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Chesworth R, Visini G, Karl T. Impaired extinction of operant cocaine in a genetic mouse model of schizophrenia risk. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8. [PMID: 37233814 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with schizophrenia have high rates of comorbid substance use problems. One potential explanation for this comorbidity is similar neuropathophysiology in substance use and schizophrenia, which may arise from shared genetic risk factors between the two disorders. Here we investigated if genetic risk for schizophrenia could affect drug reward and reinforcement for cocaine in an established mouse model of genetic risk for schizophrenia, the neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain heterozygous (Nrg1 TM HET) mouse. METHODS We examined drug-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference for several cocaine doses (5, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg) in male adult Nrg1 TM HET and wild-type-like (WT) littermates. We also investigated intravenous self-administration of and motivation for cocaine (doses 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/kg/infusion), as well as extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine. In a follow-up experiment, we examined self-administration, extinction and cue-induced reinstatement of a natural reward, oral sucrose. RESULTS Cocaine preference was similar between Nrg1 TM HET mice and WT littermates at all doses tested. Locomotor sensitization to cocaine was not affected by Nrg1 genotype at any dose. Although self-administration and motivation for cocaine was unaffected, extinction of cocaine self-administration was impaired in Nrg1 TM HET compared to WT controls, and cue-induced reinstatement was greater in Nrg1 mutants in the middle of the reinstatement session. Sucrose self-administration and extinction thereof was not affected by genotype, but inactive lever responding was elevated during cue-induced reinstatement for operant sucrose in Nrg1 TM HET mice compared to WTs. DISCUSSION These results suggest impaired response inhibition for cocaine in Nrg1 TM HET mice and suggests Nrg1 mutation may contribute to behaviours which can limit control over cocaine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Gabriela Visini
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
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2
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Tubbs JD, Ding J, Baum L, Sham PC. Systemic neuro-dysregulation in depression: Evidence from genome-wide association. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 39:1-18. [PMID: 32896454 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Depression is the world's leading cause of disability. Greater understanding of the neurobiological basis of depression is necessary for developing novel treatments with improved efficacy and acceptance. Recently, major advances have been made in the search for genetic variants associated with depression which may help to elucidate etiological mechanisms. The present review has two major objectives. First, we offer a brief review of two major biological systems with strong evidence for involvement in depression pathology: neurotransmitter systems and the stress response. Secondly, we provide a synthesis of the functions of the 269 genes implicated by the most recent genome-wide meta-analysis, supporting the importance of these systems in depression and providing insights into other possible mechanisms involving neurodevelopment, neurogenesis, and neurodegeneration. Our goal is to undertake a broad, preliminary stock-taking of the most recent hypothesis-free findings and examine the weight of the evidence supporting these existing theories and highlighting novel directions. This qualitative review and accompanying gene function table provides a valuable resource and guide for basic and translational researchers, with suggestions for future mechanistic research, leveraging genetics to prioritize studies on the neurobiological processes involved in depression etiology and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jiahong Ding
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Larry Baum
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre of PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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3
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Gawel K, Banono NS, Michalak A, Esguerra CV. A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:6-22. [PMID: 31381931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki St. 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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4
