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Tullo S, Miranda AS, Del Cid-Pellitero E, Lim MP, Gallino D, Attaran A, Patel R, Novikov V, Park M, Beraldo FH, Luo W, Shlaifer I, Durcan TM, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM, Fon EA, Prado VF, Prado MAM, Chakravarty MM. Neuroanatomical and cognitive biomarkers of alpha-synuclein propagation in a mouse model of synucleinopathy prior to onset of motor symptoms. J Neurochem 2024; 168:1546-1564. [PMID: 37804203 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15967] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Significant evidence suggests that misfolded alpha-synuclein (aSyn), a major component of Lewy bodies, propagates in a prion-like manner contributing to disease progression in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. In fact, timed inoculation of M83 hemizygous mice with recombinant human aSyn preformed fibrils (PFF) has shown symptomatic deficits after substantial spreading of pathogenic alpha-synuclein, as detected by markers for the phosphorylation of S129 of aSyn. However, whether accumulated toxicity impact human-relevant cognitive and structural neuroanatomical measures is not fully understood. Here we performed a single unilateral striatal PFF injection in M83 hemizygous mice, and using two assays with translational potential, ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and touchscreen testing, we examined the combined neuroanatomical and behavioral impact of aSyn propagation. In PFF-injected mice, we observed widespread atrophy in bilateral regions that project to or receive input from the injection site using MRI. We also identified early deficits in reversal learning prior to the emergence of motor symptoms. Our findings highlight a network of regions with related cellular correlates of pathology that follow the progression of aSyn spreading, and that affect brain areas relevant for reversal learning. Our experiments suggest that M83 hemizygous mice injected with human PFF provides a model to understand how misfolded aSyn affects human-relevant pre-clinical measures and suggest that these pre-clinical biomarkers could be used to detect early toxicity of aSyn and provide better translational measures between mice and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Tullo
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aline S Miranda
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Esther Del Cid-Pellitero
- McGill Parkinson Program, Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mei Peng Lim
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Gallino
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anoosha Attaran
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raihaan Patel
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vladislav Novikov
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan Park
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Flavio H Beraldo
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wen Luo
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Irina Shlaifer
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas M Durcan
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edward A Fon
- McGill Parkinson Program, Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy (CoBrA) Laboratory, Cerebral Imaging Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biological & Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Sheppard PAS, Oomen CA, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM. The Granular Retrosplenial Cortex Is Necessary in Male Rats for Object-Location Associative Learning and Memory, But Not Spatial Working Memory or Visual Discrimination and Reversal, in the Touchscreen Operant Chamber. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0120-24.2024. [PMID: 38844347 PMCID: PMC11208985 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0120-24.2024] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is a hub of diverse afferent and efferent projections thought to be involved in associative learning. RSC shows early pathology in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD), which impairs associative learning. To understand and develop therapies for diseases such as AD, animal models are essential. Given the importance of human RSC in object-location associative learning and the success of object-location associative paradigms in human studies and in the clinic, it would be of considerable value to establish a translational model of object-location learning for the rodent. For this reason, we sought to test the role of RSC in object-location learning in male rats using the object-location paired-associates learning (PAL) touchscreen task. First, increased cFos immunoreactivity was observed in granular RSC following PAL training when compared with extended pretraining controls. Following this, RSC lesions following PAL acquisition were used to explore the necessity of the RSC in object-location associative learning and memory and two tasks involving only one modality: trial-unique nonmatching-to-location for spatial working memory and pairwise visual discrimination/reversal. RSC lesions impaired both memory for learned paired-associates and learning of new object-location associations but did not affect performance in either the spatial or visual single-modality tasks. These findings provide evidence that RSC is necessary for object-location learning and less so for learning and memory involving the individual modalities therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A S Sheppard
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Charlotte A Oomen
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
- MRC and Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
- MRC and Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
- MRC and Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
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Reed F, Reichenbach A, Dempsey H, Clarke RE, Mequinion M, Stark R, Rawlinson S, Foldi CJ, Lockie SH, Andrews ZB. Acute inhibition of hunger-sensing AgRP neurons promotes context-specific learning in mice. Mol Metab 2023; 77:101803. [PMID: 37690518 PMCID: PMC10523265 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An environmental context, which reliably predicts food availability, can increase the appetitive food drive within the same environment context. However, hunger is required for the development of such a context-induced feeding (CIF) response, suggesting the neural circuits sensitive to hunger link an internal energy state with a particular environment context. Since Agouti related peptide (AgRP) neurons are activated by energy deficit, we hypothesised that AgRP neurons are both necessary and sufficient to drive CIF. METHODS To examine the role of AgRP neurons in the CIF process, we used fibre photometry with GCaMP7f, chemogenetic activation of AgRP neurons, as well as optogenetic control of AgRP neurons to facilitate acute temporal control not permitted with chemogenetics. RESULTS A CIF response at test was only observed when mice were fasted during context training and AgRP population activity at test showed an attenuated inhibitory response to food, suggesting increased food-seeking and/or decreased satiety signalling drives the increased feeding response at test. Intriguingly, chemogenetic activation of AgRP neurons during context training did not increase CIF, suggesting precise temporal firing properties may be required. Indeed, termination of AgRP neuronal photostimulation during context training (ON-OFF in context), in the presence or absence of food, increased CIF. Moreover, photoinhibition of AgRP neurons during context training in fasted mice was sufficient to drive a subsequent CIF in the absence of food. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that AgRP neurons regulate the acquisition of CIF when the acute inhibition of AgRP activity is temporally matched to context exposure. These results establish acute AgRP inhibition as a salient neural event underscoring the effect of hunger on associative learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia Reed
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Reichenbach
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Harry Dempsey
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel E Clarke
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Mathieu Mequinion
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Romana Stark
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sasha Rawlinson
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire J Foldi
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah H Lockie
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zane B Andrews
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia.
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Memar S, Jiang E, Prado VF, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ, Prado MAM. Open science and data sharing in cognitive neuroscience with MouseBytes and MouseBytes. Sci Data 2023; 10:210. [PMID: 37059739 PMCID: PMC10104860 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02106-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Open access to rodent cognitive data has lagged behind the rapid generation of large open-access datasets in other areas of neuroscience, such as neuroimaging and genomics. One contributing factor has been the absence of uniform standardization in experiments and data output, an issue that has particularly plagued studies in animal models. Touchscreen-automated cognitive testing of animal models allows standardized outputs that are compatible with open-access sharing. Touchscreen datasets can be combined with different neuro-technologies such as fiber photometry, miniscopes, optogenetics, and MRI to evaluate the relationship between neural activity and behavior. Here we describe a platform that allows deposition of these data into an open-access repository. This platform, called MouseBytes, is a web-based repository that enables researchers to store, share, visualize, and analyze cognitive data. Here we present the architecture, structure, and the essential infrastructure behind MouseBytes. In addition, we describe MouseBytes+, a database that allows data from complementary neuro-technologies such as imaging and photometry to be easily integrated with behavioral data in MouseBytes to support multi-modal behavioral analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Memar
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Eric Jiang
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Marco A M Prado
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada.
