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Custodio RJP, Kim M, Chung YC, Kim BN, Kim HJ, Cheong JH. Thrsp Gene and the ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Presentation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:573-589. [PMID: 36716294 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00710] [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: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There are three presentations of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): the predominantly inattention (ADHD-PI), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-HI), and combined (ADHD-C) presentations of ADHD. These may represent distinct childhood-onset neurobehavioral disorders with separate etiologies. ADHD diagnoses are behaviorally based, so investigations into potential etiologies should be founded on behavior. Animal models of ADHD demonstrate face, predictive, and construct validity when they accurately reproduce elements of the symptoms, etiology, biochemistry, and disorder treatment. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NCrl) fulfill many validation criteria and compare well with clinical cases of ADHD-C. Compounding the difficulty of selecting an ideal model to study specific presentations of ADHD is a simple fact that our knowledge regarding ADHD neurobiology is insufficient. Accordingly, the current review has explored a potential animal model for a specific presentation, ADHD-PI, with acceptable face, predictive, and construct validity. The Thrsp gene could be a biomarker for ADHD-PI presentation, and THRSP OE mice could represent an animal model for studying this distinct ADHD presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raly James Perez Custodio
- Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors─IfADo, Ardeystraße 67, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mikyung Kim
- Department of Chemistry & Life Science, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea.,Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Chul Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Cheong
- Institute for New Drug Development, School of Pharmacy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Republic of Korea
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Current State of Modeling Human Psychiatric Disorders Using Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043187. [PMID: 36834599 PMCID: PMC9959486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043187] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent brain pathologies that represent an urgent, unmet biomedical problem. Since reliable clinical diagnoses are essential for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, their animal models with robust, relevant behavioral and physiological endpoints become necessary. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) display well-defined, complex behaviors in major neurobehavioral domains which are evolutionarily conserved and strikingly parallel to those seen in rodents and humans. Although zebrafish are increasingly often used to model psychiatric disorders, there are also multiple challenges with such models as well. The field may therefore benefit from a balanced, disease-oriented discussion that considers the clinical prevalence, the pathological complexity, and societal importance of the disorders in question, and the extent of its detalization in zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) studies. Here, we critically discuss the use of zebrafish for modeling human psychiatric disorders in general, and highlight the topics for further in-depth consideration, in order to foster and (re)focus translational biological neuroscience research utilizing zebrafish. Recent developments in molecular biology research utilizing this model species have also been summarized here, collectively calling for a wider use of zebrafish in translational CNS disease modeling.
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Baratta AM, Brandner AJ, Plasil SL, Rice RC, Farris SP. Advancements in Genomic and Behavioral Neuroscience Analysis for the Study of Normal and Pathological Brain Function. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:905328. [PMID: 35813067 PMCID: PMC9259865 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.905328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric and neurological disorders are influenced by an undetermined number of genes and molecular pathways that may differ among afflicted individuals. Functionally testing and characterizing biological systems is essential to discovering the interrelationship among candidate genes and understanding the neurobiology of behavior. Recent advancements in genetic, genomic, and behavioral approaches are revolutionizing modern neuroscience. Although these tools are often used separately for independent experiments, combining these areas of research will provide a viable avenue for multidimensional studies on the brain. Herein we will briefly review some of the available tools that have been developed for characterizing novel cellular and animal models of human disease. A major challenge will be openly sharing resources and datasets to effectively integrate seemingly disparate types of information and how these systems impact human disorders. However, as these emerging technologies continue to be developed and adopted by the scientific community, they will bring about unprecedented opportunities in our understanding of molecular neuroscience and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa M. Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Adam J. Brandner
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sonja L. Plasil
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rachel C. Rice
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Sean P. Farris,
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Genetically modified mice for research on human diseases: A triumph for Biotechnology or a work in progress? THE EUROBIOTECH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2022-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Genetically modified mice are engineered as models for human diseases. These mouse models include inbred strains, mutants, gene knockouts, gene knockins, and ‘humanized’ mice. Each mouse model is engineered to mimic a specific disease based on a theory of the genetic basis of that disease. For example, to test the amyloid theory of Alzheimer’s disease, mice with amyloid precursor protein genes are engineered, and to test the tau theory, mice with tau genes are engineered. This paper discusses the importance of mouse models in basic research, drug discovery, and translational research, and examines the question of how to define the “best” mouse model of a disease. The critiques of animal models and the caveats in translating the results from animal models to the treatment of human disease are discussed. Since many diseases are heritable, multigenic, age-related and experience-dependent, resulting from multiple gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, it will be essential to develop mouse models that reflect these genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors from a developmental perspective. Such models would provide further insight into disease emergence, progression and the ability to model two-hit and multi-hit theories of disease. The summary examines the biotechnology for creating genetically modified mice which reflect these factors and how they might be used to discover new treatments for complex human diseases such as cancers, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Turano A, McAuley EM, Muench MC, Schwarz JM. EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF NEUROIMMUNE DYSREGULATION ON SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF MALE AND FEMALE JUVENILE RATS. Behav Brain Res 2021; 415:113449. [PMID: 34252501 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Many individuals diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and social anxiety disorder, all share a common dimension of aberrant social behavior. Epidemiological data indicate that adverse environmental factors contribute to the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, including those associated with aberrant social behavior. Early-life exposure to infectious pathogens is one of those adverse environmental factors, suggesting that activation of the immune system during early development may contribute to disease pathology associated with altered social behavior. In the current project, we examined the impact of neonatal infection, with or without juvenile immune activation, on the expression of juvenile social behavior and on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and microglial signaling molecules in the juvenile rat brain. The outcomes of these experiments revealed that neonatal infection significantly decreased juvenile social interaction, but significantly increased juvenile play behavior in male and female rats. Moreover, neonatal infection alone, juvenile immune activation alone, and neonatal infection plus juvenile immune activation all significantly impaired social recognition in juvenile male rats. Juvenile female rats (including controls) failed to demonstrate social recognition as measured in our three-chamber social recognition test. Taken together, the behavioral and molecular data presented here support the sensitivity of the developing brain to immune activation, particularly in the expression of age-appropriate social behaviors. These data warrant the design of additional studies to examine the mechanistic relationship between early-life immune activation and aberrant social behavior to develop novel as well as modify existing therapeutic targets and preventative measures to help those who display aberrant social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Turano
- University of Delaware, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 105 The Green, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States.
| | - Elizabeth M McAuley
- University of Delaware, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 105 The Green, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States.
| | - Megan C Muench
- University of Delaware, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 105 The Green, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States.
| | - Jaclyn M Schwarz
- University of Delaware, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 105 The Green, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States.
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Acoustilytix™: A Web-Based Automated Ultrasonic Vocalization Scoring Platform. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070864. [PMID: 34209754 PMCID: PMC8301917 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are known to reflect emotional processing, brain neurochemistry, and brain function. Collecting and processing USV data is manual, time-intensive, and costly, creating a significant bottleneck by limiting researchers’ ability to employ fully effective and nuanced experimental designs and serving as a barrier to entry for other researchers. In this report, we provide a snapshot of the current development and testing of Acoustilytix™, a web-based automated USV scoring tool. Acoustilytix implements machine learning methodology in the USV detection and classification process and is recording-environment-agnostic. We summarize the user features identified as desirable by USV researchers and how these were implemented. These include the ability to easily upload USV files, output a list of detected USVs with associated parameters in csv format, and the ability to manually verify or modify an automatically detected call. With no user intervention or tuning, Acoustilytix achieves 93% sensitivity (a measure of how accurately Acoustilytix detects true calls) and 73% precision (a measure of how accurately Acoustilytix avoids false positives) in call detection across four unique recording environments and was superior to the popular DeepSqueak algorithm (sensitivity = 88%; precision = 41%). Future work will include integration and implementation of machine-learning-based call type classification prediction that will recommend a call type to the user for each detected call. Call classification accuracy is currently in the 71–79% accuracy range, which will continue to improve as more USV files are scored by expert scorers, providing more training data for the classification model. We also describe a recently developed feature of Acoustilytix that offers a fast and effective way to train hand-scorers using automated learning principles without the need for an expert hand-scorer to be present and is built upon a foundation of learning science. The key is that trainees are given practice classifying hundreds of calls with immediate corrective feedback based on an expert’s USV classification. We showed that this approach is highly effective with inter-rater reliability (i.e., kappa statistics) between trainees and the expert ranging from 0.30–0.75 (average = 0.55) after only 1000–2000 calls of training. We conclude with a brief discussion of future improvements to the Acoustilytix platform.
