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Li H, Xiang BL, Li X, Li C, Li Y, Miao Y, Ma GL, Ma YH, Chen JQ, Zhang QY, Lv LB, Zheng P, Bi R, Yao YG. Cognitive Deficits and Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathologies in the Aged Chinese Tree Shrew. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1892-1906. [PMID: 37814108 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03663-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. It has an increasing prevalence and a growing health burden. One of the limitations in studying AD is the lack of animal models that show features of Alzheimer's pathogenesis. The tree shrew has a much closer genetic affinity to primates than to rodents and has great potential to be used for research into aging and AD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether tree shrews naturally develop cognitive impairment and major AD-like pathologies with increasing age. Pole-board and novel object recognition tests were used to assess the cognitive performance of adult (about 1 year old) and aged (6 years old or older) tree shrews. The main AD-like pathologies were assessed by Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence staining, and Nissl staining. Our results showed that the aged tree shrews developed an impaired cognitive performance compared to the adult tree shrews. Moreover, the aged tree shrews exhibited several age-related phenotypes that are associated with AD, including increased levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and phosphorylated tau protein, synaptic and neuronal loss, and reactive gliosis in the cortex and the hippocampal tissues. Our study provides further evidence that the tree shrew is a promising model for the study of aging and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Bo-Lin Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Cong Li
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Ying Miao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Guo-Lan Ma
- Kunming Biological Diversity Regional Center of Large Apparatus and Equipments, Public Technology Service Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Yu-Hua Ma
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China
| | - Jia-Qi Chen
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China
| | - Qing-Yu Zhang
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China
| | - Long-Bao Lv
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Rui Bi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, and KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650107, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
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2
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Li CJ, Hui YQ, Zhang R, Zhou HY, Cai X, Lu L. A comparison of behavioral paradigms assessing spatial memory in tree shrews. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10303-10321. [PMID: 37642602 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in spatial navigation in humans can be preclinical signs of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, cognitive tests that monitor deficits in spatial memory play a crucial role in evaluating animal models with early stage Alzheimer's disease. While Chinese tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) possess many features suitable for Alzheimer's disease modeling, behavioral tests for assessing spatial cognition in this species are lacking. Here, we established reward-based paradigms using the radial-arm maze and cheeseboard maze for tree shrews, and tested spatial memory in a group of 12 adult males in both tasks, along with a control water maze test, before and after bilateral lesions to the hippocampus, the brain region essential for spatial navigation. Tree shrews memorized target positions during training, and task performance improved gradually until reaching a plateau in all 3 mazes. However, spatial learning was compromised post-lesion in the 2 newly developed tasks, whereas memory retrieval was impaired in the water maze task. These results indicate that the cheeseboard task effectively detects impairments in spatial memory and holds potential for monitoring progressive cognitive decline in aged or genetically modified tree shrews that develop Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms. This study may facilitate the utilization of tree shrew models in Alzheimer's disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ji Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Yi-Qing Hui
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Hai-Yang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xing Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
| | - Li Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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3
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Savier E, Sedigh-Sarvestani M, Wimmer R, Fitzpatrick D. A bright future for the tree shrew in neuroscience research: Summary from the inaugural Tree Shrew Users Meeting. Zool Res 2021; 42:478-481. [PMID: 34213094 PMCID: PMC8317191 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree shrews (Tupaia spp.) have been used in neuroscience research since the 1960s due to their evolutionary proximity to primates. The use and interest in this animal model have recently increased, in part due to the adaptation of modern neuroscience tools in this species. These tools include quantitative behavioral assays, calcium imaging, optogenetics and transgenics. To facilitate the exchange and development of these new technologies and associated research findings, we organized the inaugural "Tree Shrew Users Meeting" which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we review this meeting and discuss the history of tree shrews as an animal model in neuroscience research and summarize the current themes being investigated using this animal, as well as future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Savier
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1738, USA. E-mail:
| | | | - Ralf Wimmer
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - David Fitzpatrick
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida 33458-2906, USA
