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Patel R, Jain NS. Stimulation of central histaminergic transmission attenuates diazepam-induced motor disturbance on rota-rod and beam walking tests in mice. Behav Pharmacol 2024; 35:351-365. [PMID: 39051902 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Diazepam administration has been shown to influence the release of histamine in various brain areas involved in motor behavior. Therefore, the present study explored the plausible regulatory role of the central histaminergic system in diazepam-induced deficits in motor performance in mice using the rota-rod and beam walking tests. In this study, several doses of diazepam (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) were assessed in mice for changes in motor performance on the rota-rod and beam walking test. In addition, the brain histamine levels were determined after diazepam administration, and the diazepam-induced motor deficits were assessed in mice, pretreated centrally (intracerebroventricular) with histaminergic agents such as histamine (0.1, 10 µg), histamine precursor (L-histidine: 0.1, 2.5 µg), histamine neuronal releaser/H 3 receptor antagonist (thioperamide: 0.5, 10 µg), H 1 and H 2 receptor agonist [2-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl) histamine (FMPH: 0.1, 6.5 µg; amthamine: 0.1, 5 µg)/antagonist (H 1 : cetirizine 0.1 µg) and (H 2 : ranitidine: 50 µg)]. Results indicate that mice treated with diazepam at doses 1, 2 mg/kg, i.p. significantly increased the brain histamine levels. Moreover, in mice pretreated with histaminergic transmission-enhancing agents, the diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced motor incoordination was significantly reversed. Contrastingly, diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) in its subeffective dose produced significant motor deficits in mice preintracerebroventricular injected with histamine H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonists on both the employed tests. Therefore, it is postulated that endogenous histamine operates via H 1 and H 2 receptor activation to alleviate the motor-impairing effects of diazepam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Patel
- Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
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2
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Arnskötter F, da Silva PBG, Schouw ME, Lukasch C, Bianchini L, Sieber L, Garcia-Lopez J, Ahmad ST, Li Y, Lin H, Joshi P, Spänig L, Radoš M, Roiuk M, Sepp M, Zuckermann M, Northcott PA, Patrizi A, Kutscher LM. Loss of Elp1 in cerebellar granule cell progenitors models ataxia phenotype of Familial Dysautonomia. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106600. [PMID: 38996985 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106600] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a splice site mutation in the gene ELP1, which disproportionally affects neurons. While classically characterized by deficits in sensory and autonomic neurons, neuronal defects in the central nervous system have also been described. Although ELP1 expression remains high in the normal developing and adult cerebellum, its role in cerebellar development is unknown. To explore the role of Elp1 in the cerebellum, we knocked out Elp1 in cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPs) and examined the outcome on animal behavior and cellular composition. We found that GCP-specific conditional knockout of Elp1 (Elp1cKO) resulted in ataxia by 8 weeks of age. Cellular characterization showed that the animals had smaller cerebella with fewer granule cells. This defect was already apparent as early as 7 days after birth, when Elp1cKO animals also had fewer mitotic GCPs and shorter Purkinje dendrites. Through molecular characterization, we found that loss of Elp1 was associated with an increase in apoptotic cell death and cell stress pathways in GCPs. Our study demonstrates the importance of ELP1 in the developing cerebellum, and suggests that loss of Elp1 in the GC lineage may also play a role in the progressive ataxia phenotypes of FD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Arnskötter
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patricia Benites Goncalves da Silva
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Mackenna E Schouw
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Chiara Lukasch
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Luca Bianchini
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Sieber
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Jesus Garcia-Lopez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of In vivo Pharmacology-Immunology, Tempest Therapeutics, Brisbane, CA, USA
| | - Shiekh Tanveer Ahmad
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yiran Li
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hong Lin
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Piyush Joshi
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Lisa Spänig
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Radoš
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Mykola Roiuk
- Signal Transduction in Cancer and Metabolism, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mari Sepp
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc Zuckermann
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Preclinical Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul A Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Annarita Patrizi
- Schaller Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena M Kutscher
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany.