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Chen J, Li J, Jiang H, Yu J, Wang H, Wang N, Chen S, Mo W, Wang P, Tanguay RL, Dong Q, Huang C. Developmental co-exposure of TBBPA and titanium dioxide nanoparticle induced behavioral deficits in larval zebrafish. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 215:112176. [PMID: 33780780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Both tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2 NP) have widespread commercial applications, resulting in their ubiquitous co-presence in the environment and biota. Although environmental chemicals exist as mixtures, toxicity studies are nearly always conducted with single chemicals. Few studies explore potential interactions of different chemical mixtures. In this study, we employ the sensitive developing nerve system in zebrafish to assess the neurotoxicity of TBBPA/TiO2 NP mixtures. Specifically, zebrafish embryos were exposed to solvent control (0.1% DMSO), 2 μM TBBPA, 0.1 mg/L TiO2 NP, and their mixture from 8 to 120 h post fertilization (hpf), and motor/social behavioral assessments were conducted on embryos/larvae at different developmental stages. Our results showed that TBBPA/TiO2 NP single or co-exposures increased spontaneous movement, decreased touch response and swim speed, and affected social behaviors of light/dark preference, shoaling, mirror attack and social contact. In particular, many of these phenotypes were manifested with higher magnitude of changes from the mixture exposure. These behavioral deficits were also accompanied with increased cell death in olfactory region and neuromasts in the lateral line system, increased ROS in gallbladder, pancreas, liver, and intestine, as well as increased lipid peroxidation and decreased ATP levels in whole larval tissue homogenates. Further, genes coding for key cell apoptosis marker and antioxidant enzyme were significantly upregulated by these two chemicals, in particular to their mixture. Interestingly, the co-presence of TBBPA also increased the mean particle size of TiO2 NP in the exposure solutions and the TiO2 NP content in larval tissue. Together, our analysis suggests that TBBPA/TiO2 NP induced behavioral changes may be due to physical accumulation of these two chemicals in the target organs, and TiO2 NP may serve as carriers for increased accumulation of TBBPA. To conclude, we demonstrated that TBBPA/TiO2 NP together cause increased bioaccumulation of TiO2, and heightened responses in behavior, cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. Our findings also highlight the importance of toxicity assessment using chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangfei Chen
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China.
| | - Jiani Li
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Jiajian Yu
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Hongzhu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Nengzhuang Wang
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Shan Chen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Wen Mo
- Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, Hangzhou 310051, PR China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 28645 East Highway 34, Corvallis, OR 97333, United States
| | - Qiaoxiang Dong
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China; The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China
| | - Changjiang Huang
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China.
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Palmer D, Dumont JR, Dexter TD, Prado MAM, Finger E, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM. Touchscreen cognitive testing: Cross-species translation and co-clinical trials in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 182:107443. [PMID: 33895351 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Translating results from pre-clinical animal studies to successful human clinical trials in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease presents a significant challenge. While this issue is clearly multifaceted, the lack of reproducibility and poor translational validity of many paradigms used to assess cognition in animal models are central contributors to this challenge. Computer-automated cognitive test batteries have the potential to substantially improve translation between pre-clinical studies and clinical trials by increasing both reproducibility and translational validity. Given the structured nature of data output, computer-automated tests also lend themselves to increased data sharing and other open science good practices. Over the past two decades, computer automated, touchscreen-based cognitive testing methods have been developed for non-human primate and rodent models. These automated methods lend themselves to increased standardization, hence reproducibility, and have become increasingly important for the elucidation of the neurobiological basis of cognition in animal models. More recently, there have been increased efforts to use these methods to enhance translational validity by developing task batteries that are nearly identical across different species via forward (i.e., translating animal tasks to humans) and reverse (i.e., translating human tasks to animals) translation. An additional benefit of the touchscreen approach is that a cross-species cognitive test battery makes it possible to implement co-clinical trials-an approach developed initially in cancer research-for novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Co-clinical trials bring together pre-clinical and early clinical studies, which facilitates testing of novel treatments in mouse models with underlying genetic or other changes, and can help to stratify patients on the basis of genetic, molecular, or cognitive criteria. This approach can help to determine which patients should be enrolled in specific clinical trials and can facilitate repositioning and/or repurposing of previously approved drugs. This has the potential to mitigate the resources required to study treatment responses in large numbers of human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Palmer
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Julie R Dumont
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyler D Dexter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, Ontario, Canada; Parkwood Institute, St. Josephs Health Care, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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9
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No preference for prosocial helping behavior in rats with concurrent social interaction opportunities. Learn Behav 2021; 49:397-404. [PMID: 33829419 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-021-00471-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Helping behavior tasks are proposed to assess prosocial or "empathic" behavior in rodents. This paradigm characterizes the behavior of subject animals presented with the opportunity to release a conspecific from a distressing situation. Previous studies found a preference in rats for releasing restrained or distressed conspecifics over other controls (e.g., empty restrainers or inanimate objects). An empathy account was offered to explain the observed behaviors, claiming subjects were motivated to reduce the distress of others based on a rodent homologue of empathy. An opposing account attributes all previous results to subjects seeking social contact. To dissociate these two accounts for helping behavior, we presented subject rats with three simultaneous choice alternatives: releasing a restrained conspecific, engaging a nonrestrained conspecific, or not socializing. Subjects showed an initial preference for socializing with the nonrestrained conspecific, and no preference for helping. This result contradicts the empathy account, but is consistent with the social-contact account of helping behavior.