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Clarke DJ, Chohan TW, Kassem MS, Smith KL, Chesworth R, Karl T, Kuligowski MP, Fok SY, Bennett MR, Arnold JC. Neuregulin 1 Deficiency Modulates Adolescent Stress-Induced Dendritic Spine Loss in a Brain Region-Specific Manner and Increases Complement 4 Expression in the Hippocampus. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:339-349. [PMID: 29566220 PMCID: PMC6403066 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One neuropathological feature of schizophrenia is a diminished number of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) system is involved in the plasticity of dendritic spines, and chronic stress decreases dendritic spine densities in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Here, we aimed to assess whether Nrg1 deficiency confers vulnerability to the effects of adolescent stress on dendritic spine plasticity. We also assessed other schizophrenia-relevant neurobiological changes such as microglial cell activation, loss of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, and induction of complement factor 4 (C4). Adolescent male wild-type (WT) and Nrg1 heterozygous mice were subjected to chronic restraint stress before their brains underwent Golgi impregnation or immunofluorescent staining of PV interneurons, microglial cells, and C4. Stress in WT mice promoted dendritic spine loss and microglial cell activation in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. However, Nrg1 deficiency rendered mice resilient to stress-induced dendritic spine loss in the infralimbic cortex and the CA3 region of the hippocampus without affecting stress-induced microglial cell activation in these brain regions. Nrg1 deficiency and adolescent stress combined to trigger increased dendritic spine densities in the prelimbic cortex. In the hippocampal CA1 region, Nrg1 deficiency accentuated stress-induced dendritic spine loss. Nrg1 deficiency increased C4 protein and decreased C4 mRNA expression in the hippocampus, and the number of PV interneurons in the basolateral amygdala. This study demonstrates that Nrg1 modulates the impact of stress on the adolescent brain in a region-specific manner. It also provides first evidence of a link between Nrg1 and C4 systems in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Clarke
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tariq W Chohan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Kristie L Smith
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia,Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael P Kuligowski
- Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Sandra Y Fok
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Brain and Mind Centre, Level 6, Building F, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; tel: +61-29351-0812, e-mail:
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5
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Nrg1 deficiency modulates the behavioural effects of prenatal stress in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 88:86-95. [PMID: 29964074 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the exact genes that confer vulnerability or resilience to environmental stressors during early neurodevelopment. Partial genetic deletion of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) moderates the neurobehavioural effects of stressors applied in adolescence and adulthood, however, no study has yet examined its impact on prenatal stress. Here we examined whether Nrg1 deficiency in mice modulated the impact of prenatal stress on various behaviours in adulthood. Male heterozygous Nrg1 mice were mated with wild-type female mice who then underwent daily restraint stress from days 13 to 19 of gestation. Surprisingly, prenatal stress had overall beneficial effects by facilitating sensorimotor gating, increasing sociability, decreasing depressive-like behaviour, and improving spatial memory in adulthood. Such benefits were not due to any increase in maternal care, as prenatal stress decreased nurturing of the offspring. Nrg1 deficiency negated the beneficial behavioural effects of prenatal stress on all measures except sociability. However, Nrg1 deficiency interacted with prenatal stress to trigger locomotor hyperactivity. Nrg1 deficiency, prenatal stress or their combination failed to alter acute stress-induced plasma corticosterone concentrations. Collectively these results demonstrate that Nrg1 deficiency moderates the effects of prenatal stress on adult behaviour, but it does so in a complex, domain-specific fashion.
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6
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Behavioral characterization of blocking the ErbB signaling during adolescent and adulthood in reward-liking (preference) and reward-related learning. Behav Brain Res 2017; 326:139-146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.01.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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7
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Clarke DJ, Stuart J, McGregor IS, Arnold JC. Endocannabinoid dysregulation in cognitive and stress-related brain regions in the Nrg1 mouse model of schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 72:9-15. [PMID: 27521758 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is dysregulated in schizophrenia. Mice with heterozygous deletion of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1 HET mice) provide a well-characterised animal model of schizophrenia, and display enhanced sensitivity to stress and cannabinoids during adolescence. However, no study has yet determined whether these mice have altered brain endocannabinoid concentrations. Nrg1 application to hippocampal slices decreased 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) signalling and disrupted long-term depression, a form of synaptic plasticity critical to spatial learning. Therefore we specifically aimed to examine whether Nrg1 HET mice exhibit increased 2-AG concentrations and disruption of spatial learning. As chronic stress influences brain endocannabinoids, we