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3
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He Y, Xu Z, He Y, Liu J, Li J, Wang S, Xiao L. Preventing production of new oligodendrocytes impairs remyelination and sustains behavioural deficits after demyelination. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 733:150592. [PMID: 39213705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150592] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Damage to oligodendrocytes (OLs) and myelin sheaths (demyelination) has been shown to be associated with numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Remyelination is a rare and reliable regenerative response that occurs in the central nervous system (CNS). It is generally believed that OL progenitor cells (OPCs) are the cell source to generate new OLs to remyelinate the demyelinated axons. However, several recent studies have argued that pre-existing mature OLs that survive within the demyelinated area are responsible for remyelination. Here, by conditional knock-out (KO) of a transcription factor gene that is essential for OPC differentiation, namely myelin regulatory factor (Myrf), to block the production of adult new OLs and examined its effect on remyelination after cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination. We found that OPCs specific Myrf cKO mice show dramatic impairment in remyelination after 4 weeks of recovery from 5 weeks of CPZ diet and they leave over significant behavioral deficits such as anxiety-like behavior, decreased motor skills, and impaired memory compared to control mice that have recovered for the same time. Our data support the idea that OPCs are the major cell sources for myelin regeneration, suggesting that targeting the activation of OPCs and promoting their differentiation to boost new OLs production is critical for therapeutic intervention for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zhengtao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Yongxiang He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Junhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jiong Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Shuming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
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4
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Liu YB, Arystarkhova E, Sacino AN, Szabari MV, Lutz CM, Terrey M, Morsci NS, Jakobs TC, Lykke-Hartmann K, Brashear A, Napoli E, Sweadner KJ. Phenotype Distinctions in Mice Deficient in the Neuron-Specific α3 Subunit of Na,K-ATPase: Atp1a3 tm1Ling/+ and Atp1a3 +/D801Y. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0101-24.2024. [PMID: 39111836 PMCID: PMC11360364 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0101-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024] Open
Abstract
ATP1A3 is a Na,K-ATPase gene expressed specifically in neurons in the brain. Human mutations are dominant and produce an unusually wide spectrum of neurological phenotypes, most notably rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism (RDP) and alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). Here we compared heterozygotes of two mouse lines, a line with little or no expression (Atp1a3tm1Ling/+) and a knock-in expressing p.Asp801Tyr (D801Y, Atp1a3 +/D801Y). Both mouse lines had normal lifespans, but Atp1a3 +/D801Y had mild perinatal mortality contrasting with D801N mice (Atp1a3 +/D801N), which had high mortality. The phenotypes of Atp1a3tm1Ling/+ and Atp1a3 +/D801Y were different, and testing of each strain was tailored to its symptom range. Atp1a3tm1Ling/+ mice displayed little at baseline, but repeated ethanol intoxication produced hyperkinetic motor abnormalities not seen in littermate controls. Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice displayed robust phenotypes: hyperactivity, diminished posture consistent with hypotonia, and deficiencies in beam walk and wire hang tests. Symptoms also included qualitative motor abnormalities that are not well quantified by conventional tests. Paradoxically, Atp1a3 +/D801Y showed sustained better performance than wild type on the accelerating rotarod. Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice were overactive in forced swimming and afterward had intense shivering, transient dystonic postures, and delayed recovery. Remarkably, Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice were refractory to ketamine anesthesia, which elicited hyperactivity and dyskinesia even at higher dose. Neither mouse line exhibited fixed dystonia (typical of RDP patients), spontaneous paroxysmal weakness (typical of AHC patients), or seizures but had consistent, measurable neurological abnormalities. A gradient of variation supports the importance of studying multiple Atp1a3 mutations in animal models to understand the roles of this gene in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Bessie Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Elena Arystarkhova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Amanda N Sacino
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Margit V Szabari
- Department Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | | | | | | | - Tatjana C Jakobs
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | | | - Allison Brashear
- Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203
| | - Elenora Napoli
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
| | - Kathleen J Sweadner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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5
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Yang WW, Matyas JJ, Li Y, Lee H, Lei Z, Renn CL, Faden AI, Dorsey SG, Wu J. Dissecting Genetic Mechanisms of Differential Locomotion, Depression, and Allodynia after Spinal Cord Injury in Three Mouse Strains. Cells 2024; 13:759. [PMID: 38727295 PMCID: PMC11083625 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Strain differences have been reported for motor behaviors, and only a subset of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients develop neuropathic pain, implicating genetic or genomic contribution to this condition. Here, we evaluated neuropsychiatric behaviors in A/J, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 male mice and tested genetic or genomic alterations following SCI. A/J and BALB/c naive mice showed significantly less locomotor activity and greater anxiety-like behavior than C57BL/6 mice. Although SCI elicited locomotor dysfunction, C57BL/6 and A/J mice showed the best and the worst post-traumatic recovery, respectively. Mild (m)-SCI mice showed deficits in gait dynamics. All moderate/severe SCI mice exhibited similar degrees of anxiety/depression. mSCI in BALB/c and A/J mice resulted in depression, whereas C57BL/6 mice did not exhibit depression. mSCI mice had significantly lower mechanical thresholds than their controls, indicating high cutaneous hypersensitivity. C57BL/6, but not A/J and BLAB/c mice, showed significantly lower heat thresholds than their controls. C57BL/6 mice exhibited spontaneous pain. RNAseq showed that genes in immune responses and wound healing were upregulated, although A/J mice showed the largest increase. The cell cycle and the truncated isoform of trkB genes were robustly elevated in SCI mice. Thus, different genomics are associated with post-traumatic recovery, underscoring the likely importance of genetic factors in SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy W. Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
| | - Jessica J. Matyas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
| | - Hangnoh Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Zhuofan Lei
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
| | - Cynthia L. Renn
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (C.L.R.); (S.G.D.)
