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Lim CJM, Janhunen SK, Riedel G. Reproducibility in Preclinical in Vivo Research: Statistical Inferences. J Integr Neurosci 2024; 23:30. [PMID: 38419455 DOI: 10.31083/j.jin2302030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charmaine J M Lim
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Gernot Riedel
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, UK
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Lim CJM, Platt B, Janhunen SK, Riedel G. Comparison of automated video tracking systems in the open field test: ANY-Maze versus EthoVision XT. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 397:109940. [PMID: 37544382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ANY-Maze and EthoVision XT are two commonly used automated animal tracking systems employed to produce reliable and consistent results in behavioural paradigms. Data obtained with both tracking systems have presented differences, particularly when varying laboratory lighting conditions and contrasts of mice coat colour against the arena background in both water maze and tunnel maze. METHOD In this study, two fluorescent lighting conditions (58 and 295 lux), local to our laboratory, and different coat-coloured mouse lines (C57BL/6 J - black; CD1 - agouti; C3H/HeN - white) were used to compare reproducibility in measures of tracking systems (ANY-Maze versus EthoVision) in the open field test. RESULTS Differences between systems were reliant on the contrasts between coat and background colours. Surprisingly, black animals presented the greatest differences in read-outs between tracking systems, regardless of lighting conditions. Data from both video observation tools differed mainly in exploration-related parameters (distance travelled), but less in more static proxies (time in thigmotaxis zone). Overall, EthoVision XT returned higher values for most parameters analysed relative to ANY-Maze. More inconsistencies in recording and analysis can be expected from other video recording systems. CONCLUSION Data analysis software provides an additional source of variation in need of consideration when reproducibility in behavioural neuroscience is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmaine J M Lim
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Bettina Platt
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gernot Riedel
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
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Arroyo-Araujo M, Voelkl B, Laloux C, Novak J, Koopmans B, Waldron AM, Seiffert I, Stirling H, Aulehner K, Janhunen SK, Ramboz S, Potschka H, Holappa J, Fine T, Loos M, Boulanger B, Würbel H, Kas MJ. Systematic assessment of the replicability and generalizability of preclinical findings: Impact of protocol harmonization across laboratory sites. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001886. [PMID: 36417471 PMCID: PMC9728859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of protocol standardization between laboratories on their replicability of preclinical results has not been addressed in a systematic way. While standardization is considered good research practice as a means to control for undesired external noise (i.e., highly variable results), some reports suggest that standardized protocols may lead to idiosyncratic results, thus undermining replicability. Through the EQIPD consortium, a multi-lab collaboration between academic and industry partners, we aimed to elucidate parameters that impact the replicability of preclinical animal studies. To this end, 3 experimental protocols were implemented across 7 laboratories. The replicability of results was determined using the distance travelled in an open field after administration of pharmacological compounds known to modulate locomotor activity (MK-801, diazepam, and clozapine) in C57BL/6 mice as a worked example. The goal was to determine whether harmonization of study protocols across laboratories improves the replicability of the results and whether replicability can be further improved by systematic variation (heterogenization) of 2 environmental factors (time of testing and light intensity during testing) within laboratories. Protocols were tested in 3 consecutive stages and differed in the extent of harmonization across laboratories and standardization within laboratories: stage 1, minimally aligned across sites (local protocol); stage 2, fully aligned across sites (harmonized protocol) with and without systematic variation (standardized and heterogenized cohort); and stage 3, fully aligned across sites (standardized protocol) with a different compound. All protocols resulted in consistent treatment effects across laboratories, which were also replicated within laboratories across the different stages. Harmonization of protocols across laboratories reduced between-lab variability substantially compared to each lab using their local protocol. In contrast, the environmental factors chosen to introduce systematic variation within laboratories did not affect the behavioral outcome. Therefore, heterogenization did not reduce between-lab variability further compared to the harmonization of the standardized protocol. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that subtle variations between lab-specific study protocols may introduce variation across independent replicate studies even after protocol harmonization and that systematic heterogenization of environmental factors may not be sufficient to account for such between-lab variation. Differences in replicability of results within and between laboratories highlight the ubiquity of study-specific variation due to between-lab variability, the importance of transparent and fine-grained reporting of methodologies and research protocols, and the importance of independent study replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Arroyo-Araujo
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Voelkl
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Janja Novak
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ann-Marie Waldron
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
| | - Isabel Seiffert
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
| | - Helen Stirling