also sought to examine whether Nrg1 deficiency moderates adolescent stress-induced alterations in brain endocannabinoids. Adolescent Nrg1 HET and wild-type (WT) mice were submitted to chronic restraint stress and brain endocannabinoid concentrations were analysed. A separate cohort of WT and Nrg1 HET mice was also assessed for spatial learning performance in the Morris Water Maze. Partial genetic deletion of Nrg1 increased anandamide concentrations in the amygdala and decreased 2-AG concentrations in the hypothalamus. Further, Nrg1 HET mice exhibited increased 2-AG concentrations in the hippocampus and impaired spatial learning performance. Chronic adolescent stress increased anandamide concentrations in the amygdala, however, Nrg1 disruption did not influence this stress-induced change. These results demonstrate for the first time in vivo interplay between Nrg1 and endocannabinoids in the brain. Our results demonstrate that aberrant Nrg1 and endocannabinoid signalling may cooperate in the hippocampus to impair cognition, and that Nrg1 deficiency alters endocannabinoid signalling in brain stress circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Clarke
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jordyn Stuart
- Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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8
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Spiers JG, Chen HJC, Steyn FJ, Lavidis NA, Woodruff TM, Lee JD. Noninvasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system. Stress 2017; 20:59-67. [PMID: 28027673 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the laboratory setting, typical endocrine and targeted behavioral tests are limited in their ability to provide a direct assessment of stress in animals housed in undisturbed conditions. We hypothesized that an automated phenotyping system would allow the detection of subtle stress-related behavioral changes well beyond the time-frames examined using conventional methods. In this study, we have utilized the TSE PhenoMaster system to continuously record basal behaviors and physiological parameters including activity, body weight, food intake and oxygen consumption in undisturbed and stressed C57Bl/6J male mice (n = 12/group), with a pharmacological intervention using the conventional anxiolytic, diazepam (5 mg kg-1 i.p.; n = 8/group). We observed significant 20-30% reductions in locomotor activity in the dark phase, with subtle reductions in light phase activity for up to 96 h following a single 2 h episode of restraint stress. A single administration of diazepam reduced plasma corticosterone concentrations by 30-35% during stress exposure when compared to mice treated with vehicle. This treatment did not result in significantly different locomotor activity compared to vehicle within the first 48 h following restraint stress. However, diazepam treatment facilitated restoration of locomotor activity at 72 and 96 h after restraint stress exposure in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. Hence, the use of an automated phenotyping system allows a real time assessment of basal behaviors and empirical metabolism following exposure to restraint stress and demonstrates major and subtle changes in activity persist for several days after stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jereme G Spiers
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | | | - Frederik J Steyn
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- b Integrated Physiology Facility , The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- c University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland , Herston , Australia
| | - Nickolas A Lavidis
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | - John D Lee
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- c University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland , Herston , Australia
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9
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Concordance and incongruence in preclinical anxiety models: Systematic review and meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 68:504-529. [PMID: 27328783 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rodent defense behavior assays have been widely used as preclinical models of anxiety to study possibly therapeutic anxiety-reducing interventions. However, some proposed anxiety-modulating factors - genes, drugs and stressors - have had discordant effects across different studies. To reconcile the effect sizes of purported anxiety factors, we conducted systematic review and meta-analyses of the literature on ten anxiety-linked interventions, as examined in the elevated plus maze, open field and light-dark box assays. Diazepam, 5-HT1A receptor gene knockout and overexpression, SERT gene knockout and overexpression, pain, restraint, social isolation, corticotropin-releasing hormone and Crhr1 were selected for review. Eight interventions had statistically significant effects on rodent anxiety, while Htr1a overexpression and Crh knockout did not. Evidence for publication bias was found in the diazepam, Htt knockout, and social isolation literatures. The Htr1a and Crhr1 results indicate a disconnect between preclinical science and clinical research. Furthermore, the meta-analytic data confirmed that genetic SERT anxiety effects were paradoxical in the context of the clinical use of SERT inhibitors to reduce anxiety.