| | - Alan I. Faden
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
| | - Susan G. Dorsey
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (C.L.R.); (S.G.D.)
| | - Junfang Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.W.Y.); (J.J.M.); (Y.L.); (Z.L.); (A.I.F.)
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Keane SP, Chadman KK, Gomez AR, Hu W. Pros and cons of narrow- versus wide-compartment rotarod apparatus: An experimental study in mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114901. [PMID: 38341101 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114901] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The rotarod test, a sensorimotor assessment that allows for quantitative evaluation of motor coordination in rodents, has extensive application in many research fields. The test results exhibit extreme between-study variability, sometimes making it challenging to conclude the validity of certain disease models and related therapeutic effects. Although the variation in test paradigms may account for this disparity, some features of rotarod apparatus including rod diameter make differences. However, it is unknown whether the width of animal compartment has a role in rotarod performance. Here we comprehensively evaluated the active rotarod performance and adverse incidents in multiple strains of mice on an 11-cm- or a 5-cm-wide compartment apparatus. We found that mouse behaviors on these apparatuses were surprisingly different. It took a markedly longer time to train mice on the narrow- than wide-compartment rotarod. Further, non-transgenic B6129S and tau knockout mice aged 11 months and beyond showed different levels of improvement based on the compartment width. These mice had no overt improvements on accelerating rotarod over 4-5 training sessions on the narrow compartment, contrary to marked progress on the wide counterpart. The incidents of mice passively somersaulting round and fragmented running occurred significantly more on the wide than narrow compartment during accelerating rotarod sessions. Mice fell off rod more frequently on narrow than wide compartments upon attempt to turn around and when moving backward on rod. The pros and cons of narrow versus wide compartments are informative as to how to choose a rotarod apparatus that best fits the animal models used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko P Keane
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn K Chadman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Andres R Gomez
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Wen Hu
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA.
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Qualls KA, Xie W, Zhang J, Lückemeyer DD, Lackey SV, Strong JA, Zhang JM. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonism Reduces Inflammatory Pain Measures in Mice Independent of the Receptors on Sensory Neurons. Neuroscience 2024; 541:64-76. [PMID: 38307407 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.024] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of inflammatory low back pain, and their nominal target is the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to relieve inflammation. They can also have similar potency at the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). The MR has been shown to be widespread in rodent and human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and non-neuronal cells, and when MR antagonists are administered during a variety of inflammatory pain models in rats, pain measures are reduced. In this study we selectively knockout (KO) the MR in sensory neurons to determine the role of MR in sensory neurons of the mouse DRG in pain measures as MR antagonism during the local inflammation of the DRG (LID) pain model. We found that MR antagonism using eplerenone reduced evoked mechanical hypersensitivity during LID, but MR KO in paw-innervating sensory neurons only did not. This could be a result of differences between prolonged (MR KO) versus acute (drug) MR block or an indicator that non-neuronal cells in the DRG are driving the effect of MR antagonists. MR KO unmyelinated C neurons are more excitable under normal and inflamed conditions, while MR KO does not affect excitability of myelinated A cells. MR KO in sensory neurons causes a reduction in overall GR mRNA but is protective against reduction of the anti-inflammatory GRα isoform during LID. These effects of MR KO in sensory neurons expanded our understanding of MR's functional role in different neuronal subtypes (A and C neurons), and its interactions with the GR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Qualls
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Wenrui Xie
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jietong Zhang
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Debora Denardin Lückemeyer
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sierra V Lackey
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Judith A Strong
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jun-Ming Zhang
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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8
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Terstege DJ, Epp JR. PAW, a cost-effective and open-source alternative to commercial rodent running wheels. HARDWAREX 2024; 17:e00499. [PMID: 38204596 PMCID: PMC10776975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Voluntary wheel running is a common measure of general activity in many rodent models across neuroscience and physiology. However, current commercial wheel monitoring systems can be cost-prohibitive to many investigators, with many of these systems requiring investments of thousands of dollars. In recent years, several open-source alternatives have been developed, and while these tools are much more cost effective than commercial system, they often lack the flexibility to be applied to a wide variety of projects. Here, we have developed PAW, a 3D Printable Arduino-based Wheel logger. PAW is wireless, fully self-contained, easy to assemble, and all components necessary for its production can be obtained for only $75 CAD. Furthermore, with its compact internal electronics, the 3D printed casing can be easily modified to be used with a wide variety of running wheel designs for a wide variety of rodent species. Data recorded with the PAW system shows circadian patterns of activity which is expected from mice and is consistent with results found in the literature. Altogether, PAW is a flexible, low-cost system that can be beneficial to a broad range of researchers who study rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan J. Terstege
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jonathan R. Epp
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