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Eleftheriou C, Clarke T, Poon V, Zechner M, Duguid I. Visiomode: An open-source platform for building rodent touchscreen-based behavioral assays. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 386:109779. [PMID: 36621552 PMCID: PMC10375831 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109779] [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: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Touchscreen-based behavioral assays provide a robust method for assessing cognitive behavior in rodents, offering great flexibility and translational potential. The development of touchscreen assays presents a significant programming and mechanical engineering challenge, where commercial solutions can be prohibitively expensive and open-source solutions are underdeveloped, with limited adaptability. NEW METHOD Here, we present Visiomode (www.visiomode.org), an open-source platform for building rodent touchscreen-based behavioral tasks. Visiomode leverages the inherent flexibility of touchscreens to offer a simple yet adaptable software and hardware platform. The platform is built on the Raspberry Pi computer combining a web-based interface and powerful plug-in system with an operant chamber that can be adapted to generate a wide range of behavioral tasks. RESULTS As a proof of concept, we use Visiomode to build both simple stimulus-response and more complex visual discrimination tasks, showing that mice display rapid sensorimotor learning including switching between different motor responses (i.e., nose poke versus reaching). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Commercial solutions are the 'go to' for rodent touchscreen behaviors, but the associated costs can be prohibitive, limiting their uptake by the wider neuroscience community. While several open-source solutions have been developed, efforts so far have focused on reducing the cost, rather than promoting ease of use and adaptability. Visiomode addresses these unmet needs providing a low-cost, extensible platform for creating touchscreen tasks. CONCLUSIONS Developing an open-source, rapidly scalable and low-cost platform for building touchscreen-based behavioral assays should increase uptake across the science community and accelerate the investigation of cognition, decision-making and sensorimotor behaviors both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Eleftheriou
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Patrick Wild Centre, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
| | - Thomas Clarke
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Patrick Wild Centre, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - V Poon
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Patrick Wild Centre, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Marie Zechner
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
| | - Ian Duguid
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and Patrick Wild Centre, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
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Cotter KM, Bancroft GL, Haas HA, Shi R, Clarkson AN, Croxall ME, Stowe AM, Yun S, Eisch AJ. Use of an Automated Mouse Touchscreen Platform for Quantification of Cognitive Deficits After Central Nervous System Injury. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2616:279-326. [PMID: 36715942 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2926-0_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Analyzing cognitive performance is an important aspect of assessing physiological deficits after stroke or other central nervous system (CNS) injuries in both humans and in basic science animal models. Cognitive testing on an automated touchscreen operant platform began in humans but is now increasingly popular in preclinical studies as it enables testing in many cognitive domains in a highly reproducible way while minimizing stress to the laboratory animal. Here, we describe the step-by-step setup and application of four operant touchscreen tests used on adult mice. In brief, mice are trained to touch a graphical image on a lit screen and initiate subsequent trials for a reward. Following initial training, mice can be tested on tasks that probe performance in many cognitive domains and thus infer the integrity of brain circuits and regions. There are already many outstanding published protocols on touchscreen cognitive testing. This chapter is designed to add to the literature in two specific ways. First, this chapter provides in a single location practical, behind-the-scenes tips for setup and testing of mice in four touchscreen tasks that are useful to assess in CNS injury models: Paired Associates Learning (PAL), a task of episodic, associative (object-location) memory; Location Discrimination Reversal (LDR), a test for mnemonic discrimination (also called behavioral pattern separation) and cognitive flexibility; Autoshaping (AUTO), a test of Pavlovian or classical conditioning; and Extinction (EXT), tasks of stimulus-response and response inhibition, respectively. Second, this chapter summarizes issues to consider when performing touchscreen tests in mouse models of CNS injury. Quantifying gross and fine aspects of cognitive function is essential to improved treatment for brain dysfunction after stroke or CNS injury as well as other brain diseases, and touchscreen testing provides a sensitive, reliable, and robust way to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Cotter
- Department of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | | | - Raymon Shi
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew N Clarkson
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Ann M Stowe
- Department of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, The University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sanghee Yun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Amelia J Eisch
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Wang Y, LeDue JM, Murphy TH. Multiscale imaging informs translational mouse modeling of neurological disease. Neuron 2022; 110:3688-3710. [PMID: 36198319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Multiscale neurophysiology reveals that simple motor actions are associated with changes in neuronal firing in virtually every brain region studied. Accordingly, the assessment of focal pathology such as stroke or progressive neurodegenerative diseases must also extend widely across brain areas. To derive mechanistic information through imaging, multiple resolution scales and multimodal factors must be included, such as the structure and function of specific neurons and glial cells and the dynamics of specific neurotransmitters. Emerging multiscale methods in preclinical animal studies that span micro- to macroscale examinations fill this gap, allowing a circuit-based understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms. Combined with high-performance computation and open-source data repositories, these emerging multiscale and large field-of-view techniques include live functional ultrasound, multi- and single-photon wide-scale light microscopy, video-based miniscopes, and tissue-penetrating fiber photometry, as well as variants of post-mortem expansion microscopy. We present these technologies and outline use cases and data pipelines to uncover new knowledge within animal models of stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundi Wang
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M LeDue
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Timothy H Murphy