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10
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Holm-Hansen S, Low JK, Zieba J, Gjedde A, Bergersen LH, Karl T. Behavioural effects of high fat diet in a mutant mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:295-304. [PMID: 26707035 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients are often obese or overweight and poor dietary choices appear to be a factor in this phenomenon. Poor diet has been found to have complex consequences for the mental state of patients. Thus, this study investigated whether an unhealthy diet [i.e. high fat diet (HFD)] impacts on the behaviour of a genetic mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1 (i.e. transmembrane domain Nrg1 mutant mice: Nrg1 HET). Female Nrg1 HET and wild-type-like littermates (WT) were fed with either HFD or a control chow diet. The mice were tested for baseline (e.g. anxiety) and schizophrenia-relevant behaviours after 7 weeks of diet exposure. HFD increased body weight and impaired glucose tolerance in all mice. Only Nrg1 females on HFD displayed a hyper-locomotive phenotype as locomotion-suppressive effects of HFD were only evident in WT mice. HFD also induced an anxiety-like response and increased freezing in the context and the cued version of the fear conditioning task. Importantly, CHOW-fed Nrg1 females displayed impaired social recognition memory, which was absent in HFD-fed mutants. Sensorimotor gating deficits of Nrg1 females were not affected by diet. In summary, HFD had complex effects on the behavioural phenotype of test mice and attenuated particular cognitive deficits of Nrg1 mutant females. This topic requires further investigations thereby also considering other dietary factors of relevance for schizophrenia as well as interactive effects of diet with medication and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Holm-Hansen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Brain and Muscle Energy Group, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - J K Low
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia
| | - J Zieba
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia
| | - A Gjedde
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L H Bergersen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Brain and Muscle Energy Group, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - T Karl
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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11
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Brzózka MM, Unterbarnscheidt T, Schwab MH, Rossner MJ. OSO paradigm--A rapid behavioral screening method for acute psychosocial stress reactivity in mice. Neuroscience 2015; 314:1-11. [PMID: 26628400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress is an important environmental risk factor for the development of psychiatric diseases. However, studying the impact of chronic psychosocial stress in mice is time consuming and thus not optimally suited to 'screen' increasing numbers of genetically manipulated mouse models for psychiatric endophenotypes. Moreover, many studies focus on restraint stress, a strong physical stressor with limited relevance for psychiatric disorders. Here, we describe a simple and a rapid method based on the resident-intruder paradigm to examine acute effects of mild psychosocial stress in mice. The OSO paradigm (open field--social defeat--open field) compares behavioral consequences on locomotor activity, anxiety and curiosity before and after exposure to acute social defeat stress. We first evaluated OSO in male C57Bl/6 wildtype mice where a single episode of social defeat reduced locomotor activity, increased anxiety and diminished exploratory behavior. Subsequently, we applied the OSO paradigm to mouse models of two schizophrenia (SZ) risk genes. Transgenic mice with neuronal overexpression of Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) type III showed increased risk-taking behavior after acute stress exposure suggesting that NRG1 dysfunction is associated with altered affective behavior. In contrast, Tcf4 transgenic mice displayed a normal stress response which is in line with the postulated predominant contribution of TCF4 to cognitive deficits of SZ. In conclusion, the OSO paradigm allows for rapid screening of selected psychosocial stress-induced behavioral endophenotypes in mouse models of psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Brzózka
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany.
| | - T Unterbarnscheidt
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - M H Schwab
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - M J Rossner
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
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12
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Ayhan Y, McFarland R, Pletnikov MV. Animal models of gene-environment interaction in schizophrenia: A dimensional perspective. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 136:1-27. [PMID: 26510407 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia has long been considered as a disorder with multifactorial origins. Recent discoveries have advanced our understanding of the genetic architecture of the disease. However, even with the increase of identified risk variants, heritability estimates suggest an important contribution of non-genetic factors. Various environmental risk factors have been proposed to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia. These include season of birth, maternal infections, obstetric complications, adverse events at early childhood, and drug abuse. Despite the progress in identification of genetic and environmental risk factors, we still have a limited understanding of the mechanisms whereby gene-environment interactions (G × E) operate in schizophrenia and psychoses at large. In this review we provide a critical analysis of current animal models of G × E relevant to psychotic disorders and propose that dimensional perspective will advance our understanding of the complex mechanisms of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yavuz Ayhan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Turkey
| | - Ross McFarland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - Mikhail V Pletnikov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.