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10
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Okada M. Can rodent models elucidate the pathomechanisms of genetic epilepsy? Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:1620-1639. [PMID: 33689168 PMCID: PMC9291625 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (ADSHE; previously autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, ADNFLE), originally reported in 1994, was the first distinct genetic epilepsy shown to be caused by CHNRA4 mutation. In the past two decades, we have identified several functional abnormalities of mutant ion channels and their associated transmissions using several experiments involving single-cell and genetic animal (rodent) models. Currently, epileptologists understand that functional abnormalities underlying epileptogenesis/ictogenesis in humans and rodents are more complicated than previously believed and that the function of mutant molecules alone cannot contribute to the development of epileptogenesis/ictogenesis but play important roles in the development of epileptogenesis/ictogenesis through formation of abnormalities in various other transmission systems before epilepsy onset. Based on our recent findings using genetic rat ADSHE models, harbouring Chrna4 mutant, corresponding to human S284L-mutant CRHNA4, this review proposes a hypothesis associated with tripartite synaptic transmission in ADSHE pathomechanisms induced by mutant ACh receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
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11
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D'Elia A, Schiavi S, Soluri A, Massari R, Soluri A, Trezza V. Role of Nuclear Imaging to Understand the Neural Substrates of Brain Disorders in Laboratory Animals: Current Status and Future Prospects. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:596509. [PMID: 33362486 PMCID: PMC7759612 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.596509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging, which allows the real-time visualization, characterization and measurement of biological processes, is becoming increasingly used in neuroscience research. Scintigraphy techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide qualitative and quantitative measurement of brain activity in both physiological and pathological states. Laboratory animals, and rodents in particular, are essential in neuroscience research, providing plenty of models of brain disorders. The development of innovative high-resolution small animal imaging systems together with their radiotracers pave the way to the study of brain functioning and neurotransmitter release during behavioral tasks in rodents. The assessment of local changes in the release of neurotransmitters associated with the performance of a given behavioral task is a turning point for the development of new potential drugs for psychiatric and neurological disorders. This review addresses the role of SPECT and PET small animal imaging systems for a better understanding of brain functioning in health and disease states. Brain imaging in rodent models faces a series of challenges since it acts within the boundaries of current imaging in terms of sensitivity and spatial resolution. Several topics are discussed, including technical considerations regarding the strengths and weaknesses of both technologies. Moreover, the application of some of the radioligands developed for small animal nuclear imaging studies is discussed. Then, we examine the changes in metabolic and neurotransmitter activity in various brain areas during task-induced neural activation with special regard to the imaging of opioid, dopaminergic and cannabinoid receptors. Finally, we discuss the current status providing future perspectives on the most innovative imaging techniques in small laboratory animals. The challenges and solutions discussed here might be useful to better understand brain functioning allowing the translation of preclinical results into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata D'Elia
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy.,Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Soluri
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Massari
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Soluri
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Department of Science, University "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
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Wang Q, Chang J, Chawarska K. Atypical Value-Driven Selective Attention in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e204928. [PMID: 32374399 PMCID: PMC7203607 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Enhanced selective attention toward nonsocial objects and impaired attention to social stimuli constitute key clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, the mechanisms associated with atypical selective attention in ASD are poorly understood, which limits the development of more effective interventions. In typically developing individuals, selective attention to social and nonsocial stimuli is associated with the informational value of the stimuli, which is typically learned over the course of repeated interactions with the stimuli. Objective To examine value learning (VL) of social and nonsocial stimuli and its association with selective attention in preschoolers with and without ASD. Design, Setting, and Participants This case-control study compared children with ASD vs children with developmental delay (DD) and children with typical development (TD) recruited between March 3, 2017, and June 13, 2018, at a university-based research laboratory. Participants were preschoolers with ASD, DD, or TD. Main Outcomes and Measures Procedure consisted of an eye-tracking gaze-contingent VL task involving social (faces) and nonsocial (fractals) stimuli and consisting of baseline, training, and choice test phases. Outcome measures were preferential attention to stimuli reinforced (high value) vs not reinforced (low value) during training. The hypotheses were stated before data collection. Results Included were 115 preschoolers with ASD (n = 48; mean [SD] age, 38.30 [15.55] months; 37 [77%] boys), DD (n = 31; mean [SD] age, 45.73 [19.49] months; 19 [61%] boys), or TD (n = 36; mean [SD] age, 36.53 [12.39] months; 22 [61%] boys). The groups did not differ in sex distribution; participants with ASD or TD had similar chronological age; and participants with ASD or DD had similar verbal IQ and nonverbal IQ. After training, the ASD group showed preference for the high-value nonsocial stimuli (mean proportion, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.56-0.65]; P < .001) but not for the high-value social stimuli (mean proportion, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.46-0.56]; P = .58). In contrast, the DD and TD groups demonstrated preference for the high-value social stimuli (DD mean proportion, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.54-0.64]; P = .001 and TD mean proportion, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.53-0.61]; P = .002) but not for the high-value nonsocial stimuli (DD mean proportion, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.44-0.59]; P = .64 and TD mean proportion, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.44-0.57]; P = .91). Controlling for age and nonverbal IQ, autism severity was positively correlated with enhanced learning in the nonsocial domain (r = 0.22; P = .03) and with poorer learning in the social domain (r = -0.26; P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance Increased attention to objects in preschoolers with ASD may be associated with enhanced VL in the nonsocial domain. When paired with poor VL in the social domain, enhanced value-driven attention to objects may play a formative role in the emergence of autism symptoms by altering attentional priorities and thus learning opportunities in affected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Wang
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Spectroscopy of Xi’an, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Joseph Chang
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Katarzyna Chawarska
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
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Bauman MD, Van de Water J. Translational opportunities in the prenatal immune environment: Promises and limitations of the maternal immune activation model. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 141:104864. [PMID: 32278881 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The prenatal environment, and in particular, the maternal-fetal immune environment, has emerged as a targeted area of research for central nervous system (CNS) diseases with neurodevelopmental origins. Converging evidence from both clinical and preclinical research indicates that changes in the maternal gestational immune environment can alter fetal brain development and increase the risk for certain neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we focus on the translational potential of one prenatal animal model - the maternal immune activation (MIA) model. This model stems from the observation that a subset of pregnant women who are exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or schizophrenia (SZ). The preclinical MIA model provides a system in which to explore causal relationships, identify underlying neurobiological mechanisms, and, ultimately, develop novel therapeutic interventions and preventative strategies. In this review, we will highlight converging evidence from clinical and preclinical research that links changes in the maternal-fetal immune environment with lasting changes in offspring brain and behavioral development. We will then explore the promises and limitations of the MIA model as a translational tool to develop novel therapeutic interventions. As the translational potential of the MIA model has been the focus of several excellent review articles, here we will focus on what is perhaps the least well developed area of MIA model research - novel preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D Bauman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States of America; The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States of America.
| | - Judy Van de Water
- The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States of America; Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, United States of America
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14
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3Rs-based optimization of mice behavioral testing: The habituation/dishabituation olfactory test. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 332:108550. [PMID: 31838181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is clear evidence that most of the paradigms that are used in the field of behavioral neuroscience suffer from a lack of reliability mainly because of oversimplification of both testing procedures and interpretations. In the present study we show how an already existing behavioral test, the olfactory habituation / dishabituation task, can be optimized in such a way that animal number and animal distress could be minimized, number/confidence of behavioral outcomes and number of explored behavioral dimensions could be increased. NEW METHOD We used ethologically relevant technical and procedural changes associated with videotracking-based automated quantification of sniffing behavior to validate our new setup. Mainly internal and construct validity were challenged through the implementation of a series of simple experiments. RESULTS We show that the new version of the test: 1) has very good within and inter laboratory replicability, 2) is sensitive to some environmental / experimental factors while insensitive to others, 3) allows investigating hedonism, both state and trait anxiety, efficacy of anxiolytic molecules, acute stress, mental retardation-related social impairments and learning and memory. 4) We also show that interest for both nonsocial and social odors is stable over time which makes repetitive testing possible. CONCLUSIONS This work paves the way for future studies showing how behavioral tests / procedures may be improved by using ethologically relevant changes, in order to question laboratory animals more adequately. Refining behavioral tests may considerably increase predictivity of preclinical tests and, ultimately, help reinforcing translational research.
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15
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Bikovski L, Robinson L, Konradsson-Geuken A, Kullander K, Viereckel T, Winberg S, Roman E, Tsoory M. Lessons, insights and newly developed tools emerging from behavioral phenotyping core facilities. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 334:108597. [PMID: 31987912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Scientific investigations, in general, and research in neuroscience, in particular, are becoming ever more complex and require the integration of different techniques. Behavioral assays, which are among the most frequently used methodologies in neuroscience, nowadays rely on advanced, sophisticated technologies that require proficient application. Therefore, behavioral core facilities are becoming essential support units, as they provide the specialized expert research services needed to conduct advanced neuroscience. We here review the lessons learned and insights gathered from managing behavioral core facilities in different academic research institutes. This review addresses several issues, including: the advantages of behavioral core facilities, considerations for establishing a behavioral core facility, and the methodological advances made through calibration and standardization of assay protocols and the development of new assays. Collectively, the review highlights the benefits of both working within and collaborating with behavioral core facility units and emphasizes the potential progress in neuro-phenotyping that such facilities provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lior Bikovski
- The Myers Neuro-Behavioral Core Facility, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; School of Behavioral Sciences, Netanya Academic College, 4223587, Netanya, Israel.