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9
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Bannerman DM, Barkus C, Eltokhi A. Behavioral Analysis of NMDAR Function in Rodents: Tests of Long-Term Spatial Memory. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2799:107-138. [PMID: 38727905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_7] [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] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
NMDAR-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity in brain regions like the hippocampus are widely believed to provide the neural substrate for long-term associative memory formation. However, the experimental data are equivocal at best and may suggest a more nuanced role for NMDARs and synaptic plasticity in memory. Much of the experimental data available comes from studies in genetically modified mice in which NMDAR subunits have been deleted or mutated in order to disrupt NMDAR function. Behavioral assessment of long-term memory in these mice has involved tests like the Morris watermaze and the radial arm maze. Here we describe these behavioral tests and some of the different testing protocols that can be used to assess memory performance. We discuss the importance of distinguishing selective effects on learning and memory processes from nonspecific effects on sensorimotor or motivational aspects of performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Bannerman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Chris Barkus
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ahmed Eltokhi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Columbus, GA, USA
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10
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Sheng JA, Handa RJ, Tobet SA. Evaluating different models of maternal stress on stress-responsive systems in prepubertal mice. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1292642. [PMID: 38130695 PMCID: PMC10733493 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1292642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Maternal adversity during pregnancy influences neurodevelopment in human and model animal offspring. Adversity can result from stressors coming from many different directions ranging from environmental to nutritional and physiological to immune (e.g., infection). Most stressors result in fetal overexposure to glucocorticoids that have been directly linked to long- and short-term negative impacts on neurological health of offspring. Neuropsychiatric diseases postulated to have fetal origins are diverse and include such things cardiovascular disease, obesity, affective disorders, and metabolic and immune disorders. Methods The experiments in the current study compare 3 stressors: prenatal exposure to dexamethasone (DEX), maternal high fat diet (HFD), and maternal caloric restriction (CR). Offspring of mothers with these treatments were examined prepubertally to evaluate stress responsiveness and stress-related behaviors in in male and female mice. Results Prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoid, DEX, resulted in decreased neonatal body weights, reduced social interaction behavior, and hypoactive stress response offspring exposed to maternal DEX. Maternal CR resulted in decreased body weights and social interaction behavior in males and females and increased anxiety-like behavior and acute stress response only in males. HFD resulted in altered body weight gain in both sex offspring with decreased anxiety-like behavior in a female-biased manner. Discussion The idea that glucocorticoid responses to different stressors might serve as a common stimulus across stress paradigms is insufficient, given that different modes of prenatal stress produced differential effects. Opposite nutritional stressors produced similar outcomes for anxiety-like behavior in both sexes, social-like behavior in females, and a hyperactive adrenal stress response in males. One common theme among the three models of maternal stress (DEX, CR, and HFD) was consistent data showing their role in activating the maternal and fetal immune response. By tuning in on the more immediate immunological aspect on the developing fetus (e.g., hormones, cytokines), additional studies may tease out more direct outcomes of maternal stress in rodents and increase their translational value to human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julietta A. Sheng
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Robert J. Handa
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Stuart A. Tobet
- Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine, Mass General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, United States
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11
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Shan HM, Maurer MA, Schwab ME. Four-parameter analysis in modified Rotarod test for detecting minor motor deficits in mice. BMC Biol 2023; 21:177. [PMID: 37592249 PMCID: PMC10433596 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01679-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Rotarod test with commercial apparatus is widely used to assess locomotor performance, balance and motor learning as well as the deficits resulting from diverse neurological disorders in laboratory rodents due to its simplicity and objectivity. Traditionally, the test ends when rodents drop from the accelerating, turning rod, and the only parameter used commonly is "latency to fall". The values of individual animals can often vary greatly. RESULTS In the present study, we established a procedure for mice with 4 consecutive days of training with 4 trials per day and modified the testing procedure by placing the mice back on the rod repeatedly after each fall until the trial ends (5 min). Data from the fourth training day as baseline results showed that the second, third and fourth trial were more consistent than the first, probably due to habituation or learning. There was no difference between the second, third and fourth trial, two trials may be sufficient in testing. We also introduced 3 additional read-outs: Longest duration on the rod (s), Maximal distance covered (cm), and Number of falls to better evaluate the motor capacity over the 5 min of testing. We then used this 4-parameter analysis to capture the motor deficits of mice with mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries (by a weight dropping on the skull (Marmarou model)). We found that normalization of data to individual baseline performance was needed to reduce individual differences, and 4 trials were more sensitive than two to show motor deficits. The parameter of Maximal distance was the best in detecting statistically significant long-term motor deficits. CONCLUSIONS These results show that by making adjustments to the protocol and employing a more refined analysis, it is possible to expand a widely used routine behavioral test with additional accessible parameters that detect relevant deficits in a model of mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. The modified Rotarod test maybe a valuable tool for better preclinical evaluations of drugs and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Min Shan