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Wiesbrock C, Musall S, Kampa BM. A flexible Python-based touchscreen chamber for operant conditioning reveals improved visual perception of cardinal orientations in mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:866109. [PMID: 36299493 PMCID: PMC9588922 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.866109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural scenes are composed of a wide range of edge angles and spatial frequencies, with a strong overrepresentation of vertical and horizontal edges. Correspondingly, many mammalian species are much better at discriminating these cardinal orientations compared to obliques. A potential reason for this increased performance could be an increased number of neurons in the visual cortex that are tuned to cardinal orientations, which is likely to be an adaptation to the natural scene statistics. Such biased angular tuning has recently been shown in the mouse primary visual cortex. However, it is still unknown if mice also show a perceptual dominance of cardinal orientations. Here, we describe the design of a novel custom-built touchscreen chamber that allows testing natural scene perception and orientation discrimination performance by applying different task designs. Using this chamber, we applied an iterative convergence towards orientation discrimination thresholds for cardinal or oblique orientations in different cohorts of mice. Surprisingly, the expert discrimination performance was similar for both groups but showed large inter-individual differences in performance and training time. To study the discrimination of cardinal and oblique stimuli in the same mice, we, therefore, applied, a different training regime where mice learned to discriminate cardinal and oblique gratings in parallel. Parallel training revealed a higher task performance for cardinal orientations in an early phase of the training. The performance for both orientations became similar after prolonged training, suggesting that learning permits equally high perceptual tuning towards oblique stimuli. In summary, our custom-built touchscreen chamber offers a flexible tool to test natural visual perception in rodents and revealed a training-induced increase in the perception of oblique gratings. The touchscreen chamber is entirely open-source, easy to build, and freely available to the scientific community to conduct visual or multimodal behavioral studies. It is also based on the FAIR principles for data management and sharing and could therefore serve as a catalyst for testing the perception of complex and natural visual stimuli across behavioral labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Wiesbrock
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses—MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christopher Wiesbrock Björn M. Kampa
| | - Simon Musall
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Bioelectronics, Institute of Biological Information Processing-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Björn M. Kampa
- Systems Neurophysiology, Institute for Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Research Training Group 2416 MultiSenses—MultiScales, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA BRAIN, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christopher Wiesbrock Björn M. Kampa
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Muthukumar S, Mehrotra K, Fouda M, Hamimi S, Jantzie LL, Robinson S. Prenatal and postnatal insults differentially contribute to executive function and cognition: Utilizing touchscreen technology for perinatal brain injury research. Exp Neurol 2022; 354:114104. [PMID: 35525306 PMCID: PMC10085749 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The use of touchscreen technology to evaluate cognitive deficits in animal models has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. The touchscreen apparatus encompasses many advantages, namely a high level of standardization and translational capability. Improvements in technology in recent years have expanded the versatility of the touchscreen platform, as it is able to test distinct cognitive modalities including working memory, attention, discrimination, and association. Importantly, touchscreen technology has allowed researchers to explore deficits in multiple pillars of cognition in a wide variety of perinatal disorders with neurological sequelae across critical developmental windows. The touchscreen platform has been used to dissect deficits in antenatal CNS injury including fetal alcohol syndrome, prenatal opioid exposure, and chorioamnionitis, to peripartum insults such as term hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, to early postnatal insults including infantile traumatic brain injury. Most importantly, touchscreen technology offers the sensitivity necessary to detect subtle injury and treatment-induced changes in cognition and executive function beyond those offered by more rudimentary tests of rodent cognition. Understanding the pathophysiology of these disorders in rodents is paramount to addressing these deficits in human infants and dissecting the neural circuitry essential to perinatal brain injury pathophysiology and responsiveness to novel therapeutics. Touchscreen testing provides an effective, facile, sophisticated technique to accelerate the goal of improving cognitive and behavioral outcomes of children who suffer perinatal brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankar Muthukumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Karnika Mehrotra
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mohammed Fouda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Hamimi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lauren L Jantzie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shenandoah Robinson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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Creighton SD, Jardine KH, Desimone A, Zmetana M, Castellano S, Milite C, Sbardella G, Winters BD. Age-dependent attenuation of spatial memory deficits by the histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) in 3xTG Alzheimer's disease mice. Learn Mem 2022; 29:71-76. [PMID: 35169045 PMCID: PMC8852226 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053536.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Histone acetylation, catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases, has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). By longitudinally characterizing spatial memory at 3, 6, and 9 mo of age, we show that acute activation and inhibition of the histone acetyltransferase PCAF remediated memory impairments in 3xTG-AD mice in an age-related bidirectional manner. At 3 and 6 mo of age, PCAF activation ameliorated memory deficits. At 9 mo of age, PCAF activation had no effect on spatial memory, whereas PCAF inhibition improved memory deficits in females. This work reveals a complex potential therapeutic role for PCAF in AD, initially benefitting memory but becoming detrimental as the disease progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha D. Creighton
- Department of Psychology, Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Kristen H. Jardine
- Department of Psychology, Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alexa Desimone
- Department of Psychology, Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Megan Zmetana
- Department of Psychology, Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Laboratory, University of Salerno, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ciro Milite
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Laboratory, University of Salerno, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gianluca Sbardella
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Laboratory, University of Salerno, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Boyer D. Winters
- Department of Psychology, Collaborative Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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12
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Stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (HOP/STI1/STIP1) regulates the accumulation and toxicity of α-synuclein in vivo. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:881-910. [PMID: 36121476 PMCID: PMC9547791 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The predominantly pre-synaptic intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein is prone to misfolding and aggregation in synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Molecular chaperones play important roles in protein misfolding diseases and members of the chaperone machinery are often deposited in Lewy bodies. Here, we show that the Hsp90 co-chaperone STI1 co-immunoprecipitated α-synuclein, and co-deposited with Hsp90 and Hsp70 in insoluble protein fractions in two mouse models of α-synuclein misfolding. STI1 and Hsp90 also co-localized extensively with filamentous S129 phosphorylated α-synuclein in ubiquitin-positive inclusions. In PD human brains, STI1 transcripts were increased, and in neurologically healthy brains, STI1 and α-synuclein transcripts correlated. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses revealed direct interaction of α-synuclein with STI1 and indicated that the STI1 TPR2A, but not TPR1 or TPR2B domains, interacted with the C-terminal domain of α-synuclein. In vitro, the STI1 TPR2A domain facilitated S129 phosphorylation by Polo-like kinase 3. Moreover, mice over-expressing STI1 and Hsp90ß presented elevated α-synuclein S129 phosphorylation accompanied by inclusions when injected with α-synuclein pre-formed fibrils. In contrast, reduced STI1 function decreased protein inclusion formation, S129 α-synuclein phosphorylation, while mitigating motor and cognitive deficits as well as mesoscopic brain atrophy in α-synuclein-over-expressing mice. Our findings reveal a vicious cycle in which STI1 facilitates the generation and accumulation of toxic α-synuclein conformers, while α-synuclein-induced proteostatic stress increased insoluble STI1 and Hsp90.