| | - Lianne Robinson
- Behavioural Neuroscience Core Facility, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | | | - Klas Kullander
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thomas Viereckel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Svante Winberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Roman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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16
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Könings M, Blokpoel M, Kapusta K, Claassen T, Buitelaar JK, Glennon JC, Bielczyk NZ. Quantifying free behaviour in an open field using k-motif approach. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19873. [PMID: 31882743 PMCID: PMC6934846 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56482-z] [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: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantification and parametrisation of movement are widely used in animal behavioural paradigms. In particular, free movement in controlled conditions (e.g., open field paradigm) is used as a “proxy for indices of baseline and drug-induced behavioural changes. However, the analysis of this is often time- and labour-intensive and existing algorithms do not always classify the behaviour correctly. Here, we propose a new approach to quantify behaviour in an unconstrained environment: searching for frequent patterns (k-motifs) in the time series representing the position of the subject over time. Validation of this method was performed using subchronic quinpirole-induced changes in open field experiment behaviours in rodents. Analysis of this data was performed using k-motifs as features to better classify subjects into experimental groups on the basis of behaviour in the open field. Our classifier using k-motifs gives as high as 94% accuracy in classifying repetitive behaviour versus controls which is a substantial improvement compared to currently available methods including using standard feature definitions (depending on the choice of feature set and classification strategy, accuracy up to 88%). Furthermore, visualisation of the movement/time patterns is highly predictive of these behaviours. By using machine learning, this can be applied to behavioural analysis across experimental paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marein Könings
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Comeniuslaan 4, 6525 HP, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Blokpoel
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Comeniuslaan 4, 6525 HP, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Centre for Cognition, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Kapusta
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Claassen
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Comeniuslaan 4, 6525 HP, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Natalia Z Bielczyk
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Groteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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17
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Pre-Exposure to Nicotine with Nocturnal Abstinence Induces Epigenetic Changes that Potentiate Nicotine Preference. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1828-1846. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01843-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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18
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Sanders SJ, Sahin M, Hostyk J, Thurm A, Jacquemont S, Avillach P, Douard E, Martin CL, Modi ME, Moreno-De-Luca A, Raznahan A, Anticevic A, Dolmetsch R, Feng G, Geschwind DH, Glahn DC, Goldstein DB, Ledbetter DH, Mulle JG, Pasca SP, Samaco R, Sebat J, Pariser A, Lehner T, Gur RE, Bearden CE. A framework for the investigation of rare genetic disorders in neuropsychiatry. Nat Med 2019; 25:1477-1487. [PMID: 31548702 PMCID: PMC8656349 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0581-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
De novo and inherited rare genetic disorders (RGDs) are a major cause of human morbidity, frequently involving neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recent advances in genomic technologies and data sharing have revolutionized the identification and diagnosis of RGDs, presenting an opportunity to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders by investigating the pathophysiology of high-penetrance genetic risk factors. Here we seek out the best path forward for achieving these goals. We think future research will require consistent approaches across multiple RGDs and developmental stages, involving both the characterization of shared neuropsychiatric dimensions in humans and the identification of neurobiological commonalities in model systems. A coordinated and concerted effort across patients, families, researchers, clinicians and institutions, including rapid and broad sharing of data, is now needed to translate these discoveries into urgently needed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan J Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Hostyk
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, Hammer Health Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sebastien Jacquemont
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Avillach
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elise Douard
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christa L Martin
- Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Meera E Modi
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Alan Anticevic
- Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo Dolmetsch
- Department of Neuroscience, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Departments of Neurology and Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David C Glahn
- Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, Hammer Health Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - David H Ledbetter
- Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer G Mulle
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sergiu P Pasca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Rodney Samaco
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan Sebat
- Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anne Pariser
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Lehner
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry Section, and the Lifespan Brain Institute, Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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19
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The plus maze and scototaxis test are not valid behavioral assays for anxiety assessment in the South African clawed frog. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:567-582. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01351-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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20
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Al Dahhan NZ, De Felice FG, Munoz DP. Potentials and Pitfalls of Cross-Translational Models of Cognitive Impairment. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:48. [PMID: 30923497 PMCID: PMC6426743 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of clinical disorders that are either neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative exhibit significant cognitive impairments that require some form of intervention. However, the current paucity of pro-cognitive treatments that are available, due to the lack of knowledge of biological targets and symptomologies, impedes the treatment of individuals with cognitive impairments. In this review article, we explore three critical steps that need to be established in order to lead to the development of effective and appropriate treatments for cognitive impairments. The first step specifically involves the ability to efficiently reproduce and standardize current animal models of disease. The second step involves establishing well-controlled and standardized animal models across different species, such as rodents and monkeys, that link to human disease conditions. The third step involves building these animal models from both a translational and a reverse translational perspective in order to gain critical insight into the etiologies of specific cognitive impairments and the development of their early physiological and behavioral biomarkers. This bidirectional translational approach is important to improve the investigation of disease biomarkers, the underlying mechanisms of novel therapeutics on cognition, and to validate preclinical findings of drug discovery. Overall, even though animal models play an important role in investigating the pathophysiological processes and mechanisms associated with typical and atypical behavior, we discuss the ongoing challenges associated with these three critical steps of cross-translational research that has led to the current lack of success of developing effective new compounds for potential treatments and suggest approaches to stimulate advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Z Al Dahhan
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Fernanda G De Felice
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Douglas P Munoz
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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21
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Lundberg S, Högman C, Roman E. Adolescent Exploratory Strategies and Behavioral Types in the Multivariate Concentric Square Field TM Test. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:41. [PMID: 30886574 PMCID: PMC6409336 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is an important developmental phase with extensive changes in behavior due to remodeling of the brain and hormonal systems. Validation of animal behavioral tests in this age group is therefore of importance as differences to adult behavior are often not clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate adolescent behavior in the multivariate concentric square fieldTM (MCSF) test and its relationship to other common behavioral tests as well as to a literature dataset of adult animals. Sixty adolescent male Wistar rats were tested in the MCSF and one of four reference tests; the elevated plus maze, the open field with or without start box, or the social play behavior test. Additionally, 12 animals were tested twice in the MCSF. When analyzing the first encounter with the MCSF test, a distinct grouping of the individuals into three behavioral types was observed. Approximately 20% of the animals had high levels of activity and an additional 20% had high levels of shelter seeking-behavior, these groups composed the outlying behavioral types named Explorers and Shelter seekers, respectively, which were distinct from the Main type of animals. When tested in the MCSF for a second time, the adolescent animals showed a recollection of the arena as they changed their behavior in relation to the first encounter. When comparing the MCSF performance to the reference tests, a relationship was found between the MCSF and the other behavioral test entailing forced exploration, while no relationship was found between the MCSF and social play. The adolescent behavioral profile was characterized by decreased risk assessment and a different activity profile than adults. In conclusion, the MCSF test is useful for profiling adolescent rats but the behavioral interpretation differs from that of adults due to differences in behavioral manifestation during adolescence and the presence of natural subgroups. Adolescent exploration shows a relationship across tests, but the MCSF gives more information than any of the other behavioral tests based on forced exploration. Further studies into the neurobiology behind the behavioral types and how different manipulations affect the distribution into the behavioral types are of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Lundberg
- Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behavior, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Högman
- Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behavior, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Roman
- Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behavior, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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22
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Maximino C, van der Staay FJ. Behavioral models in psychopathology: epistemic and semantic considerations. Behav Brain Funct 2019; 15:1. [PMID: 30823933 PMCID: PMC6397463 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-019-0152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of animals in neurosciences has a long history. It is considered indispensable in areas in which “translational” research is deemed invaluable, such as behavioral pharmacology and comparative psychology. Animal models are being used in pharmacology and genetics to screen for treatment targets, and in the field of experimental psychopathology to understand the neurobehavioral underpinnings of a disorder and of its putative treatment. The centrality of behavioral models betrays the complexity of the epistemic and semantic considerations which are needed to understand what a model is. In this review, such considerations are made, and the breadth of model building and evaluation approaches is extended to include theoretical considerations on the etiology of mental disorders. This expansion is expected to help improve the validity of behavioral models and to increase their translational value. Moreover, the role of theory in improving construct validity creates the need for behavioral scientists to fully engage this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Maximino
- Laboratório de Neurociências e Comportamento, Grupo de Pesquisas em Neurofarmacologia e Psicopatologia Experimental, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, Unidade III - Av. dos Ipês, S/N, Marabá, Brazil
| | - Franz Josef van der Staay
- Behavior and Welfare Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, University Utrecht, P.O.Box 80.151, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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23
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Zabegalov KN, Kolesnikova TO, Khatsko SL, Volgin AD, Yakovlev OA, Amstislavskaya TG, Friend AJ, Bao W, Alekseeva PA, Lakstygal AM, Meshalkina DA, Demin KA, de Abreu MS, Rosemberg DB, Kalueff AV. Understanding zebrafish aggressive behavior. Behav Processes 2019; 158:200-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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24
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Kentner AC, Bilbo SD, Brown AS, Hsiao EY, McAllister AK, Meyer U, Pearce BD, Pletnikov MV, Yolken RH, Bauman MD. Maternal immune activation: reporting guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:245-258. [PMID: 30188509 PMCID: PMC6300528 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 2017 American College of Neuropychopharmacology (ACNP) conference hosted a Study Group on 4 December 2017, Establishing best practice guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the maternal immune activation (MIA) animal model of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The goals of this session were to (a) evaluate the current literature and establish a consensus on best practices to be implemented in MIA studies, (b) identify remaining research gaps warranting additional data collection and lend to the development of evidence-based best practice design, and (c) inform the MIA research community of these findings. During this session, there was a detailed discussion on the importance of validating immunogen doses and standardizing the general design (e.g., species, immunogenic compound used, housing) of our MIA models both within and across laboratories. The consensus of the study group was that data does not currently exist to support specific evidence-based model selection or methodological recommendations due to lack of consistency in reporting, and that this issue extends to other inflammatory models of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This launched a call to establish a reporting checklist focusing on validation, implementation, and transparency modeled on the ARRIVE Guidelines and CONSORT (scientific reporting guidelines for animal and clinical research, respectively). Here we provide a summary of the discussions in addition to a suggested checklist of reporting guidelines needed to improve the rigor and reproducibility of this valuable translational model, which can be adapted and applied to other animal models as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Kentner
- 0000 0001 0021 3995grid.416498.6School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- 000000041936754Xgrid.38142.3cDepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0386 9924grid.32224.35Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alan S. Brown
- 0000000419368729grid.21729.3fDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,0000 0000 8499 1112grid.413734.6New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Elaine Y. Hsiao
- 0000 0000 9632 6718grid.19006.3eDepartment of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - A. Kimberley McAllister
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bCenter for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Urs Meyer
- 0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland ,0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brad D. Pearce
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, and Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Mikhail V. Pletnikov
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pediatrics, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bThe UC Davis MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA
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Halcomb M, Argyriou E, Cyders MA. Integrating Preclinical and Clinical Models of Negative Urgency. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:324. [PMID: 31191369 PMCID: PMC6541698 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Overwhelming evidence suggests that negative urgency is robustly associated with rash, ill-advised behavior, and this trait may hamper attempts to treat patients with substance use disorder. Research applying negative urgency to clinical treatment settings has been limited, in part, due to the absence of an objective, behavioral, and translational model of negative urgency. We suggest that development of such a model will allow for determination of prime neurological and physiological treatment targets, the testing of treatment effectiveness in the preclinical and the clinical laboratory, and, ultimately, improvement in negative-urgency-related treatment response and effectiveness. In the current paper, we review the literature on measurement of negative urgency and discuss limitations of current attempts to assess this trait in human models. Then, we review the limited research on animal models of negative urgency and make suggestions for some promising models that could lead to a translational measurement model. Finally, we discuss the importance of applying objective, behavioral, and translational models of negative urgency, especially those that are easily administered in both animals and humans, to treatment development and testing and make suggestions on necessary future work in this field. Given that negative urgency is a transdiagnostic risk factor that impedes treatment success, the impact of this work could be large in reducing client suffering and societal costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Halcomb
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Evangelia Argyriou
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Melissa A Cyders
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Snijders C, Pries LK, Sgammeglia N, Al Jowf G, Youssef NA, de Nijs L, Guloksuz S, Rutten BPF. Resilience Against Traumatic Stress: Current Developments and Future Directions. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:676. [PMID: 30631285 PMCID: PMC6315131 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the high prevalence of stress-related mental disorders, their impact on person, family, and society and the paucity of treatment options for most of these disorders, there is currently a pressing need for innovative approaches to deal with these issues and enhance well-being. One approach which has received increasing attention over the last decade is to shift our scientific and clinical focus from risk factors for psychopathology to factors promoting resilience and mental well-being. In order to summarize and evaluate the current state of scientific affairs on the biological basis of resilience, we provide an overview of the literature on animal and human studies of resilience. Because resilience can only truly be operationalized through longitudinal data collection and analyses, we focus primarily on longitudinal studies. This review shows that the concept of resilience is currently being operationalized, measured and even defined in widely variable manners, both within animal and human studies. We further provide an overview of existing and new strategies that could help promote resilience and which are proposed to be implemented more often in clinical situations. Finally, we summarize the challenges the field is facing and provide recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Snijders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Lotta-Katrin Pries
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Noemi Sgammeglia
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ghazi Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Public Health, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Nagy A. Youssef
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Office of Academic Affairs, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Sinan Guloksuz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Bart P. F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Daggett JM, Brown VJ, Brennan CH. Food or friends? What motivates zebrafish (Danio rerio) performing a visual discrimination. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:190-196. [PMID: 30412739 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As a model organism, zebrafish have much to offer neuroscientific research and they are increasingly being used in behavioral neuroscience, for example to study the genetics of learning and memory. As fish are often considered "less clever" than mammals, it is important to understand how they learn and to establish optimal testing conditions. In this study, we compared the efficacy of food reinforcement and social stimuli in supporting Pavlovian conditioning, Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer, and acquisition of a two-alternative forced choice visual discrimination. Although equally effective in conditioning and in motivating discrimination learning, fish responded with shorter latencies when they were anticipating food but responded for a greater number of trials when anticipating the social stimulus. After learning, the reward was changed: food-reinforcement was replaced with the social stimulus and vice versa. Performance accuracy did not change, but response latency did: the group previously rewarded with food, but now rewarded with the social stimulus, showed a decrease in response vigor. This is a negative contrast effect, which is well established in rats, but was thought to be absent in fish because they lacked goal representation. Our results show that zebrafish, like rats, do have goal representations. Furthermore, we have shown that whereas food has greater incentive salience than social stimuli, fish become satiated rapidly, but motivation to seek social stimuli is sustained. We conclude that zebrafish are well motivated by a mixed economy of social stimuli and food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny M Daggett
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK; School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London, Mile End Rd, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Verity J Brown
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK.