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
| | - Katharina Aulehner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
| | | | - Sylvie Ramboz
- PsychoGenics Inc., New Jersey, Paramus, United States of America
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
| | | | | | - Maarten Loos
- Sylics (Synaptologics BV), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hanno Würbel
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martien J. Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Miguel E, Vekovischeva O, Kuokkanen K, Vesajoki M, Paasikoski N, Kaskinoro J, Myllymäki M, Lainiola M, Janhunen SK, Hyytiä P, Linden A, Korpi ER. GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulators with different efficacies affect neuroadaptation to and self-administration of alcohol and cocaine. Addict Biol 2019; 24:1191-1203. [PMID: 30421860 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse induce widespread synaptic adaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurons. Such drug-induced neuroadaptations may constitute an initial cellular mechanism eventually leading to compulsive drug-seeking behavior. To evaluate the impact of GABAB receptors on addiction-related persistent neuroplasticity, we tested the ability of orthosteric agonist baclofen and two positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABAB receptors to suppress neuroadaptations in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and reward-related behaviors induced by ethanol and cocaine. A novel compound (S)-1-(5-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-4-methyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-one (ORM-27669) was found to be a GABAB PAM of low efficacy as agonist, whereas the reference compound (R,S)-5,7-di-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-3-trifluoromethyl-3H-benzofuran-2-one (rac-BHFF) had a different allosteric profile being a more potent PAM in the calcium-based assay and an agonist, coupled with potent PAM activity, in the [35 S] GTPγS binding assay in rat and human recombinant receptors. Using autoradiography, the high-efficacy rac-BHFF and the low-efficacy ORM-27669 potentiated the effects of baclofen on [35 S] GTPγS binding with identical brain regional distribution. Treatment of mice with baclofen, rac-BHFF, or ORM-27669 failed to induce glutamate receptor neuroplasticity in the VTA DA neurons. Pretreatment with rac-BHFF at non-sedative doses effectively reversed both ethanol- and cocaine-induced plasticity and attenuated cocaine i.v. self-administration and ethanol drinking. Pretreatment with ORM-27669 only reversed ethanol-induced neuroplasticity and attenuated ethanol drinking but had no effects on cocaine-induced neuroplasticity or self-administration. These findings encourage further investigation of GABAB receptor PAMs with different efficacies in addiction models to develop novel treatment strategies for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Miguel
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | - Olga Vekovischeva
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | - Katja Kuokkanen
- Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation Finland
| | - Marja Vesajoki
- Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation Finland
| | - Nelli Paasikoski
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | - Janne Kaskinoro
- Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation Finland
| | - Mikko Myllymäki
- Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation Finland
| | - Mira Lainiola
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | | | - Petri Hyytiä
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | - Anni‐Maija Linden
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
| | - Esa R. Korpi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Helsinki Finland
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Janhunen SK, Svärd H, Talpos J, Kumar G, Steckler T, Plath N, Lerdrup L, Ruby T, Haman M, Wyler R, Ballard TM. The subchronic phencyclidine rat model: relevance for the assessment of novel therapeutics for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:4059-83. [PMID: 26070547 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-3954-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Current treatments for schizophrenia have modest, if any, efficacy on cognitive dysfunction, creating a need for novel therapies. Their development requires predictive animal models. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) hypothesis of schizophrenia indicates the use of NMDA antagonists, like subchronic phencyclidine (scPCP) to model cognitive dysfunction in adult animals. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the scPCP model by (1) reviewing published findings of scPCP-induced neurochemical changes and effects on cognitive tasks in adult rats and (2) comparing findings from a multi-site study to determine scPCP effects on standard and touchscreen cognitive tasks. METHODS Across four research sites, the effects of scPCP (typically 5 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days, followed by at least 7-day washout) in adult male Lister Hooded rats were studied on novel object recognition (NOR) with 1-h delay, acquisition and reversal learning in Morris water maze and touchscreen-based visual discrimination. RESULTS Literature findings showed that scPCP impaired attentional set-shifting (ASST) and NOR in several labs and induced a variety of neurochemical changes across different labs. In the multi-site study, scPCP impaired NOR, but not acquisition or reversal learning in touchscreen or water maze. Yet, this treatment regimen induced locomotor hypersensitivity to acute PCP until 13-week post-cessation. CONCLUSIONS The multi-site study confirmed that scPCP impaired NOR and ASST only and demonstrated the reproducibility and usefulness of the touchscreen approach. Our recommendation, prior to testing novel therapeutics in the scPCP model, is to be aware that further work is required to understand the neurochemical changes and specificity of the cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K Janhunen
- CNS Research, Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation, Tengstrominkatu 8, P.O. Box 425, 20101, Turku, Finland.