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13
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Smith SM, Zequeira S, Ravi M, Johnson SA, Hampton AM, Ross AM, Pyon W, Maurer AP, Bizon JL, Burke SN. Age-related impairments on the touchscreen paired associates learning (PAL) task in male rats. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 109:176-191. [PMID: 34749169 PMCID: PMC9351724 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Discovery research in rodent models of cognitive aging is instrumental for identifying mechanisms of behavioral decline in old age that can be therapeutically targeted. Clinically relevant behavioral paradigms, however, have not been widely employed in aged rats. The current study aimed to bridge this translational gap by testing cognition in a cross-species touchscreen-based platform known as paired-associates learning (PAL) and then utilizing a trial-by-trial behavioral analysis approach. This study found age-related deficits in PAL task acquisition in male rats. Furthermore, trial-by-trial analyses and testing rats on a novel interference version of PAL suggested that age-related impairments were not due to differences in vulnerability to an irrelevant distractor, motivation, or to forgetting. Rather, impairment appeared to arise from vulnerability to accumulating, proactive interference, with aged animals performing worse than younger rats in later trial blocks within a single testing session. The detailed behavioral analysis employed in this study provides new insights into the etiology of age-associated cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Concentration, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sabrina Zequeira
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Concentration, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Meena Ravi
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah A Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andriena M Hampton
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Aleyna M Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Concentration, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Wonn Pyon
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Concentration, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew P Maurer
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sara N Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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14
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Qazi R, Parker KE, Kim CY, Rill R, Norris MR, Chung J, Bilbily J, Kim JR, Walicki MC, Gereau GB, Lim H, Xiong Y, Lee JR, Tapia MA, Kravitz AV, Will MJ, Ha S, McCall JG, Jeong JW. Scalable and modular wireless-network infrastructure for large-scale behavioural neuroscience. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 6:771-786. [PMID: 34824397 PMCID: PMC10180496 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00814-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The use of rodents to acquire understanding of the function of neural circuits and of the physiological, genetic and developmental underpinnings of behaviour has been constrained by limitations in the scalability, automation and high-throughput operation of implanted wireless neural devices. Here we report scalable and modular hardware and software infrastructure for setting up and operating remotely programmable miniaturized wireless networks leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy for the study of the long-term behaviour of large groups of rodents. The integrated system allows for automated, scheduled and real-time experimentation via the simultaneous and independent use of multiple neural devices and equipment within and across laboratories. By measuring the locomotion, feeding, arousal and social behaviours of groups of mice or rats, we show that the system allows for bidirectional data transfer from readily available hardware, and that it can be used with programmable pharmacological or optogenetic stimulation. Scalable and modular wireless-network infrastructure should facilitate the remote operation of fully automated large-scale and long-term closed-loop experiments for the study of neural circuits and animal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raza Qazi
- School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kyle E Parker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Choong Yeon Kim
- School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ruediger Rill
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Makenzie R Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jaeyoon Chung
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - John Bilbily
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jenny R Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marie C Walicki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Graydon B Gereau
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hyoyoung Lim
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Yanyu Xiong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jenna R Lee
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Melissa A Tapia
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matthew J Will
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Sangtae Ha
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Jordan G McCall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. .,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Jae-Woong Jeong
- School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Janickova H, Kljakic O, Robbins TW, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ, Prado VF, Prado MAM. Evaluating Sequential Response Learning in the Rodent Operant Touchscreen System. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e268. [PMID: 34679249 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Sequential and cue-directed response learning in rodents have been previously shown to depend on intact striatal signaling. In particular, these behaviors rely on striatal dopamine and acetylcholine release, with an impairment of sequential response learning evident in animal models with alterations in the two systems. Here we provide a protocol for testing sequential response/response chain learning using the rodent touchscreen system. Specifically, the present protocol is designed to implement the heterogeneous sequence task, adapted from Keeler et al. (2014), in the rodent touchscreen apparatus. This task has been used previously to assess complex motor learning and response selection in mice. In the following protocol, the task is performed in touchscreen-based automated chambers with five response locations using food reinforcers to maintain performance. The sequence task requires the subject to make five nose pokes to white square stimuli appearing in five different locations sequentially from left to right. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Implementation of the heterogeneous sequence task Support Protocol: Creation of the heterogeneous sequence task ABET II touchscreen schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Janickova
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ornela Kljakic
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Soler I, Yun S, Reynolds RP, Whoolery CW, Tran FH, Kumar PL, Rong Y, DeSalle MJ, Gibson AD, Stowe AM, Kiffer FC, Eisch AJ. Multi-Domain Touchscreen-Based Cognitive Assessment of C57BL/6J Female Mice Shows Whole-Body Exposure to 56Fe Particle Space Radiation in Maturity Improves Discrimination Learning Yet Impairs Stimulus-Response Rule-Based Habit Learning. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:722780. [PMID: 34707486 PMCID: PMC8543003 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.722780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Astronauts during interplanetary missions will be exposed to galactic cosmic radiation, including charged particles like 56Fe. Most preclinical studies with mature, "astronaut-aged" rodents suggest space radiation diminishes performance in classical hippocampal- and prefrontal cortex-dependent tasks. However, a rodent cognitive touchscreen battery unexpectedly revealed 56Fe radiation improves the performance of C57BL/6J male mice in a hippocampal-dependent task (discrimination learning) without changing performance in a striatal-dependent task (rule-based learning). As there are conflicting results on whether the female rodent brain is preferentially injured by or resistant to charged particle exposure, and as the proportion of female vs. male astronauts is increasing, further study on how charged particles influence the touchscreen cognitive performance of female mice is warranted. We hypothesized that, similar to mature male mice, mature female C57BL/6J mice exposed to fractionated whole-body 56Fe irradiation (3 × 6.7cGy 56Fe over 5 days, 600 MeV/n) would improve performance vs. Sham conditions in touchscreen tasks relevant to hippocampal and prefrontal cortical function [e.g., location discrimination reversal (LDR) and extinction, respectively]. In LDR, 56Fe female mice more accurately discriminated two discrete conditioned stimuli relative to Sham mice, suggesting improved hippocampal function. However, 56Fe and Sham female mice acquired a new simple stimulus-response behavior and extinguished this acquired behavior at similar rates, suggesting similar prefrontal cortical function. Based on prior work on multiple memory systems, we next tested whether improved hippocampal-dependent function (discrimination learning) came at the expense of striatal stimulus-response rule-based habit learning (visuomotor conditional learning). Interestingly, 56Fe female mice took more days to reach criteria in this striatal-dependent rule-based test relative to Sham mice. Together, our data support the idea of competition between memory systems, as an 56Fe-induced decrease in striatal-based learning is associated with enhanced hippocampal-based learning. These data emphasize the power of using a touchscreen-based battery to advance our understanding of the effects of space radiation on mission critical cognitive function in females, and underscore the importance of preclinical space radiation risk studies measuring multiple cognitive processes, thereby preventing NASA's risk assessments from being based on a single cognitive domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Soler
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanghee Yun
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan P. Reynolds
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cody W. Whoolery
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Fionya H. Tran
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Priya L. Kumar
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuying Rong
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Matthew J. DeSalle
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Adam D. Gibson
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ann M. Stowe
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Therapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Frederico C. Kiffer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Amelia J. Eisch
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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17
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Promoting and Optimizing the Use of 3D-Printed Objects in Spontaneous Recognition Memory Tasks in Rodents: A Method for Improving Rigor and Reproducibility. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0319-21.2021. [PMID: 34503967 PMCID: PMC8489023 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0319-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous recognition memory tasks are widely used to assess cognitive function in rodents and have become commonplace in the characterization of rodent models of neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Leveraging an animal’s innate preference for novelty, these tasks use object exploration to capture the what, where and when components of recognition memory. Choosing and optimizing objects is a key feature when designing recognition memory tasks. Although the range of objects used in these tasks varies extensively across studies, object features can bias exploration, influence task difficulty and alter brain circuit recruitment. Here, we discuss the advantages of using 3D-printed objects in rodent spontaneous recognition memory tasks. We provide strategies for optimizing their design and usage, and offer a repository of tested, open-source designs for use with commonly used rodent species. The easy accessibility, low-cost, renewability and flexibility of 3D-printed open-source designs make this approach an important step toward improving rigor and reproducibility in rodent spontaneous recognition memory tasks.