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Dimanico MM, Klaassen AL, Wang J, Kaeser M, Harvey M, Rasch B, Rainer G. Aspects of tree shrew consolidated sleep structure resemble human sleep. Commun Biol 2021; 4:722. [PMID: 34117351 PMCID: PMC8196209 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02234-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding human sleep requires appropriate animal models. Sleep has been extensively studied in rodents, although rodent sleep differs substantially from human sleep. Here we investigate sleep in tree shrews, small diurnal mammals phylogenetically close to primates, and compare it to sleep in rats and humans using electrophysiological recordings from frontal cortex of each species. Tree shrews exhibited consolidated sleep, with a sleep bout duration parameter, τ, uncharacteristically high for a small mammal, and differing substantially from the sleep of rodents that is often punctuated by wakefulness. Two NREM sleep stages were observed in tree shrews: NREM, characterized by high delta waves and spindles, and an intermediate stage (IS-NREM) occurring on NREM to REM transitions and consisting of intermediate delta waves with concomitant theta-alpha activity. While IS-NREM activity was reliable in tree shrews, we could also detect it in human EEG data, on a subset of transitions. Finally, coupling events between sleep spindles and slow waves clustered near the beginning of the sleep period in tree shrews, paralleling humans, whereas they were more evenly distributed in rats. Our results suggest considerable homology of sleep structure between humans and tree shrews despite the large difference in body mass between these species. Dimanico et al investigated sleep in tree shrews using electrophysiological recordings and compared it to equivalent read-outs in rats and humans. They reported that there was considerable homology of sleep structure between humans and tree shrews despite the difference in body mass between these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta M Dimanico
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Arndt-Lukas Klaassen
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Melanie Kaeser
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Harvey
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Björn Rasch
- Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Rainer
- Department of Neuroscience and Movement Sciences, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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5
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Ni RJ, Tian Y, Dai XY, Zhao LS, Wei JX, Zhou JN, Ma XH, Li T. Social avoidance behavior in male tree shrews and prosocial behavior in male mice toward unfamiliar conspecifics in the laboratory. Zool Res 2020; 41:258-272. [PMID: 32212430 PMCID: PMC7231478 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult male tree shrews vigorously defend against intruding male conspecifics. However, the characteristics of social behavior have not been entirely explored in these males. In this study, male wild-type tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) and C57BL/6J mice were first allowed to familiarize themselves with an open-field apparatus. The tree shrews exhibited a short duration of movement (moving) in the novel environment, whereas the mice exhibited a long duration of movement. In the 30 min social preference-avoidance test, target animals significantly decreased the time spent by the experimental tree shrews in the social interaction (SI) zone, whereas experimental male mice exhibited the opposite. In addition, experimental tree shrews displayed a significantly longer latency to enter the SI zone in the second 15 min session (target-present) than in the first 15 min session (target-absent), which was different from that found in mice. Distinct behavioral patterns in response to a conspecific male were also observed in male tree shrews and mice in the first, second, and third 5 min periods. Thus, social behaviors in tree shrews and mice appeared to be time dependent. In summary, our study provides results of a modified social preference-avoidance test designed for the assessment of social behavior in tree shrews. Our findings demonstrate the existence of social avoidance behavior in male tree shrews and prosocial behavior in male mice toward unfamiliar conspecifics. The tree shrew may be a new animal model, which differs from mice, for the study of social avoidance and prosocial behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Jun Ni
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yang Tian
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xin-Ye Dai
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Lian-Sheng Zhao
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jin-Xue Wei
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jiang-Ning Zhou
- Chinese Academy of Science Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Ma
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail:
| | - Tao Li
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Huaxi Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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6
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Wu ZC, Gao JH, Du TF, Tang DH, Chen NH, Yuan YH, Ma KL. Alpha-synuclein is highly prone to distribution in the hippocampus and midbrain in tree shrews, and its fibrils seed Lewy body-like pathology in primary neurons. Exp Gerontol 2018; 116:37-45. [PMID: 30553024 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Chinese tree shrew (TS) has many unique advantages that make it suitable for use as an experimental animal model for human disease including moderate body size, low cost of feeding, short reproductive cycle and lifespan, and close phylogenetic relationship to primates. Our previous studies have shown that TS treated with the mitochondrial inhibitor MPTP displayed classic Parkinsonian symptoms. Additionally, the structure of TS alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is highly homologous to that found in humans. Previous studies have concluded that misfolded, fibrillar α-syn is a hallmark of α-synucleinopathies. In this study, we examined the distribution and expression levels of α-syn in different TS brain regions. We also obtained recombinant TS α-syn protein to study its aggregation and cytotoxic properties in primary neurons. Our results showed that α-syn was expressed in numerous different brain regions in TS but was most abundant in the hippocampus and midbrain. The recombinant α-syn of TS displayed straight fibrils when incubated for 72 h in vitro, which is very similar to human α-syn. When exposed to primary neurons, the TS and human α-syn fibrils led to cytotoxicity and Lewy-like pathology. Our findings indicated that TS could be a potential animal model to study the pathology of α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Cun Wu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming 650118, China; Medical Primate Research Center & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Jia-Hong Gao