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael A Maurer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin E Schwab
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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12
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Frare C, Pitt SK, Hewett SJ. Sex- and age-dependent contribution of System x c- to cognitive, sensory, and social behaviors revealed by comprehensive behavioral analyses of System x c- null mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1238349. [PMID: 37649973 PMCID: PMC10462982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1238349] [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: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background System xc- (Sxc-) is an important heteromeric amino acid cystine/glutamate exchanger that plays a pivotal role in the CNS by importing cystine into cells while exporting glutamate. Although certain behaviors have been identified as altered in Sxc- null mutant mice, our understanding of the comprehensive impact of Sxc- on behavior remains incomplete. Methods To address this gap, we compared motor, sensory and social behaviors of male and female mice in mice null for Sxc- (SLC7A11sut/sut) with wildtype littermates (SLC7A11+/+) in a comprehensive and systematic manner to determine effects of genotype, sex, age, and their potential interactions. Results Motor performance was not affected by loss of Sxc- in both males and females, although it was impacted negatively by age. Motor learning was specifically disrupted in female mice lacking Sxc- at both 2 and 6 months of age. Further, female SLC7A11sut/sut mice at both ages exhibited impaired sociability, but normal spatial and recognition memory, as well as sensorimotor gating. Finally, pronounced open-space anxiety was displayed by female SLC7A11sut/sut when they were young. In contrast, young SLC7A11sut/sut male mice demonstrated normal sociability, delayed spatial learning, increased open-space anxiety and heightened sensitivity to noise. As they aged, anxiety and noise sensitivity abated but hyperactivity emerged. Discussion We find that the behavioral phenotypes of female SLC7A11sut/sut are similar to those observed in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, while behaviors of male SLC7A11sut/sut resemble those seen in mouse models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These results underscore the need for further investigation of SLC7A11 in neurodevelopment. By expanding our understanding of the potential involvement of Sxc-, we may gain additional insights into the mechanisms underlying complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra J. Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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13
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Tashakori A, Hassanpour S, Vazir B. Protective effect of crocin on cuprizone-induced model of multiple sclerosis in mice. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:1713-1725. [PMID: 36805765 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Crocin is the main bioactive components of the saffron which has positive role in the nervous system; however, its neuroprotective activity is not fully elicited. So, the aim of the current study was to determine effects of the crocin on reflexive motor and anti-depressive behaviors as well as serum and brain tissue antioxidant activities in cuprizone-induced (CPZ) model of multiple sclerosis (MS) mice. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Mice in the control group were received normal diet. In group 2, mice received normal diet and orally received crocin (100 mg/kg) 3 times per week for 5 weeks. In group 3, CPZ-induced demyelination was done by chew palate containing 0.2% (w/w) CPZ for 5 weeks. In group 4, mice feed CPZ containing diet and orally received crocin (100 mg/kg) three times per for 5 weeks. After determination of the MS signs, reflexive motor behavior and depressive tests were done. Also, serum and brain tissue antioxidant activity was determined. According to the data, CPZ had negative effects on hind-limb foot angle, hind- and front-limb suspension, surface righting, grip strength, and negative geotaxis while crocin improved it. Co-administration of the CPZ + crocin reversed effect of the CPZ on the reflexive motor behaviors. CPZ increased immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), while co-administration of the CPZ + crocin reversed effect of the CPZ on immobility time. CPZ decreased number of cross in open field test (OFT) and spending time on rotarod, while co-administration of the CPZ + crocin reversed effect of the CPZ. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production increased, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased in serum and brain tissue of the mice treated with CPZ. Pretreatment with crocin decreased adverse effect of the CPZ on serum and brain tissue antioxidants. These results suggested crocin has protective effect against CPZ-induced MS in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Tashakori
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Hassanpour
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Bita Vazir
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Khosravi-Nezhad S, Hassanpour S, Hesaraki S. L-Theanine Improves Locomotor Function in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis Mice. ARCHIVES OF RAZI INSTITUTE 2023; 78:195-203. [PMID: 37312698 PMCID: PMC10258260 DOI: 10.22092/ari.2022.360066.2544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study designed to investigate the protective effects of L-theanine on experimental Multiple sclerosis in mice. Frothy Male C57BL/6 mice were allocated into 4 experimental groups: control no treatment received a regular chew pellet, and the cuprizone (CPZ) group received a standard chew pellet containing 0.2% (w/w) CPZ. In group 3, mice were fed a regular diet and administered p.o. with L-theanine (50mg/kg). In group 4, mice received a diet containing CPZ and were administered p.o. with L-theanine (50mg/kg). Finally, reflexive motor behavior and serum antioxidant levels were determined. Based on findings, CPZ significantly decreased ambulation score, hind-limb suspension, front limb suspension, and grip strength (P<0.05). The CPZ + L-theanine reduced the adverse effect of the CPZ on ambulation score, hind-limb foot angle, surface righting, and negative geotaxis (P<0.05). The CPZ + L-theanine increased front and hind-limb suspension, grip strength, number of the cross, and duration of a stay on the rotarod compared to the control animal (P<0.05). CPZ administration significantly elevated serum malondialdehyde (MDA) while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased compared to control mice (P<0.05). The CPZ + L-theanine leads to the cessation of MDA production while increasing SOD, GPx, and TAS levels (P<0.05). These results suggested L-theanine has a protective effect against CPZ-induced MS in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sh Khosravi-Nezhad