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London, Mile End Rd, E1 4NS, UK
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Kosuta C, Daniel K, Johnstone DL, Mongeon K, Ban K, LeBlanc S, MacLeod S, Et-Tahiry K, Ekker M, MacKenzie A, Pena I. High-throughput DNA Extraction and Genotyping of 3dpf Zebrafish Larvae by Fin Clipping. J Vis Exp 2018:58024. [PMID: 30010654 PMCID: PMC6102016 DOI: 10.3791/58024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) possess orthologues for 84% of the genes known to be associated with human diseases. In addition, these animals have a short generation time, are easy to handle, display a high reproductive rate, low cost, and are easily amenable to genetic manipulations by microinjection of DNA in embryos. Recent advances in gene editing tools are enabling precise introduction of mutations and transgenes in zebrafish. Disease modeling in zebrafish often leads to larval phenotypes and early death which can be challenging to interpret if genotypes are unknown. This early identification of genotypes is also needed in experiments requiring sample pooling, such as in gene expression or mass spectrometry studies. However, extensive genotypic screening is limited by traditional methods, which in most labs are performed only on adult zebrafish or in postmortem larvae. We addressed this problem by adapting a method for the isolation of PCR-ready genomic DNA from live zebrafish larvae that can be achieved as early as 72 h post-fertilization (hpf). This time and cost-effective technique, improved from a previously published genotyping protocol, allows the identification of genotypes from microscopic fin biopsies. The fins quickly regenerate as the larvae develop. Researchers are then able to select and raise the desired genotypes to adulthood by utilizing this high-throughput PCR-based genotyping procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceres Kosuta
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
| | - Kate Daniel
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
| | - Devon L Johnstone
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
| | - Kevin Mongeon
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
| | - Kevin Ban
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
| | - Sophie LeBlanc
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
| | - Stuart MacLeod
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
| | | | - Marc Ekker
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
| | - Alex MacKenzie
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
| | - Izabella Pena
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa;
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Cataldo I, Azhari A, Esposito G. A Review of Oxytocin and Arginine-Vasopressin Receptors and Their Modulation of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:27. [PMID: 29487501 PMCID: PMC5816822 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) play a key regulatory part in social and affiliative behaviors; two aspects highly compromised in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Furthermore, variants in the adjacent oxytocin-vasopressin gene regions have been found to be associated with ASD diagnosis and endophenotypes. This review focuses mainly on common OXTr single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), AVPR1a microsatellites and AVPR1b polymorphisms in relation to the development of autism. Although these genes did not surface in genome-wide association studies, evidence supports the hypothesis that these receptors and their polymorphisms are widely involved in the regulation of social behavior, and in modulating neural and physiological pathways contributing to the etiology of ASD. With a specific focus on variants considered to be among the most prevalent in the development of ASD, these issues will be discussed in-depth and suggestions to approach inconsistencies in the present literature will be provided. Translational implications and future directions are deliberated from a short-term and a forward-looking perspective. While the scientific community has made significant progress in enhancing our understanding of ASD, more research is required for the ontology of this disorder to be fully elucidated. By supplementing information related to genetics, highlighting the differences across male and female sexes, this review provides a wider view of the current state of knowledge of OXTr and AVPr mechanisms of functioning, eventually addressing future research in the identification of further risk factors, to build new strategies for early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Cataldo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Atiqah Azhari
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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30
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Zebrafish models of autism spectrum disorder. Exp Neurol 2018; 299:207-216. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Systematic evaluation of skeletal fractures caused by induction of electroconvulsive seizures in rat state a need for attention and refinement of the procedure. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2017; 29:363-373. [PMID: 28376941 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2017.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most efficient treatments for major depression. Electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), the animal model of ECT, is widely used to study both mechanisms of action and adverse effects of ECT. As the treatment itself serves as an instant anaesthetic and anaesthetic agents may affect memory functions and behaviour, ECS is traditionally administered without muscle relaxation and anaesthesia. A major problem of unmodified ECS, which has only been addressed peripherally in the literature, is that some animals sustain spinal fractures and subsequent hind leg paralysis (paraplegia). This phenomenon leads to a higher degree of suffering and these animals need to be excluded from the studies. To reach sufficient statistical power, the group sizes are therefore often increased and this may lead to a pre-selected study group in risk of skewing the results. Moreover, the study design of the experiments do not comply with the 3R principles, which advocate for both refinement and reduction of animal experiments. The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate injuries caused by ECS. METHODS We summarise the incidence of spinal fractures from 24 studies conducted during 2009-2015 in six different rat strains and report preliminary findings on scapular fractures following auricular ECS. RESULTS In total, 12.8% of all tested animals suffered from spinal fractures and we find an increase in spinal fracture incidence over time. Furthermore, X-ray analyses revealed that some animals displayed scapular fractures. CONCLUSION We discuss consequences of and possible explanations for ECS-induced fractures. Modifications of the method are highly warranted and we furthermore suggest that all animals are thoroughly examined for discrete fractures.
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Galvão-Coelho NL, Galvão ACDM, da Silva FS, de Sousa MBC. Common Marmosets: A Potential Translational Animal Model of Juvenile Depression. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:175. [PMID: 28983260 PMCID: PMC5613153 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depression is a psychiatric disorder with high prevalence in the general population, with increasing expression in adolescence, about 14% in young people. Frequently, it presents as a chronic condition, showing no remission even after several pharmacological treatments and persisting in adult life. Therefore, distinct protocols and animal models have been developed to increase the understanding of this disease or search for new therapies. To this end, this study investigated the effects of chronic social isolation and the potential antidepressant action of nortriptyline in juvenile Callithrix jacchus males and females by monitoring fecal cortisol, body weight, and behavioral parameters and searching for biomarkers and a protocol for inducing depression. The purpose was to validate this species and protocol as a translational model of juvenile depression, addressing all domain criteria of validation: etiologic, face, functional, predictive, inter-relational, evolutionary, and population. In both sexes and both protocols (IDS and DPT), we observed a significant reduction in cortisol levels in the last phase of social isolation, concomitant with increases in autogrooming, stereotyped and anxiety behaviors, and the presence of anhedonia. The alterations induced by chronic social isolation are characteristic of the depressive state in non-human primates and/or in humans, and were reversed in large part by treatment with an antidepressant drug (nortriptyline). Therefore, these results indicate C. jacchus as a potential translational model of juvenile depression by addressing all criteria of validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho
- Laboratory of Hormone Measurement, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Translational Medicine Natal, Natal, Brazil
| | - Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão
- Laboratory of Hormone Measurement, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Flávia Santos da Silva
- Laboratory of Hormone Measurement, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Maria Bernardete Cordeiro de Sousa
- Laboratory of Hormone Measurement, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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Gurwitz D. Human iPSC-derived neurons and lymphoblastoid cells for personalized medicine research in neuropsychiatric disorders. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2017. [PMID: 27757061 PMCID: PMC5067144 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2016.18.3/dgurwitz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The development and clinical implementation of personalized medicine crucially depends on the availability of high-quality human biosamples; animal models, although capable of modeling complex human diseases, cannot reflect the large variation in the human genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. Although the biosamples available from public biobanks that store human tissues and cells may represent the large human diversity for most diseases, these samples are not always sufficient for developing biomarkers for patient-tailored therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders. Postmortem human tissues are available from many biobanks; nevertheless, collections of neuronal human cells from large patient cohorts representing the human diversity remain scarce. Two tools are gaining popularity for personalized medicine research on neuropsychiatric disorders: human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and human lymphoblastoid cell lines. This review examines and contrasts the advantages and limitations of each tool for personalized medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gurwitz
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Meshalkina DA, Kizlyk MN, Kysil EV, Collier AD, Echevarria DJ, Abreu MS, Barcellos LJ, Song C, Kalueff AV. Understanding zebrafish cognition. Behav Processes 2017; 141:229-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Kysil EV, Meshalkina DA, Frick EE, Echevarria DJ, Rosemberg DB, Maximino C, Lima MG, Abreu MS, Giacomini AC, Barcellos LJG, Song C, Kalueff AV. Comparative Analyses of Zebrafish Anxiety-Like Behavior Using Conflict-Based Novelty Tests. Zebrafish 2017; 14:197-208. [DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2016.1415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elana V. Kysil
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Darya A. Meshalkina
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Erin E. Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
| | - David J. Echevarria
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
| | - Denis B. Rosemberg
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Caio Maximino
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
- Laboratory of Neurosciences and Behavior “Frederico Guilherme Graeff,” Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Biological Studies, Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará (UNIFESSPA), Marabá, Brazil
| | - Monica Gomes Lima
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
- University of the State of Pará (UEPA), Marabá, Brazil
| | - Murilo S. Abreu
- Postgraduate Program in Bio-Experimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Ana C. Giacomini
- Postgraduate Program in Bio-Experimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo J. G. Barcellos
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
- Postgraduate Program in Bio-Experimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Cai Song
- Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Allan V. Kalueff
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, Louisiana
- Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, Louisiana
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Anderzhanova E, Kirmeier T, Wotjak CT. Animal models in psychiatric research: The RDoC system as a new framework for endophenotype-oriented translational neuroscience. Neurobiol Stress 2017; 7:47-56. [PMID: 28377991 PMCID: PMC5377486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently proposed Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) system defines psychopathologies as phenomena of multilevel neurobiological existence and assigns them to 5 behavioural domains characterizing a brain in action. We performed an analysis on this contemporary concept of psychopathologies in respect to a brain phylogeny and biological substrates of psychiatric diseases. We found that the RDoC system uses biological determinism to explain the pathogenesis of distinct psychiatric symptoms and emphasises exploration of endophenotypes but not of complex diseases. Therefore, as a possible framework for experimental studies it allows one to evade a major challenge of translational studies of strict disease-to-model correspondence. The system conforms with the concept of a normality and pathology continuum, therefore, supports basic studies. The units of analysis of the RDoC system appear as a novel matrix for model validation. The general regulation and arousal, positive valence, negative valence, and social interactions behavioural domains of the RDoC system show basic construct, network, and phenomenological homologies between human and experimental animals. The nature and complexity of the cognitive behavioural domain of the RDoC system deserve further clarification. These homologies in the 4 domains justifies the validity, reliably and translatability of animal models appearing as endophenotypes of the negative and positive affect, social interaction and general regulation and arousal systems’ dysfunction. The RDoC system encourages endophenotype-oriented experimental studies in human and animals. The system conforms with the normality-pathology continuum concept. The RDoC system appears to be a suitable framework for basic research. Four RDoC domains show construct and phenomenological homology in human and animals. Endophenotype-based models of affective psychopathologies appear most reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elmira Anderzhanova
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Kraepelinstrasse 2, 80804 Munich, Germany; FSBI "Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology", Baltiyskaya street, 8, 125315, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Kraepelinstrasse 2, 80804 Munich, Germany
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Susceptibility or resilience? Prenatal stress predisposes male rats to social subordination, but facilitates adaptation to subordinate status. Physiol Behav 2017; 178:117-125. [PMID: 28284881 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) affect a significant proportion of the population. Although progress has been made in the development of therapeutics, a large number of individuals do not attain full remission of symptoms and adverse side effects affect treatment compliance for some. In order to develop new therapies, there is a push for new models that better reflect the multiple risk factors that likely contribute to the development of depressive illness. We hypothesized that early life stress would exacerbate the depressive-like phenotype that we have previously observed in socially subordinate (SUB) adult male rats in the visible burrow system (VBS), a semi-natural, ethologically relevant environment in which males in a colony form a dominance hierarchy. Dams were exposed to chronic variable stress (CVS) during the last week of gestation, resulting in a robust and non-habituating glucocorticoid response that did not alter maternal food intake, body weight or litter size and weight. As adults, one prenatal CVS (PCVS) and one non-stressed (NS) male were housed in the VBS with adult females. Although there were no overt differences between PCVS and NS male offspring prior to VBS housing, a greater percentage of PCVS males became SUB. However, the depressive-like phenotype of SUB males was not exacerbated in PCVS males; rather, they appeared to better cope with SUB status than NS SUB males. They had lower basal plasma corticosterone than NS SUB males at the end of VBS housing. In situ hybridization for CRH in the PVN and CeA did not reveal any prenatal treatment or status effects, while NPY expression was higher within the MeA of dominant and subordinate males exposed to the VBS in comparison with controls, but with no effect of prenatal treatment. These data suggest that prenatal chronic variable stress may confer resilience to offspring when exposed to social stress in adulthood.