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming 650118, China; Medical Primate Research Center & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Ting-Fu Du
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming 650118, China; Medical Primate Research Center & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Dong-Hong Tang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medic, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yu-He Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medic, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Kai-Li Ma
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming 650118, China; Medical Primate Research Center & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
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7
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Using Tree Shrews (Tupaia belangeri) as a Novel Animal Model of Liver Transplantation. Curr Med Sci 2018; 38:1069-1074. [PMID: 30536071 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-018-1985-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is most effective and promising approach for end-stage liver disease. However, there remains room for further improvement and innovation, for example, to reduce ischemic reperfusion injury, transplant rejection and immune tolerance. A good animal model of LT is essential for such innovation in transplant research. Although rat LT model has been used since the last century, it has never been an ideal model because the results observed in rat may not be applied to human because these two species are genetically distinct from each other. In this study, we for the first time performed LT using the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri), a species in the Order Scandentia which is closely related with primates, and evaluated the possibility to adopt this species as a new model of LT. We performed LT on 30 animals using the two-cuff technique, examining the success rate, the survival rate and the immunological reaction. The recipient operation time was 60 min averagely, and we limited the time of the anhepatic phase within 20 min. Twenty-seven (90%) of the animals survived for at least 3 days after the transplantation. Thirteen animals that did not receive any immunosuppressive drug died in 8 days mostly because of acute rejection effect (n=9), similar to the reaction in human but not in experimental rat. The rest 14 animals that were given rapamycin survived significantly longer (38 days) and half of them survived for 60 days until the end of the study. Our results suggest that performing LT in tree shrews can yield high success rate and high survival rate. More importantly, the tree shrews share similar immunological reaction with human. In addition, previous genomics study found that the tree shrews share more proteins with human. In sum, the tree shrews may outperform the experimental rats and could be used as a better and cost-effective animal model for LT.
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Abstract
The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is a promising laboratory animal that possesses a closer genetic relationship to primates than to rodents. In addition, advantages such as small size, easy breeding, and rapid reproduction make the tree shrew an ideal subject for the study of human disease. Numerous tree shrew disease models have been generated in biological and medical studies in recent years. Here we summarize current tree shrew disease models, including models of infectious diseases, cancers, depressive disorders, drug addiction, myopia, metabolic diseases, and immune-related diseases. With the success of tree shrew transgenic technology, this species will be increasingly used in biological and medical studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Xiao
- Medical Faculty of 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
| | - Rong Liu
- 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
| | - 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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9
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Abstract
The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis), a squirrel-like and rat-sized mammal, has a wide distribution in Southeast Asia, South and Southwest China and has many unique characteristics that make it suitable for use as an experimental animal. There have been many studies using the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) aimed at increasing our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms and for the modeling of human diseases and therapeutic responses. The recent release of a publicly available annotated genome sequence of the Chinese tree shrew and its genome database (www.treeshrewdb.org) has offered a solid base from which it is possible to elucidate the basic biological properties and create animal models using this species. The extensive characterization of key factors and signaling pathways in the immune and nervous systems has shown that tree shrews possess both conserved and unique features relative to primates. Hitherto, the tree shrew has been successfully used to create animal models for myopia, depression, breast cancer, alcohol-induced or non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, to name a few. The recent successful genetic manipulation of the tree shrew has opened a new avenue for the wider usage of this animal in biomedical research. In this opinion paper, I attempt to summarize the recent research advances that have used the Chinese tree shrew, with a focus on the new knowledge obtained by using the biological properties identified using the tree shrew genome, a proposal for the genome-based approach for creating animal models, and the genetic manipulation of the tree shrew. With more studies using this species and the application of cutting-edge gene editing techniques, the tree shrew will continue to be under the spot light as a viable animal model for investigating the basis of many different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming Primate Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.