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18
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Lopez-Cruz L, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM, Heath CJ. Using touchscreen-delivered cognitive assessments to address the principles of the 3Rs in behavioral sciences. Lab Anim (NY) 2021; 50:174-184. [PMID: 34140683 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-021-00791-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite considerable advances in both in silico and in vitro approaches, in vivo studies that involve animal model systems remain necessary in many research disciplines. Neuroscience is one such area, with studies often requiring access to a complete nervous system capable of dynamically selecting between and then executing a full range of cognitive and behavioral outputs in response to a given stimulus or other manipulation. The involvement of animals in research studies is an issue of active public debate and concern and is therefore carefully regulated. Such regulations are based on the principles of the 3Rs of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. In the sub-specialty of behavioral neuroscience, Full/Absolute Replacement remains a major challenge, as the complete ex vivo recapitulation of a system as complex and dynamic as the nervous system has yet to be achieved. However, a number of very positive developments have occurred in this area with respect to Relative Replacement and to both Refinement and Reduction. In this review, we discuss the Refinement- and Reduction-related benefits yielded by the introduction of touchscreen-based behavioral assessment apparatus. We also discuss how data generated by a specific panel of behavioral tasks developed for this platform might substantially enhance monitoring of laboratory animal welfare and provide robust, quantitative comparisons of husbandry techniques to define and ensure maintenance of best practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lopez-Cruz
- Department of Psychology and MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Department of Psychology and MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Robarts Research Institute & Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,The Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Department of Psychology and MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Robarts Research Institute & Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,The Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Heath
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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19
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Aguillon-Rodriguez V, Angelaki D, Bayer H, Bonacchi N, Carandini M, Cazettes F, Chapuis G, Churchland AK, Dan Y, Dewitt E, Faulkner M, Forrest H, Haetzel L, Häusser M, Hofer SB, Hu F, Khanal A, Krasniak C, Laranjeira I, Mainen ZF, Meijer G, Miska NJ, Mrsic-Flogel TD, Murakami M, Noel JP, Pan-Vazquez A, Rossant C, Sanders J, Socha K, Terry R, Urai AE, Vergara H, Wells M, Wilson CJ, Witten IB, Wool LE, Zador AM. Standardized and reproducible measurement of decision-making in mice. eLife 2021; 10:63711. [PMID: 34011433 DOI: 10.1101/2020.01.17.909838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Progress in science requires standardized assays whose results can be readily shared, compared, and reproduced across laboratories. Reproducibility, however, has been a concern in neuroscience, particularly for measurements of mouse behavior. Here, we show that a standardized task to probe decision-making in mice produces reproducible results across multiple laboratories. We adopted a task for head-fixed mice that assays perceptual and value-based decision making, and we standardized training protocol and experimental hardware, software, and procedures. We trained 140 mice across seven laboratories in three countries, and we collected 5 million mouse choices into a publicly available database. Learning speed was variable across mice and laboratories, but once training was complete there were no significant differences in behavior across laboratories. Mice in different laboratories adopted similar reliance on visual stimuli, on past successes and failures, and on estimates of stimulus prior probability to guide their choices. These results reveal that a complex mouse behavior can be reproduced across multiple laboratories. They establish a standard for reproducible rodent behavior, and provide an unprecedented dataset and open-access tools to study decision-making in mice. More generally, they indicate a path toward achieving reproducibility in neuroscience through collaborative open-science approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dora Angelaki
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Hannah Bayer
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | | | - Matteo Carandini
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gaelle Chapuis
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yang Dan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Eric Dewitt
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mayo Faulkner
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hamish Forrest
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Haetzel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Michael Häusser
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sonja B Hofer
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fei Hu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Anup Khanal
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, United States
| | - Christopher Krasniak
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, United States
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, New York, United States
| | | | | | - Guido Meijer
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nathaniel J Miska
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas D Mrsic-Flogel
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jean-Paul Noel
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, United States
| | | | - Cyrille Rossant
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Karolina Socha
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Terry
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anne E Urai
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, United States
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hernando Vergara
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Miles Wells
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ilana B Witten
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Lauren E Wool
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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20
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Aguillon-Rodriguez V, Angelaki D, Bayer H, Bonacchi N, Carandini M, Cazettes F, Chapuis G, Churchland AK, Dan Y, Dewitt E, Faulkner M, Forrest H, Haetzel L, Häusser M, Hofer SB, Hu F, Khanal A, Krasniak C, Laranjeira I, Mainen ZF, Meijer G, Miska NJ, Mrsic-Flogel TD, Murakami M, Noel JP, Pan-Vazquez A, Rossant C, Sanders J, Socha K, Terry R, Urai AE, Vergara H, Wells M, Wilson CJ, Witten IB, Wool LE, Zador AM. Standardized and reproducible measurement of decision-making in mice. eLife 2021; 10:e63711. [PMID: 34011433 PMCID: PMC8137147 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in science requires standardized assays whose results can be readily shared, compared, and reproduced across laboratories. Reproducibility, however, has been a concern in neuroscience, particularly for measurements of mouse behavior. Here, we show that a standardized task to probe decision-making in mice produces reproducible results across multiple laboratories. We adopted a task for head-fixed mice that assays perceptual and value-based decision making, and we standardized training protocol and experimental hardware, software, and procedures. We trained 140 mice across seven laboratories in three countries, and we collected 5 million mouse choices into a publicly available database. Learning speed was variable across mice and laboratories, but once training was complete there were no significant differences in behavior across laboratories. Mice in different laboratories adopted similar reliance on visual stimuli, on past successes and failures, and on estimates of stimulus prior probability to guide their choices. These results reveal that a complex mouse behavior can be reproduced across multiple laboratories. They establish a standard for reproducible rodent behavior, and provide an unprecedented dataset and open-access tools to study decision-making in mice. More generally, they indicate a path toward achieving reproducibility in neuroscience through collaborative open-science approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- The International Brain Laboratory
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryNew YorkUnited States
- Center for Neural Science, New York UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
- Champalimaud Centre for the UnknownLisbonPortugal
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Watson School of Biological SciencesNew YorkUnited States
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Sanworks LLCNew YorkUnited States
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden UniversityLeidenNetherlands
| | | | - Dora Angelaki
- Center for Neural Science, New York UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Hannah Bayer
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Matteo Carandini
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Gaelle Chapuis
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Yang Dan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Eric Dewitt
- Champalimaud Centre for the UnknownLisbonPortugal
| | - Mayo Faulkner
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Hamish Forrest
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura Haetzel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Michael Häusser
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Sonja B Hofer
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Fei Hu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Anup Khanal
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryNew YorkUnited States
| | - Christopher Krasniak