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Careaga M, Murai T, Bauman MD. Maternal Immune Activation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Rodents to Nonhuman and Human Primates. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:391-401. [PMID: 28137374 PMCID: PMC5513502 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A subset of women who are exposed to infection during pregnancy have an increased risk of giving birth to a child who will later be diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorder. Although epidemiology studies have primarily focused on the association between maternal infection and an increased risk of offspring schizophrenia, mounting evidence indicates that maternal infection may also increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. A number of factors, including genetic susceptibility, the intensity and timing of the infection, and exposure to additional aversive postnatal events, may influence the extent to which maternal infection alters fetal brain development and which disease phenotype (autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, other neurodevelopmental disorders) is expressed. Preclinical animal models provide a test bed to systematically evaluate the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development, determine the relevance to human central nervous system disorders, and to evaluate novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Maternal immune activation models in mice, rats, and nonhuman primates suggest that the maternal immune response is the critical link between exposure to infection during pregnancy and subsequent changes in brain and behavioral development of offspring. However, differences in the type, severity, and timing of prenatal immune challenge paired with inconsistencies in behavioral phenotyping approaches have hindered the translation of preclinical results to human studies. Here we highlight the promises and limitations of the maternal immune activation model as a preclinical tool to study prenatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder, and suggest specific changes to improve reproducibility and maximize translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Careaga
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Takeshi Murai
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California; Biomarker Group, Drug Development Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, California; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California.
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Schomberg DT, Miranpuri GS, Chopra A, Patel K, Meudt JJ, Tellez A, Resnick DK, Shanmuganayagam D. Translational Relevance of Swine Models of Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2017; 34:541-551. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic T. Schomberg
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Gurwattan S. Miranpuri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Abhishek Chopra
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kush Patel
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jennifer J. Meudt
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
| | | | - Daniel K. Resnick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Dhanansayan Shanmuganayagam
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
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Chakraborty N, Meyerhoff J, Jett M, Hammamieh R. Genome to Phenome: A Systems Biology Approach to PTSD Using an Animal Model. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1598:117-154. [PMID: 28508360 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6952-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating illness that imposes significant emotional and financial burdens on military families. The understanding of PTSD etiology remains elusive; nonetheless, it is clear that PTSD is manifested by a cluster of symptoms including hyperarousal, reexperiencing of traumatic events, and avoidance of trauma reminders. With these characteristics in mind, several rodent models have been developed eliciting PTSD-like features. Animal models with social dimensions are of particular interest, since the social context plays a major role in the development and manifestation of PTSD.For civilians, a core trauma that elicits PTSD might be characterized by a singular life-threatening event such as a car accident. In contrast, among war veterans, PTSD might be triggered by repeated threats and a cumulative psychological burden that coalesced in the combat zone. In capturing this fundamental difference, the aggressor-exposed social stress (Agg-E SS) model imposes highly threatening conspecific trauma on naïve mice repeatedly and randomly.There is abundant evidence that suggests the potential role of genetic contributions to risk factors for PTSD. Specific observations include putatively heritable attributes of the disorder, the cited cases of atypical brain morphology, and the observed neuroendocrine shifts away from normative. Taken together, these features underscore the importance of multi-omics investigations to develop a comprehensive picture. More daunting will be the task of downstream analysis with integration of these heterogeneous genotypic and phenotypic data types to deliver putative clinical biomarkers. Researchers are advocating for a systems biology approach, which has demonstrated an increasingly robust potential for integrating multidisciplinary data. By applying a systems biology approach here, we have connected the tissue-specific molecular perturbations to the behaviors displayed by mice subjected to Agg-E SS. A molecular pattern that links the atypical fear plasticity to energy deficiency was thereby identified to be causally associated with many behavioral shifts and transformations.PTSD is a multifactorial illness sensitive to environmental influence. Accordingly, it is essential to employ the optimal animal model approximating the environmental condition that elicits PTSD-like symptoms. Integration of an optimal animal model with a systems biology approach can contribute to a more knowledge-driven and efficient next-generation care management system and, potentially, prevention of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabarun Chakraborty
- Integrative Systems Biology, Geneva Foundation, USACEHR, 568 Doughten Drive, Fredrick, MD, 21702-5010, USA
| | - James Meyerhoff
- Integrative Systems Biology, Geneva Foundation, USACEHR, 568 Doughten Drive, Fredrick, MD, 21702-5010, USA
| | - Marti Jett
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, USACEHR, 568 Doughten Drive, Frederick, MD, 21702-5010, USA
| | - Rasha Hammamieh
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, USACEHR, 568 Doughten Drive, Frederick, MD, 21702-5010, USA.
