronger suppression of consumption than their LEW counterparts. These data suggest the strains differ in their sensitivity to the aversive effects of morphine and that this differential sensitivity is evident early in development and is developmentally stable. The basis for these strain differences in morphine-induced avoidance was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary E Hurwitz
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, 4400 Mass. Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20016.
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