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryNew YorkUnited States
- Watson School of Biological SciencesNew YorkUnited States
| | | | | | - Guido Meijer
- Champalimaud Centre for the UnknownLisbonPortugal
| | - Nathaniel J Miska
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas D Mrsic-Flogel
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Jean-Paul Noel
- Center for Neural Science, New York UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Cyrille Rossant
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Karolina Socha
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Terry
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Anne E Urai
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryNew YorkUnited States
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden UniversityLeidenNetherlands
| | - Hernando Vergara
- Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Miles Wells
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Ilana B Witten
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Lauren E Wool
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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21
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Palmer D, Dumont JR, Dexter TD, Prado MAM, Finger E, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM. Touchscreen cognitive testing: Cross-species translation and co-clinical trials in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 182:107443. [PMID: 33895351 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Translating results from pre-clinical animal studies to successful human clinical trials in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease presents a significant challenge. While this issue is clearly multifaceted, the lack of reproducibility and poor translational validity of many paradigms used to assess cognition in animal models are central contributors to this challenge. Computer-automated cognitive test batteries have the potential to substantially improve translation between pre-clinical studies and clinical trials by increasing both reproducibility and translational validity. Given the structured nature of data output, computer-automated tests also lend themselves to increased data sharing and other open science good practices. Over the past two decades, computer automated, touchscreen-based cognitive testing methods have been developed for non-human primate and rodent models. These automated methods lend themselves to increased standardization, hence reproducibility, and have become increasingly important for the elucidation of the neurobiological basis of cognition in animal models. More recently, there have been increased efforts to use these methods to enhance translational validity by developing task batteries that are nearly identical across different species via forward (i.e., translating animal tasks to humans) and reverse (i.e., translating human tasks to animals) translation. An additional benefit of the touchscreen approach is that a cross-species cognitive test battery makes it possible to implement co-clinical trials-an approach developed initially in cancer research-for novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Co-clinical trials bring together pre-clinical and early clinical studies, which facilitates testing of novel treatments in mouse models with underlying genetic or other changes, and can help to stratify patients on the basis of genetic, molecular, or cognitive criteria. This approach can help to determine which patients should be enrolled in specific clinical trials and can facilitate repositioning and/or repurposing of previously approved drugs. This has the potential to mitigate the resources required to study treatment responses in large numbers of human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Palmer
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Julie R Dumont
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyler D Dexter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, Ontario, Canada; Parkwood Institute, St. Josephs Health Care, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Xu X, Cowan M, Beraldo F, Schranz A, McCunn P, Geremia N, Brown Z, Patel M, Nygard KL, Khazaee R, Lu L, Liu X, Strong MJ, Dekaban GA, Menon R, Bartha R, Daley M, Mao H, Prado V, Prado MAM, Saksida L, Bussey T, Brown A. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in mice triggers a slowly developing cascade of long-term and persistent behavioral deficits and pathological changes. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:60. [PMID: 33823944 PMCID: PMC8025516 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01161-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously reported long-term changes in the brains of non-concussed varsity rugby players using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic imaging (fMRI). Others have reported cognitive deficits in contact sport athletes that have not met the diagnostic criteria for concussion. These results suggest that repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBIs) that are not severe enough to meet the diagnostic threshold for concussion, produce long-term consequences. We sought to characterize the neuroimaging, cognitive, pathological and metabolomic changes in a mouse model of rmTBI. Using a closed-skull model of mTBI that when scaled to human leads to rotational and linear accelerations far below what has been reported for sports concussion athletes, we found that 5 daily mTBIs triggered two temporally distinct types of pathological changes. First, during the first days and weeks after injury, the rmTBI produced diffuse axonal injury, a transient inflammatory response and changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that resolved with time. Second, the rmTBI led to pathological changes that were evident months after the injury including: changes in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), altered levels of synaptic proteins, behavioural deficits in attention and spatial memory, accumulations of pathologically phosphorylated tau, altered blood metabolomic profiles and white matter ultrastructural abnormalities. These results indicate that exceedingly mild rmTBI, in mice, triggers processes with pathological consequences observable months after the initial injury.
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23
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Anderson KR, Harris JA, Ng L, Prins P, Memar S, Ljungquist B, Fürth D, Williams RW, Ascoli GA, Dumitriu D. Highlights from the Era of Open Source Web-Based Tools. J Neurosci 2021; 41:927-936. [PMID: 33472826 PMCID: PMC7880282 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1657-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High digital connectivity and a focus on reproducibility are contributing to an open science revolution in neuroscience. Repositories and platforms have emerged across the whole spectrum of subdisciplines, paving the way for a paradigm shift in the way we share, analyze, and reuse vast amounts of data collected across many laboratories. Here, we describe how open access web-based tools are changing the landscape and culture of neuroscience, highlighting six free resources that span subdisciplines from behavior to whole-brain mapping, circuits, neurons, and gene variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin R Anderson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032
- Division of Developmental Psychobiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032
- The Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032
- Columbia Population Research Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
| | - Julie A Harris
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Pjotr Prins
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, Center for Integrative and Translational Genomics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Sara Memar
- Robarts Research Institute, BrainsCAN, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Bengt Ljungquist
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; and Department of Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
| | - Daniel Fürth
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, Center for Integrative and Translational Genomics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; and Department of Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
| | - Dani Dumitriu
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032
- Division of Developmental Psychobiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032
- The Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032
- Columbia Population Research Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
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24
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The aging mouse brain: cognition, connectivity and calcium. Cell Calcium 2021; 94:102358. [PMID: 33517250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a complex process that differentially impacts multiple cognitive, sensory, neuronal and molecular processes. Technological innovations now allow for parallel investigation of neuronal circuit function, structure and molecular composition in the brain of awake behaving adult mice. Thus, mice have become a critical tool to better understand how aging impacts the brain. However, a more granular systems-based approach, which considers the impact of age on key features relating to neural processing, is required. Here, we review evidence probing the impact of age on the mouse brain. We focus on a range of processes relating to neuronal function, including cognitive abilities, sensory systems, synaptic plasticity and calcium regulation. Across many systems, we find evidence for prominent age-related dysregulation even before 12 months of age, suggesting that emerging age-related alterations can manifest by late adulthood. However, we also find reports suggesting that some processes are remarkably resilient to aging. The evidence suggests that aging does not drive a parallel, linear dysregulation of all systems, but instead impacts some processes earlier, and more severely, than others. We propose that capturing the more fine-scale emerging features of age-related vulnerability and resilience may provide better opportunities for the rejuvenation of the aged brain.