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McCutcheon V, Park E, Liu E, Sobhebidari P, Tavakkoli J, Wen XY, Baker AJ. A Novel Model of Traumatic Brain Injury in Adult Zebrafish Demonstrates Response to Injury and Treatment Comparable with Mammalian Models. J Neurotrauma 2016; 34:1382-1393. [PMID: 27650063 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and morbidity in industrialized countries with considerable associated health care costs. The cost and time associated with pre-clinical development of TBI therapeutics is lengthy and expensive with a poor track record of successful translation to the clinic. The zebrafish is an emerging model organism in research with unique technical and genomic strengths in the study of disease and development. Its high degree of genetic homology and cell signaling pathways relative to mammalian species and amenability to high and medium throughput assays has potential to accelerate the rate of therapeutic drug identification. Accordingly, we developed a novel closed-head model of TBI in adult zebrafish using a targeted, pulsed, high-intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) to induce mechanical injury of the brain. Western blot results indicated altered microtubule and neurofilament expression as well as increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and beta APP (β-APP; p < 0.05). We used automated behavioral tracking software to evaluate locomotor deficits 24 and 48 h post-injury. Significant behavioral impairment included decreased swim distance and velocity (p < 0.05), as well as heightened anxiety and altered group social dynamics. Responses to injury were pHIFU dose-dependent and modifiable with MK-801, MDL-28170, or temperature modulation. Together, results indicate that the zebrafish exhibits responses to injury and intervention similar to mammalian TBI pathophysiology and suggest the potential for use to rapidly evaluate therapeutic compounds with high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eugene Park
- 2 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elaine Liu
- 2 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pooya Sobhebidari
- 3 Department of Physics, Ryerson University , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jahan Tavakkoli
- 2 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,3 Department of Physics, Ryerson University , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiao-Yan Wen
- 2 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,4 Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew J Baker
- 1 Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada .,2 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,5 Departments of Anesthesia and Surgery, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada
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Cox DA, Gottschalk MG, Wesseling H, Ernst A, Cooper JD, Bahn S. Proteomic systems evaluation of the molecular validity of preclinical psychosis models compared to schizophrenia brain pathology. Schizophr Res 2016; 177:98-107. [PMID: 27335180 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacological and genetic rodent models of schizophrenia play an important role in the drug discovery pipeline, but quantifying the molecular similarity of such models with the underlying human pathophysiology has proved difficult. We developed a novel systems biology methodology for the direct comparison of anterior prefrontal cortex tissue from four established glutamatergic rodent models and schizophrenia patients, enabling the evaluation of which model displays the greatest similarity to schizophrenia across different pathophysiological characteristics of the disease. Liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSE) proteomic profiling was applied comparing healthy and "disease state" in human post-mortem samples and rodent brain tissue samples derived from models based on acute and chronic phencyclidine (PCP) treatment, ketamine treatment or NMDA receptor knockdown. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed from significant abundance changes and enrichment analyses enabled the identification of five functional domains of the disease such as "development and differentiation", which were represented across all four rodent models and were thus subsequently used for cross-species comparison. Kernel-based machine learning techniques quantified that the chronic PCP model represented schizophrenia brain changes most closely for four of these functional domains. This is the first study aiming to quantify which rodent model recapitulates the neuropathological features of schizophrenia most closely, providing an indication of face validity as well as potential guidance in the refinement of construct and predictive validity. The methodology and findings presented here support recent efforts to overcome translational hurdles of preclinical psychiatric research by associating functional dimensions of behaviour with distinct biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Cox
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G Gottschalk
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom
| | - Hendrik Wesseling
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom
| | - Agnes Ernst
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom
| | - Jason D Cooper
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QT, United Kingdom.
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43
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Segerström L, Roman E. Response: Commentary: Supplier-dependent differences in intermittent voluntary alcohol intake and response to naltrexone in Wistar rats. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:442. [PMID: 27746715 PMCID: PMC5042965 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lova Segerström
- Research Group Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behavior, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Roman
- Research Group Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Behavior, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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Meshalkina DA, Kalueff AV. Commentary: Ethological Evaluation of the Effects of Social Defeat Stress in Mice: Beyond the Social Interaction Ratio. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:155. [PMID: 27558083 PMCID: PMC4978706 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Darya A Meshalkina
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University St. Petersburg, Russia
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Shao M, Xu TR, Chen CS. The big bang of genome editing technology: development and application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in disease animal models. DONG WU XUE YAN JIU = ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2016; 37:191-204. [PMID: 27469250 PMCID: PMC4980067 DOI: 10.13918/j.issn.2095-8137.2016.4.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Targeted genome editing technology has been widely used in biomedical studies. The CRISPR-associated RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 has become a versatile genome editing tool. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is useful for studying gene function through efficient knock-out, knock-in or chromatin modification of the targeted gene loci in various cell types and organisms. It can be applied in a number of fields, such as genetic breeding, disease treatment and gene functional investigation. In this review, we introduce the most recent developments and applications, the challenges, and future directions of Cas9 in generating disease animal model. Derived from the CRISPR adaptive immune system of bacteria, the development trend of Cas9 will inevitably fuel the vital applications from basic research to biotechnology and bio-medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Shao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China;Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Tian-Rui Xu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Ce-Shi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.
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Homberg JR, Kyzar EJ, Nguyen M, Norton WH, Pittman J, Poudel MK, Gaikwad S, Nakamura S, Koshiba M, Yamanouchi H, Scattoni ML, Ullman JF, Diamond DM, Kaluyeva AA, Parker MO, Klimenko VM, Apryatin SA, Brown RE, Song C, Gainetdinov RR, Gottesman II, Kalueff AV. Understanding autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders through experimental translational neurobehavioral models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 65:292-312. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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47
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Homberg JR, Kyzar EJ, Scattoni ML, Norton WH, Pittman J, Gaikwad S, Nguyen M, Poudel MK, Ullmann JFP, Diamond DM, Kaluyeva AA, Parker MO, Brown RE, Song C, Gainetdinov RR, Gottesman II, Kalueff AV. Genetic and environmental modulation of neurodevelopmental disorders: Translational insights from labs to beds. Brain Res Bull 2016; 125:79-91. [PMID: 27113433 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a heterogeneous group of prevalent neuropsychiatric illnesses with various degrees of social, cognitive, motor, language and affective deficits. NDDs are caused by aberrant brain development due to genetic and environmental perturbations. Common NDDs include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, communication/speech disorders, motor/tic disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Genetic and epigenetic/environmental factors play a key role in these NDDs with significant societal impact. Given the lack of their efficient therapies, it is important to gain further translational insights into the pathobiology of NDDs. To address these challenges, the International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) has established the Strategic Task Force on NDDs. Summarizing the Panel's findings, here we discuss the neurobiological mechanisms of selected common NDDs and a wider NDD+ spectrum of associated neuropsychiatric disorders with developmental trajectories. We also outline the utility of existing preclinical (animal) models for building translational and cross-diagnostic bridges to improve our understanding of various NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Evan J Kyzar
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; The International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) and ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Julian Pittman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Troy University, Troy, AL, USA
| | - Siddharth Gaikwad
- The International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) and ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Michael Nguyen
- The International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) and ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA, USA; New York University School of Medicine, NY, NY, USA
| | - Manoj K Poudel
- The International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) and ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Diamond
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; J.A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Research and Development Service, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Aleksandra A Kaluyeva
- The International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) and ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Matthew O Parker
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Cai Song
- Research Institute of Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China; Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Raul R Gainetdinov
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, Moscow Region, Russia
| | | | - Allan V Kalueff
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Kalueff AV. Commentary: Supplier-dependent differences in intermittent voluntary alcohol intake and response to naltrexone in Wistar rats. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:82. [PMID: 27013944 PMCID: PMC4779880 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Allan V Kalueff
- Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean UniversityZhanjiang, China; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State UniversitySt. Petersburg, Russia; Institutes of Chemical Technology and Natural Sciences, Ural Federal UniversityEkaterinburg, Russia; Neuroscience and Pharmacology Lab, ZENEREI InstituteSlidell, LA, USA
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Spikol ED, Laverriere CE, Robnett M, Carter G, Wolfe E, Glasgow E. Zebrafish Models of Prader-Willi Syndrome: Fast Track to Pharmacotherapeutics. Diseases 2016; 4. [PMID: 27857842 PMCID: PMC5110251 DOI: 10.3390/diseases4010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an insatiable appetite, leading to chronic overeating and obesity. Additional features include short stature, intellectual disability, behavioral problems and incomplete sexual development. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of PWS, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the disorder remain poorly understood. Treatment for PWS consists mainly of palliative therapies; curative therapies are sorely needed. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, represent a promising way forward for elucidating physiological problems such as obesity and identifying new pharmacotherapeutic options for PWS. Over the last decade, an increased appreciation for the highly conserved biology among vertebrates and the ability to perform high-throughput drug screening has seen an explosion in the use of zebrafish for disease modeling and drug discovery. Here, we review recent advances in developing zebrafish models of human disease. Aspects of zebrafish genetics and physiology that are relevant to PWS will be discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of zebrafish models will be contrasted with current animal models for this syndrome. Finally, we will present a paradigm for drug screening in zebrafish that is potentially the fastest route for identifying and delivering curative pharmacotherapies to PWS patients.
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50
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Hoffman KL. New dimensions in the use of rodent behavioral tests for novel drug discovery and development. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:343-53. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1153624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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