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sh Hassanpour
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Hesaraki
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Liu M, Yu C, Zhang Z, Song M, Sun X, Piálek J, Jacob J, Lu J, Cong L, Zhang H, Wang Y, Li G, Feng Z, Du Z, Wang M, Wan X, Wang D, Wang YL, Li H, Wang Z, Zhang B, Zhang Z. Whole-genome sequencing reveals the genetic mechanisms of domestication in classical inbred mice. Genome Biol 2022; 23:203. [PMID: 36163035 PMCID: PMC9511766 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02772-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The laboratory mouse was domesticated from the wild house mouse. Understanding the genetics underlying domestication in laboratory mice, especially in the widely used classical inbred mice, is vital for studies using mouse models. However, the genetic mechanism of laboratory mouse domestication remains unknown due to lack of adequate genomic sequences of wild mice. Results We analyze the genetic relationships by whole-genome resequencing of 36 wild mice and 36 inbred strains. All classical inbred mice cluster together distinctly from wild and wild-derived inbred mice. Using nucleotide diversity analysis, Fst, and XP-CLR, we identify 339 positively selected genes that are closely associated with nervous system function. Approximately one third of these positively selected genes are highly expressed in brain tissues, and genetic mouse models of 125 genes in the positively selected genes exhibit abnormal behavioral or nervous system phenotypes. These positively selected genes show a higher ratio of differential expression between wild and classical inbred mice compared with all genes, especially in the hippocampus and frontal lobe. Using a mutant mouse model, we find that the SNP rs27900929 (T>C) in gene Astn2 significantly reduces the tameness of mice and modifies the ratio of the two Astn2 (a/b) isoforms. Conclusion Our study indicates that classical inbred mice experienced high selection pressure during domestication under laboratory conditions. The analysis shows the positively selected genes are closely associated with behavior and the nervous system in mice. Tameness may be related to the Astn2 mutation and regulated by the ratio of the two Astn2 (a/b) isoforms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02772-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,International Society of Zoological Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Yu
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.,National Genomics Data Center, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China.,Glbizzia Biosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjing Song
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuping Sun
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jaroslav Piálek
- House Mouse Group, Research Facility Studenec, Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests / Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Münster, Germany
| | - Jiqi Lu
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lin Cong
- Institute of Plant Protection, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hongmao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyong Feng
- Plant Protection Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenglin Du
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.,National Genomics Data Center, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xinru Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Ling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Bing Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhibin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,International Society of Zoological Sciences, Beijing, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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16
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Exposure to static magnetic field facilitates selective attention and neuroplasticity in rats. Brain Res Bull 2022; 189:111-120. [PMID: 35987295 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.016] [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: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Static magnetic fields (SMF) have neuroprotective and behavioral effects in rats, however, little is known about the effects of SMF on cognition, motor function and the underlying neurochemical mechanisms. In this study, we focused on the effects of short-term (5~10d) and long-term (13~38d) SMF exposure on selective attention and motor coordination of rats, as well as associated alterations in expression level of neuroplasticity-related structural proteins and cryptochrome (CRY1) protein in the cortex, striatum and ventral midbrain. The results showed that 6 d SMF exposure significantly enhanced selective attention without affecting locomotor activity in open field. All SMF exposures non-significantly enhanced motor coordination (Rotarod test). Neurochemical analysis demonstrated that 5d SMF exposure increased the expression of cortical and striatal CRY1 and synapsin-1 (SYN1), striatal total synapsins (SYN), and synaptophysin (SYP), growth associated protein-43 (GAP43) and post-synaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) in the ventral midbrain. Exposure to SMF for 14d increased PSD95 level in the ventral midbrain while longer SMF exposure elevated the levels of PSD95 in the cortex, SYN and SYN1 in all the examined brain areas. The increased expression of cortical and striatal CRY1and SYN1 correlated with the short-lasting effect of SMF on improving selective attention. Collectively, SMF's effect on selective attention attenuated following longer exposure to SMF whereas its effects on neuroplasticity-related structural biomarkers were time- and brain area-dependent, with some protein levels increasing with longer time exposure. These findings suggest a potential use of SMF for treatment of neurological diseases in which selective attention or neuroplasticity is impaired.