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13
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Chohan TW, Boucher AA, Spencer JR, Kassem MS, Hamdi AA, Karl T, Fok SY, Bennett MR, Arnold JC. Partial genetic deletion of neuregulin 1 modulates the effects of stress on sensorimotor gating, dendritic morphology, and HPA axis activity in adolescent mice. Schizophr Bull 2014; 40:1272-84. [PMID: 24442851 PMCID: PMC4193694 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbt193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Genetic variation in neuregulin 1 (NRG1) increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and may help predict which high-risk individuals will transition to psychosis. NRG1 also modulates sensorimotor gating, a schizophrenia endophenotype. We used an animal model to demonstrate that partial genetic deletion of Nrg1 interacts with stress to promote neurobehavioral deficits of relevance to schizophrenia. Nrg1 heterozygous (HET) mice displayed greater acute stress-induced anxiety-related behavior than wild-type (WT) mice. Repeated stress in adolescence disrupted the normal development of higher prepulse inhibition of startle selectively in Nrg1 HET mice but not in WT mice. Further, repeated stress increased dendritic spine density in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) selectively in Nrg1 HET mice. Partial genetic deletion of Nrg1 also modulated the adaptive response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to repeated stress, with Nrg1 HET displaying a reduced repeated stress-induced level of plasma corticosterone than WT mice. Our results demonstrate that Nrg1 confers vulnerability to repeated stress-induced sensorimotor gating deficits, dendritic spine growth in the mPFC, and an abberant endocrine response in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq W. Chohan
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Aurelie A. Boucher
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jarrah R. Spencer
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mustafa S. Kassem
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Areeg A. Hamdi
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Sandra Y. Fok
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Maxwell R. Bennett
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C. Arnold
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;,Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, 94-100 Mallett Street, Sydney, Australia; tel: +61-2-9351-0812, e-mail:
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Chohan TW, Nguyen A, Todd SM, Bennett MR, Callaghan P, Arnold JC. Partial genetic deletion of neuregulin 1 and adolescent stress interact to alter NMDA receptor binding in the medial prefrontal cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:298. [PMID: 25324742 PMCID: PMC4179617 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is thought to arise due to a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors during early neurodevelopment. We have recently shown that partial genetic deletion of the schizophrenia susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) and adolescent stress interact to disturb sensorimotor gating, neuroendocrine activity and dendritic morphology in mice. Both stress and Nrg1 may have converging effects upon N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) which are implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, sensorimotor gating and dendritic spine plasticity. Using an identical repeated restraint stress paradigm to our previous study, here we determined NMDAR binding across various brain regions in adolescent Nrg1 heterozygous (HET) and wild-type (WT) mice using [3H] MK-801 autoradiography. Repeated restraint stress increased NMDAR binding in the ventral part of the lateral septum (LSV) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus irrespective of genotype. Partial genetic deletion of Nrg1 interacted with adolescent stress to promote an altered pattern of NMDAR binding in the infralimbic (IL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex. In the IL, whilst stress tended to increase NMDAR binding in WT mice, it decreased binding in Nrg1 HET mice. However, in the DG, stress selectively increased the expression of NMDAR binding in Nrg1 HET mice but not WT mice. These results demonstrate a Nrg1-stress interaction during adolescence on NMDAR binding in the medial prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq W Chohan
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - An Nguyen
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; ANSTO LifeSciences, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephanie M Todd
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maxwell R Bennett
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Callaghan
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; ANSTO LifeSciences, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
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15
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Karl T. Neuregulin 1: a prime candidate for research into gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia? Insights from genetic rodent models. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:106. [PMID: 23966917 PMCID: PMC3744031 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a multi-factorial disease characterized by a high heritability and environmental risk factors. In recent years, an increasing number of researchers worldwide have started investigating the “two-hit hypothesis” of schizophrenia predicting that genetic and environmental risk factors (GxE) interactively cause the development of the disorder. This work is starting to produce valuable new animal models and reveal novel insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This mini review will focus on recent advancements in the field made by challenging mutant and transgenic rodent models for the schizophrenia candidate gene neuregulin 1 (NRG1) with particular environmental factors. It will outline results obtained from mouse and rat models for various Nrg1 isoforms/isoform types (e.g., transmembrane domain Nrg1, Type II Nrg1), which have been exposed to different forms of stress (acute versus chronic, restraint versus social) and housing conditions (standard laboratory versus minimally enriched housing). These studies suggest Nrg1 as a prime candidate for GxE interactions in schizophrenia rodent models and that the use of rodent models will enable a better understanding of GxE interactions and the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Karl
- Neuroscience Research Australia Randwick, NSW, Australia ; Schizophrenia Research Institute Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia ; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales NSW, Australia