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25
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McQuail JA, Dunn AR, Stern Y, Barnes CA, Kempermann G, Rapp PR, Kaczorowski CC, Foster TC. Cognitive Reserve in Model Systems for Mechanistic Discovery: The Importance of Longitudinal Studies. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:607685. [PMID: 33551788 PMCID: PMC7859530 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.607685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review article is to provide a resource for longitudinal studies, using animal models, directed at understanding and modifying the relationship between cognition and brain structure and function throughout life. We propose that forthcoming longitudinal studies will build upon a wealth of knowledge gleaned from prior cross-sectional designs to identify early predictors of variability in cognitive function during aging, and characterize fundamental neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the vulnerability to, and the trajectory of, cognitive decline. Finally, we present examples of biological measures that may differentiate mechanisms of the cognitive reserve at the molecular, cellular, and network level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. McQuail
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Amy R. Dunn
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carol A. Barnes
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- CRTD—Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (HZ), Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter R. Rapp
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurocognitive Aging Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Thomas C. Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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26
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Horner AE, Norris RH, McLaren-Jones R, Alexander L, Komiyama NH, Grant SGN, Nithianantharajah J, Kopanitsa MV. Learning and reaction times in mouse touchscreen tests are differentially impacted by mutations in genes encoding postsynaptic interacting proteins SYNGAP1, NLGN3, DLGAP1, DLGAP2 and SHANK2. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12723. [PMID: 33347690 PMCID: PMC7615670 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The postsynaptic terminal of vertebrate excitatory synapses contains a highly conserved multiprotein complex that comprises neurotransmitter receptors, cell-adhesion molecules, scaffold proteins and enzymes, which are essential for brain signalling and plasticity underlying behaviour. Increasingly, mutations in genes that encode postsynaptic proteins belonging to the PSD-95 protein complex, continue to be identified in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and epilepsy. These disorders are highly heterogeneous, sharing genetic aetiology and comorbid cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Here, by using genetically engineered mice and innovative touchscreen-based cognitive testing, we sought to investigate whether loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding key interactors of the PSD-95 protein complex display shared phenotypes in associative learning, updating of learned associations and reaction times. Our genetic dissection of mice with loss-of-function mutations in Syngap1, Nlgn3, Dlgap1, Dlgap2 and Shank2 showed that distinct components of the PSD-95 protein complex differentially regulate learning, cognitive flexibility and reaction times in cognitive processing. These data provide insights for understanding how human mutations in these genes lead to the manifestation of diverse and complex phenotypes in NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca H Norris
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Noboru H Komiyama
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Seth G N Grant
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maksym V Kopanitsa
- Synome Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College, London, UK
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27
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Sullivan JA, Dumont JR, Memar S, Skirzewski M, Wan J, Mofrad MH, Ansari HZ, Li Y, Muller L, Prado VF, Prado MAM, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ. New frontiers in translational research: Touchscreens, open science, and the mouse translational research accelerator platform. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12705. [PMID: 33009724 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases and other brain disorders are accompanied by impairments in high-level cognitive functions including memory, attention, motivation, and decision-making. Despite several decades of extensive research, neuroscience is little closer to discovering new treatments. Key impediments include the absence of validated and robust cognitive assessment tools for facilitating translation from animal models to humans. In this review, we describe a state-of-the-art platform poised to overcome these impediments and improve the success of translational research, the Mouse Translational Research Accelerator Platform (MouseTRAP), which is centered on the touchscreen cognitive testing system for rodents. It integrates touchscreen-based tests of high-level cognitive assessment with state-of-the art neurotechnology to record and manipulate molecular and circuit level activity in vivo in animal models during human-relevant cognitive performance. The platform also is integrated with two Open Science platforms designed to facilitate knowledge and data-sharing practices within the rodent touchscreen community, touchscreencognition.org and mousebytes.ca. Touchscreencognition.org includes the Wall, showcasing touchscreen news and publications, the Forum, for community discussion, and Training, which includes courses, videos, SOPs, and symposia. To get started, interested researchers simply create user accounts. We describe the origins of the touchscreen testing system, the novel lines of research it has facilitated, and its increasingly widespread use in translational research, which is attributable in part to knowledge-sharing efforts over the past decade. We then identify the unique features of MouseTRAP that stand to potentially revolutionize translational research, and describe new initiatives to partner with similar platforms such as McGill's M3 platform (m3platform.org).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Sullivan
- Department of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Rotman Institute of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie R Dumont
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Memar
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miguel Skirzewski
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinxia Wan
- Division of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Maryam H Mofrad
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Yulong Li
- Division of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lyle Muller
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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28
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Van den Broeck L, Sierksma A, Hansquine P, Thonnard D, Callaerts-Vegh Z, D'Hooge R. Comparison between touchscreen operant chambers and water maze to detect early prefrontal dysfunction in mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12695. [PMID: 32812350 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The relative lack of sensitive and clinically valid tests of rodent behavior might be one of the reasons for the limited success of the clinical translation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) research findings. There is a general interest in innovative behavioral methodology, and protocols have been proposed for touchscreen operant chambers that might be superior to existing cognitive assessment methods. We assessed and analyzed touchscreen performance in several novel ways to examine the possible occurrence of early signs of prefrontal (PFC) functional decline in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. Touchscreen learning performance was compared between APP/PS1-21 mice and wildtype littermates on a C57BL/6J background at 3, 6 and 12 months of age in parallel to the assessment of spatial learning, memory and cognitive flexibility in the Morris water maze (MWM). We found that older mice generally needed more training sessions to complete the touchscreen protocol than younger ones. Older mice also displayed defects in MWM working memory performance, but touchscreen protocols detected functional changes beginning at 3 months of age. Histological changes in PFC of APP/PS1 mice indeed occurred as early as 3 months. Our results suggest that touchscreen operant protocols are more sensitive to PFC dysfunction, which is of relevance to the use of these tasks and devices in preclinical AD research and experimental pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lore Van den Broeck
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annerieke Sierksma
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pierre Hansquine
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Thonnard
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Luo J, Tan JM, Nithianantharajah J. A molecular insight into the dissociable regulation of associative learning and motivation by the synaptic protein neuroligin-1. BMC Biol 2020; 18:118. [PMID: 32921313 PMCID: PMC7646379 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00848-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In a changing environment, a challenge for the brain is to flexibly guide adaptive behavior towards survival. Complex behavior and the underlying neural computations emerge from the structural components of the brain across many levels: circuits, cells, and ultimately the signaling complex of proteins at synapses. In line with this logic, dynamic modification of synaptic strength or synaptic plasticity is widely considered the cellular level implementation for adaptive behavior such as learning and memory. Predominantly expressed at excitatory synapses, the postsynaptic cell-adhesion molecule neuroligin-1 (Nlgn1) forms trans-synaptic complexes with presynaptic neurexins. Extensive evidence supports that Nlgn1 is essential for NMDA receptor transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP), both of which are putative synaptic mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Here, employing a comprehensive battery of touchscreen-based cognitive assays, we asked whether impaired NMDA receptor transmission and LTP in mice lacking Nlgn1 does in fact disrupt decision-making. To this end, we addressed two key decision problems: (i) the ability to learn and exploit the associative structure of the environment and (ii) balancing the trade-off between potential rewards and costs, or positive and negative utilities of available actions. Results We found that the capacity to acquire complex associative structures and adjust learned associations was intact. However, loss of Nlgn1 alters motivation leading to a reduced willingness to overcome effort cost for reward and an increased willingness to exert effort to escape an aversive situation. We suggest Nlgn1 may be important for balancing the weighting on positive and negative utilities in reward-cost trade-off. Conclusions Our findings update canonical views of this key synaptic molecule in behavior and suggest Nlgn1 may be essential for regulating distinct cognitive processes underlying action selection. Our data demonstrate that learning and motivational computations can be dissociated within the same animal model, from a detailed behavioral dissection. Further, these results highlight the complexities in mapping synaptic mechanisms to their behavioral consequences, and the future challenge to elucidate how complex behavior emerges through different levels of neural hardware.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Luo