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10
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Examining object recognition and object-in-Place memory in plateau zokors, Eospalax baileyi. Behav Processes 2018; 146:34-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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11
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Li CH, Yan LZ, Ban WZ, Tu Q, Wu Y, Wang L, Bi R, Ji S, Ma YH, Nie WH, Lv LB, Yao YG, Zhao XD, Zheng P. Long-term propagation of tree shrew spermatogonial stem cells in culture and successful generation of transgenic offspring. Cell Res 2016; 27:241-252. [PMID: 28008926 DOI: 10.1038/cr.2016.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tree shrews have a close relationship to primates and have many advantages over rodents in biomedical research. However, the lack of gene manipulation methods has hindered the wider use of this animal. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have been successfully expanded in culture to permit sophisticated gene editing in the mouse and rat. Here, we describe a culture system for the long-term expansion of tree shrew SSCs without the loss of stem cell properties. In our study, thymus cell antigen 1 was used to enrich tree shrew SSCs. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was active in undifferentiated SSCs, but was downregulated upon the initiation of SSC differentiation. Exposure of tree shrew primary SSCs to recombinant Wnt3a protein during the initial passages of culture enhanced the survival of SSCs. Use of tree shrew Sertoli cells, but not mouse embryonic fibroblasts, as feeder was found to be necessary for tree shrew SSC proliferation, leading to a robust cell expansion and long-term culture. The expanded tree shrew SSCs were transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing lentiviral vectors. After transplantation into sterilized adult male tree shrew's testes, the EGFP-tagged SSCs were able to restore spermatogenesis and successfully generate transgenic offspring. Moreover, these SSCs were suitable for the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene modification. The development of a culture system to expand tree shrew SSCs in combination with a gene editing approach paves the way for precise genome manipulation using the tree shrew.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Lan-Zhen Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Wen-Zan Ban
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Qiu Tu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Rui Bi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Shuang Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yu-Hua Ma
- Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Wen-Hui Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Long-Bao Lv
- Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xu-Dong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Yunnan Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
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12
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Khani A, Rainer G. Neural and neurochemical basis of reinforcement-guided decision making. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:724-41. [PMID: 27226454 DOI: 10.1152/jn.01113.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Decision making is an adaptive behavior that takes into account several internal and external input variables and leads to the choice of a course of action over other available and often competing alternatives. While it has been studied in diverse fields ranging from mathematics, economics, ecology, and ethology to psychology and neuroscience, recent cross talk among perspectives from different fields has yielded novel descriptions of decision processes. Reinforcement-guided decision making models are based on economic and reinforcement learning theories, and their focus is on the maximization of acquired benefit over a defined period of time. Studies based on reinforcement-guided decision making have implicated a large network of neural circuits across the brain. This network includes a wide range of cortical (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex) and subcortical (e.g., nucleus accumbens and subthalamic nucleus) brain areas and uses several neurotransmitter systems (e.g., dopaminergic and serotonergic systems) to communicate and process decision-related information. This review discusses distinct as well as overlapping contributions of these networks and neurotransmitter systems to the processing of decision making. We end the review by touching on neural circuitry and neuromodulatory regulation of exploratory decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Khani
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Rainer
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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13
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Mustafar F, De Luna P, Rainer G. Enhanced visual exploration for real objects compared to pictures during free viewing in the macaque monkey. Behav Processes 2015; 118:8-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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14
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Shang S, Wang C, Guo C, Huang X, Wang L, Zhang C. The formation and extinction of fear memory in tree shrews. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:204. [PMID: 26283941 PMCID: PMC4518201 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that is well-studied due to its importance for animal survival. Experimental animals, such as rats and mice, have been widely used to model fear. However, higher animals such as nonhuman primates have rarely been used to study fear due to ethical issues and high costs. Tree shrews are small mammals that are closely related to primates; they have been used to model human-related psychosocial conditions such as stress and alcohol tolerance. Here, we describe an experimental paradigm to study the formation and extinction of fear memory in tree shrews. We designed an experimental apparatus of a light/dark box with a voltage foot shock. We found that tree shrews preferred staying in the dark box in the daytime without stimulation and showed avoidance to voltage shocks applied to the footplate in a voltage-dependent manner. Foot shocks applied to the dark box for 5 days (10 min per day) effectively reversed the light–dark preference of the tree shrews, and this memory lasted for more than 50 days without any sign of memory decay (extinction) in the absence of further stimulation. However, this fear memory was reversed with 4 days of reverse training by applying the same stimulus to the light box. When reducing the stimulus intensity during the training period, a memory extinction and subsequently reinstatement effects were observed. Thus, our results describe an efficient method of monitoring fear memory formation and extinction in tree shrews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujiang Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China ; Department of Physiology, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China ; Department of Physiology, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China