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17
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Gao L, Zhang C, Li Q, Peng X, Shima G, Cao H, Hao P, Li C, Zhang Z. Network Pharmacology and Experimental Analyses of the Mechanism of Analgesic and Glucose Intolerance Through Glucocorticoid Signaling in C57 Mice Treated with Water Extract of Prunella vulgaris L. Spica. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221111032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect and explore the adverse effects and underlying mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L., which has been extensively used for hundreds of years in East Asia. Network pharmacology studies predicted that glucocorticoids (GCs), GC-targeting molecules, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were intensively involved in the anti-inflammation and glucose intolerance. To attest the effects and underlying mechanisms, C57 male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, control (C), dexamethasone (Dex), water extract of P. vulgaris (PE 35 or 70 mg), and PE (70 mg) + mifepristone (PEM). After a 3-week treatment, acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests confirmed the peripheral and central analgesic effects, respectively. Plasma GCs and BDNF were significantly increased. Coincidently, plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL1β, IL6, and IL10, were decreased by PE treatment, which were blocked by the application of mifepristone ( P < 0.5). Western blots confirmed GC receptor (GR) translocation, and decreased cyclooxygenase 2 in the lumber spine by PE treatment. Food intake was impeded after a 4-week PE treatment, but the ratio of bodyweight gain to food intake was increased in a time-dependent manner. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test disclosed that PE treatment impaired glucose disposal in mice. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that hepatic GC-responsive genes such as GC-induced leucine zipper protein and glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 1 were up-regulated, and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein expressions were decreased by PE treatment. Hypothalamic BDNF was up-regulated, whereas hepatic BDNF was down-regulated. The regulation of these genes by PE was reversed by mifepristone administration. In conclusion, PE treatment plays analgesic and glucose regulation roles simultaneously through GC-induced signaling pathways, and P. vulgaris may provide a natural ligand of GR for the treatment of inflammation with glucose dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Chaoyun Zhang
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Qiuying Li
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Xiaojuan Peng
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Guanghan Shima
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Hongwei Cao
- Tiandao Wines & Spirits Co., Ltd, Handan, Hebei, China
| | - Pengfei Hao
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Chao Li
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Zhongming Zhang
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
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18
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A hacked kitchen scale-based system for quantification of grip strength in rodents. Comput Biol Med 2022; 144:105391. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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19
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Imani MH, Hassanpour S, Asghari A, Khaksar E. Parental exposure of Tadalafil has beneficial effect on Reflexive Motor Behaviors in Mice Offspring. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:397-406. [DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hassan Imani
- Graduate student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran
| | - Shahin Hassanpour
- Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran
| | - Ahmad Asghari
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran
| | - Ehssan Khaksar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran
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20
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Harry GJ, McBride S, Witchey SK, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Trembleau A, Bridge M, Bencsik A. Roadbumps at the Crossroads of Integrating Behavioral and In Vitro Approaches for Neurotoxicity Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:812863. [PMID: 35295216 PMCID: PMC8915899 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.812863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation that behavior represents the integration and complexity of the nervous system, neurobehavioral phenotyping and assessment has seen a renaissance over the last couple of decades, resulting in a robust database on rodent performance within various testing paradigms, possible associations with human disorders, and therapeutic interventions. The interchange of data across behavior and other test modalities and multiple model systems has advanced our understanding of fundamental biology and mechanisms associated with normal functions and alterations in the nervous system. While there is a demonstrated value and power of neurobehavioral assessments for examining alterations due to genetic manipulations, maternal factors, early development environment, the applied use of behavior to assess environmental neurotoxicity continues to come under question as to whether behavior represents a sensitive endpoint for assessment. Why is rodent behavior a sensitive tool to the neuroscientist and yet, not when used in pre-clinical or chemical neurotoxicity studies? Applying new paradigms and evidence on the biological basis of behavior to neurobehavioral testing requires expertise and refinement of how such experiments are conducted to minimize variability and maximize information. This review presents relevant issues of methods used to conduct such test, sources of variability, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It presents beneficial and critical limitations as they translate to the in vivo environment and considers the need to integrate across disciplines for the best value. It proposes that a refinement of behavioral assessments and understanding of subtle pronounced differences will facilitate the integration of data obtained across multiple approaches and to address issues of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Jean Harry