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16
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Kannan G, Sawa A, Pletnikov MV. Mouse models of gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 57:5-11. [PMID: 23748077 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-environment interactions (GEIs) likely play significant roles in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and underlie differences in pathological, behavioral, and clinical presentations of the disease. Findings from epidemiology and psychiatric genetics have assisted in the generation of animal models of GEI relevant to schizophrenia. These models may provide a foundation for elucidating the molecular, cellular, and circuitry mechanisms that mediate GEI in schizophrenia. Here we critically review current mouse models of GEI related to schizophrenia, describe directions for their improvement, and propose endophenotypes to provide a more tangible basis for molecular studies of pathways of GEI and facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetha Kannan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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17
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Spencer JR, Darbyshire KME, Boucher AA, Kashem MA, Long LE, McGregor IS, Karl T, Arnold JC. Novel molecular changes induced by Nrg1 hypomorphism and Nrg1-cannabinoid interaction in adolescence: a hippocampal proteomic study in mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:15. [PMID: 23447498 PMCID: PMC3581856 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia and cannabis dependence. Mice that are hypomorphic for Nrg1 (Nrg1 HET mice) display schizophrenia-relevant behavioral phenotypes and aberrant expression of serotonin and glutamate receptors. Nrg1 HET mice also display idiosyncratic responses to the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). To gain traction on the molecular pathways disrupted by Nrg1 hypomorphism and Nrg1-cannabinoid interactions we conducted a proteomic study. Adolescent wildtype (WT) and Nrg1 HET mice were exposed to repeated injections of vehicle or THC and their hippocampi were submitted to 2D gel proteomics. Comparison of WT and Nrg1 HET mice identified proteins linked to molecular changes in schizophrenia that have not been previously associated with Nrg1. These proteins are involved in vesicular release of neurotransmitters such as SNARE proteins; enzymes impacting serotonergic neurotransmission, and proteins affecting growth factor expression. Nrg1 HET mice treated with THC expressed a distinct protein expression signature compared to WT mice. Replicating prior findings, THC caused proteomic changes in WT mice suggestive of greater oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. We have previously observed that THC selectively increased hippocampal NMDA receptor binding of adolescent Nrg1 HET mice. Here we observed outcomes consistent with heightened NMDA-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission. This included differential expression of proteins involved in NMDA receptor trafficking to the synaptic membrane; lipid raft stabilization of synaptic NMDA receptors; and homeostatic responses to dampen excitotoxicity. These findings uncover novel proteins altered in response to Nrg1 hypomorphism and Nrg1-cannabinoid interactions that improves our molecular understanding of Nrg1 signaling and Nrg1-mediated genetic vulnerability to the neurobehavioral effects of cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrah R Spencer
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Karl T, Arnold JC. What does a mouse tell us about neuregulin 1-cannabis interactions? Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:18. [PMID: 23447438 PMCID: PMC3581817 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The link between cannabis and psychosis has been debated although there is substantial epidemiological evidence showing that cannabis increases the risk of psychosis. It has been hypothesized that schizophrenia patients carrying particular risk genes might be more sensitive to the psychosis-inducing effects of cannabis than other patients and healthy test subjects. Here we review the effects of cannabinoids on a mutant mouse model for the schizophrenia candidate gene neuregulin 1 (Nrg1). The studies suggest a complex interaction between cannabis and Nrg1: the neuro-behavioral effects of cannabinoids were different in Nrg1 mutant and control mice and depended on exposure time, sex, and age of test animals. This research provides the first evidence of complex cannabis-Nrg1 interactions suggesting Nrg1 as a prime target for future clinical investigations. Furthermore, it highlights that animal model research can broaden our understanding of the complex multi-factorial etiology of schizophrenia. Finally, the findings are important to preventive psychiatry: if the genes that confer genetic vulnerability to cannabis-induced psychosis were identified patients at-high risk could be forewarned of the potential dangers of cannabis abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Karl
- Neuroscience Research Australia Randwick, NSW, Australia ; Schizophrenia Research Institute Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia ; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales NSW, Australia
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19
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Overstimulation of newborn mice leads to behavioral differences and deficits in cognitive performance. Sci Rep 2012; 2:546. [PMID: 22855702 PMCID: PMC3409385 DOI: 10.1038/srep00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Observational studies in humans have found associations between overstimulation in infancy via excessive television viewing and subsequent deficits in cognition and attention. We developed and tested a mouse model of overstimulation whereby p10 mice were subjected to audio (70 db) and visual stimulation (flashing lights) for six hours per day for a total of 42 days. 10 days later cognition and behavior were tested using the following tests: Light Dark Latency, Elevated Plus Maze, Novel Object Recognition, and Barnes Maze. In all tests, overstimulated mice performed significantly worse compared to controls suggesting increased activity and risk taking, diminished short term memory, and decreased cognitive function. These findings suggest that excessive non-normative stimulation during critical periods of brain development can have demonstrable untoward effects on subsequent neurocognitive function.
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