| | - Chengbing Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China ; Department of Physiology, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China
| | - Xu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China ; Department of Physiology, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China
| | - Liecheng Wang
- Department of Physiology, Anhui Medical University Hefei, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University Beijing, China
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15
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Shen F, Duan Y, Jin S, Sui N. Varied behavioral responses induced by morphine in the tree shrew: a possible model for human opiate addiction. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:333. [PMID: 25294994 PMCID: PMC4171994 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Tree shrews represent a suitable animal model to study the pathogenesis of human diseases as they are phylogenetically close to primates and have a well-developed central nervous system that possesses many homologies with primates. Therefore, in our study, we investigated whether tree shrews can be used to explore the addictive behaviors induced by morphine. Firstly, to investigate the psychoactive effect of morphine on tree shrews’ behavior, the number of jumping and shuttling, which represent the vertical and horizontal locomotor activity respectively, was examined following the injection of different dosage of morphine. Our results showed intramuscular (IM) injection of morphine (5 or 10 mg/kg) significantly increased the locomotor activity of tree shrews 30–60 min post-injection. Then, using the conditioned place preference/aversion (CPP/CPA) paradigm, we found morphine-conditioned tree shrews exhibited place preference in the morphine-paired chamber on the test day. In addition, naloxone-precipitated withdrawal induced place aversion in the chronic morphine-dependent tree shrews. We evaluated the craving for morphine drinking by assessing the break point that reflects the maximum effort animals will expend to get the drug. Our data showed the break point was significantly increased when compared to the baseline on the 1st, 7th and 14th day after the abstinence. Moreover, in the intravenous morphine self-administration experiment, tree shrews conditioned with morphine responded on the active lever significantly more frequently than on the inactive lever after training. These results suggest that tree shrew may be a potential candidate for study the addictive behaviors and the underling neurological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Ying Duan
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China ; Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Shubo Jin
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China ; Institute of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Nan Sui
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
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16
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Nair J, Topka M, Khani A, Isenschmid M, Rainer G. Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) exhibit novelty preference in the novel location memory task with 24-h retention periods. Front Psychol 2014; 5:303. [PMID: 24782805 PMCID: PMC3995062 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Novelty preference is pervasive in mammalian species, and describes an inherent tendency to preferentially explore novelty. The novel location memory task studied here assesses the ability of animals to form accurate memories of a spatial configuration, consisting of several identical objects placed within an arena. Tree shrews were first familiarized with a particular object configuration during several sessions, and then an object was displaced during a test session. Tree shrews exhibited enhanced exploration when confronted with this novel configuration. The most reliable indicator associated with novelty preference was an enhancement in directed exploration towards the novel object, although we also observed a non-specific overall increase in exploration in one experiment. During the test session, we also observed an exploration of the location, which had previously been occupied by the displaced object, an effect termed empty quadrant. Our behavioral findings suggest multiple stages of spatial memory formation in tree shrews that are associated with various forms of behavioral responses to novelty. Reduced novelty preference has been linked to major depressive disorder in human patients. Given the established social conflict depression model in tree shrews, we anticipate that the study of the neural circuits of novelty preference and their malfunction during depression may have implications for understanding or treating depression in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayakrishnan Nair
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland ; Fribourg Center for Cognition, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marlene Topka
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Abbas Khani
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland ; Fribourg Center for Cognition, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Isenschmid
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Rainer
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland ; Fribourg Center for Cognition, University of Fribourg Fribourg, Switzerland
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