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department of Neuroscience, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Jessica M Tan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department of Neuroscience, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Department of Neuroscience, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
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30
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Lackie RE, Marques-Lopes J, Ostapchenko VG, Good S, Choy WY, van Oosten-Hawle P, Pasternak SH, Prado VF, Prado MAM. Increased levels of Stress-inducible phosphoprotein-1 accelerates amyloid-β deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:143. [PMID: 32825842 PMCID: PMC7441634 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01013-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones and co-chaperones, which are part of the protein quality control machinery, have been shown to regulate distinct aspects of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology in multiple ways. Notably, the co-chaperone STI1, which presents increased levels in AD, can protect mammalian neurons from amyloid-β toxicity in vitro and reduced STI1 levels worsen Aβ toxicity in C. elegans. However, whether increased STI1 levels can protect neurons in vivo remains unknown. We determined that overexpression of STI1 and/or Hsp90 protected C. elegans expressing Aβ(3-42) against Aβ-mediated paralysis. Mammalian neurons were also protected by elevated levels of endogenous STI1 in vitro, and this effect was mainly due to extracellular STI1. Surprisingly, in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD, by overexpressing STI1, we find increased amyloid burden, which amplifies neurotoxicity and worsens spatial memory deficits in these mutants. Increased levels of STI1 disturbed the expression of Aβ-regulating enzymes (BACE1 and MMP-2), suggesting potential mechanisms by which amyloid burden is increased in mice. Notably, we observed that STI1 accumulates in dense-core AD plaques in both 5xFAD mice and human brain tissue. Our findings suggest that elevated levels of STI1 contribute to Aβ accumulation, and that STI1 is deposited in AD plaques in mice and humans. We conclude that despite the protective effects of STI1 in C. elegans and in mammalian cultured neurons, in vivo, the predominant effect of elevated STI1 is deleterious in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Lackie
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Jose Marques-Lopes
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Valeriy G Ostapchenko
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Sarah Good
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Wing-Yiu Choy
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, Medical Sciences Building, 1151 Richmond St. N, London, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Patricija van Oosten-Hawle
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Stephen H Pasternak
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
- St. Joseph's Health Care London-Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital, 268 Grosvenor St Room A1-015, London, N6A 4V2, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
- Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
- Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada.
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31
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Lee JH, Cho SY, Kim E. Translational cognitive neuroscience of dementia with touchscreen operant chambers. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12664. [PMID: 32374080 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Translational cognitive neuroscience of dementia involves mainly two areas: the validation of newly developed dementia animal models and the preclinical assessment of novel drug candidates in such model animals. To validate new animal models, a multidomain panel (battery) approach is essential in that dementia is, by definition, not merely a memory disorder but rather a multidomain cognitive/behavior disorder: animal modeling with a certain type of dementia would develop cognitive impairments in multiple (two at minimum) domains in a specific order according to unique spreading patterns of its neuropathology. In new drug development, the availability of highly sensitive tools assessing animal cognition is crucial to the detection of cognitive decline at the earliest stage of the disease, which may be an optimal time point to test a drug candidate. Using interspecies translatable (analogous) cognitive tasks would also be necessary to successfully predict the efficacy of drug candidates in subsequent clinical trials. Currently, this translational prediction is seriously limited given discrepancies in behavioral assessment methods between animals and humans in the preclinical and clinical trials, respectively. Since neurodegenerative diseases are often accompanied by not only cognitive but also affective and movement disorders, simultaneous assessment of task-relevant locomotor behavior and motivation is also important to rule out the effects of potential confounders. The touchscreen operant platform may satisfy these needs by offering several advantages over conventional methodology. In this review, we discuss the touchscreen operant chamber system and highlight some of its qualities as a promising and desirable tool for translational research of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Han Lee
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yeon Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eosu Kim
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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32
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Dumont JR, Salewski R, Beraldo F. Critical mass: The rise of a touchscreen technology community for rodent cognitive testing. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12650. [PMID: 32141694 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The rise in the number of users and institutions utilizing the rodent touchscreen technology for cognitive testing over the past decade has prompted the need for knowledge mobilization and community building. To address the needs of the growing touchscreen community, the first international touchscreen symposium was hosted at Western University. Attendees from around the world attended talks from expert neuroscientists using touchscreens to examine a vast array of questions regarding cognition and the nervous system. In addition to the symposium, a subset of attendees was invited to partake in a hands-on training course where they received touchscreen training covering both hardware and software components. Beyond the two touchscreen events, virtual platforms have been developed to further support touchscreen users: (a) Mousebytes.ca, which includes a data repository of rodent touchscreen tasks, and (b) Touchscreencognition.org, an online community with numerous training and community resources, perhaps most notably a forum where members can ask and answer questions. The advantages of the rodent touchscreen technology for cognitive neuroscience research has allowed neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds to test specific cognitive processes using well-validated and standardized apparatus, contributing to its rise in popularity and its relevance to modern neuroscience research. The commitment of the touchscreen community to data, task development and information sharing not only ensures an expansive future of the use of rodent touchscreen technology but additionally, quality research that will increase translation from preclinical studies to clinical successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie R Dumont
- BrainsCAN, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan Salewski
- BrainsCAN, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Flavio Beraldo
- BrainsCAN, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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33
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Beraldo FH, Palmer D, Memar S, Wasserman DI, Lee WJV, Liang S, Creighton SD, Kolisnyk B, Cowan MF, Mels J, Masood TS, Fodor C, Al-Onaizi MA, Bartha R, Gee T, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ, Strother SS, Prado VF, Winters BD, Prado MA. MouseBytes, an open-access high-throughput pipeline and database for rodent touchscreen-based cognitive assessment. eLife 2019; 8:49630. [PMID: 31825307 PMCID: PMC6934379 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Open Science has changed research by making data accessible and shareable, contributing to replicability to accelerate and disseminate knowledge. However, for rodent cognitive studies the availability of tools to share and disseminate data is scarce. Automated touchscreen-based tests enable systematic cognitive assessment with easily standardised outputs that can facilitate data dissemination. Here we present an integration of touchscreen cognitive testing with an open-access database public repository (mousebytes.ca), as well as a Web platform for knowledge dissemination (https://touchscreencognition.org). We complement these resources with the largest dataset of age-dependent high-level cognitive assessment of mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, expanding knowledge of affected cognitive domains from male and female mice of three strains. We envision that these new platforms will enhance sharing of protocols, data availability and transparency, allowing meta-analysis and reuse of mouse cognitive data to increase the replicability/reproducibility of datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio H Beraldo
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Palmer
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Sara Memar
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - David I Wasserman
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Wai-Jane V Lee
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shuai Liang
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Samantha D Creighton
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Benjamin Kolisnyk
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew F Cowan
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin Mels
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Talal S Masood
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Fodor
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed A Al-Onaizi
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Bartha
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Tom Gee
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen S Strother
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Boyer D Winters
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Marco Am Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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