- Neurotoxicology Group, Molecular Toxicology Branch, Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sandra McBride
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shannah K. Witchey
- Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alain Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - Matthew Bridge
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Bencsik
- Anses Laboratoire de Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université de Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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21
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Pitzer C, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A. Gait performance of adolescent mice assessed by the CatWalk XT depends on age, strain and sex and correlates with speed and body weight. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21372. [PMID: 34725364 PMCID: PMC8560926 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The automatization of behavioral tests assessing motor activity in rodent models is important for providing robust and reproducible results and evaluating new therapeutics. The CatWalk system is an observer-independent, automated and computerized technique for the assessment of gait performance in rodents. This method has previously been used in adult rodent models of CNS-based movement disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. As motor and gait abnormalities in neuropsychiatric disorders are observed during infancy and adolescence, it became important to validate the CatWalk XT in the gait analysis of adolescent mice and unravel factors that may cause variations in gait performance. Three adolescent wild-type inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6N, DBA/2 and FVB/N, were tested using the CatWalk XT (Version 10.6) for suitable detection settings to characterize several gait parameters at P32 and P42. The same detection settings being suitable for C57BL/6N and DBA/2 mice allowed a direct comparison between the two strains. On the other hand, due to their increased body weight and size, FVB/N mice required different detection settings. The CatWalk XT reliably measured the temporal, spatial, and interlimb coordination parameters in the investigated strains during adolescence. Additionally, significant effects of sex, development, speed and body weight within each strain confirmed the sensitivity of motor and gait functions to these factors. The CatWalk gait analysis of rodents during adolescence, taking the effect of age, strain, sex, speed and body weight into consideration, will decrease intra-laboratory discrepancies and increase the face validity of rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Kurpiers
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Eltokhi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
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22
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Eltokhi A, Kurpiers B, Pitzer C. Baseline Depression-Like Behaviors in Wild-Type Adolescent Mice Are Strain and Age but Not Sex Dependent. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:759574. [PMID: 34690714 PMCID: PMC8529326 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.759574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a major neuropsychiatric disorder, decreasing the ability of hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide to function in social, academic, and employment settings. Beyond the alarming public health problem, depression leads to morbidity across the entire age including adolescence and adulthood. Modeling depression in rodents has been used to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms behind this disorder and create new therapeutics. Although women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to men, behavioral experiments on rodent models of depression are mainly performed in males based on the assumption that the estrous cycles in females may affect the behavioral outcome and cause an increase in the intrinsic variability compared to males. Still, the inclusion of female rodents in the behavioral analysis is mandatory to establish the origin of sex bias in depression. Here, we investigated the baseline depression-like behaviors in male and female mice of three adolescent wild-type inbred strains, C57BL/6N, DBA/2, and FVB/N, that are typically used as background strains for mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our experiments, performed at two different developmental stages during adolescence (P22-P26 and P32-P36), revealed strain but no sex differences in a set of depression-related tests, including tail suspension, sucrose preference and forced swim tests. Additionally, the 10-day interval during this sensitive period uncovered a strong impact on the behavioral outcome of C57BL/6N and FVB/N mice, highlighting a significant effect of maturation on behavioral patterns. Since anxiety-related behavioral tests are often performed together with depression tests in mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders, we extended our study and included hyponeophagia as an anxiety test. Consistent with a previous study revealing sex differences in other anxiety tests in adolescent mice, male and females mice behaved differently in the hyponeophagia test at P27. Our study gives insight into the behavioral experiments assessing depression and stresses the importance of considering strain, age and sex when evaluating neuropsychiatric-like traits in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Eltokhi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Barbara Kurpiers
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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