| | - Heta Svärd
- CNS Research, Research and Development, Orion Pharma, Orion Corporation, Tengstrominkatu 8, P.O. Box 425, 20101, Turku, Finland
| | - John Talpos
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Gaurav Kumar
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Thomas Steckler
- Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Niels Plath
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Linda Lerdrup
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Trine Ruby
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark
| | - Marie Haman
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roger Wyler
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Theresa M Ballard
- Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
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van Gestel MA, Kostrzewa E, Adan RAH, Janhunen SK. Pharmacological manipulations in animal models of anorexia and binge eating in relation to humans. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:4767-84. [PMID: 24866852 PMCID: PMC4209941 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorders (BED), are described as abnormal eating habits that usually involve insufficient or excessive food intake. Animal models have been developed that provide insight into certain aspects of eating disorders. Several drugs have been found efficacious in these animal models and some of them have eventually proven useful in the treatment of eating disorders. This review will cover the role of monoaminergic neurotransmitters in eating disorders and their pharmacological manipulations in animal models and humans. Dopamine, 5-HT (serotonin) and noradrenaline in hypothalamic and striatal regions regulate food intake by affecting hunger and satiety and by affecting rewarding and motivational aspects of feeding. Reduced neurotransmission by dopamine, 5-HT and noradrenaline and compensatory changes, at least in dopamine D2 and 5-HT(2C/2A) receptors, have been related to the pathophysiology of AN in humans and animal models. Also, in disorders and animal models of BN and BED, monoaminergic neurotransmission is down-regulated but receptor level changes are different from those seen in AN. A hypofunctional dopamine system or overactive α2-adrenoceptors may contribute to an attenuated response to (palatable) food and result in hedonic binge eating. Evidence for the efficacy of monoaminergic treatments for AN is limited, while more support exists for the treatment of BN or BED with monoaminergic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A van Gestel
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E Kostrzewa
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R A H Adan
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, The Netherlands
| | - S K Janhunen
- Orion Corporation Orion Pharma, Research and Development, CNS ResearchTurku, Finland
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Janhunen SK, la Fleur SE, Adan RAH. Blocking alpha2A adrenoceptors, but not dopamine receptors, augments bupropion-induced hypophagia in rats. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2013; 21:E700-8. [PMID: 23894096 DOI: 10.1002/oby.20581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anti-obesity drugs have adverse effects which limit their use, creating a need for novel anti-obesity compounds. We studied effects of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor bupropion (BUP), alone and after blocking α1- or α2-adrenoceptors (AR), D1/5, D2/3, or D4 receptors, to determine which receptors act downstream of BUP. DESIGN AND METHODS Effects on caloric intake, meal patterning and locomotion were assessed, using an automated weighing system and telemetry in male rats with 18-h access to Western Human style diet. RESULTS BUP (30 mg/kg) induced hypophagia by reducing meal size and postponing meal initiation. WB4101 (α1-AR; 2 mg/kg) and imiloxan (α2B-AR; 5 mg/kg) attenuated BUP's effect on meal size, while WB4101 and BRL 44408 (α2A/D-AR; 2 mg/kg) counteracted effect on meal initiation. Atipamezole (α2-AR; 1 mg/kg) and imiloxan further postponed initiation of meals. SKF 83566 (D1/5; 0.3 mg/kg), raclopride (D2/3; 0.5 mg/kg) and to a lesser extent FAUC 213 (D4; 0.5 mg/kg), attenuated BUP-induced hypophagia. BUP stimulated locomotion, which was blocked by all antagonists, except FAUC 213 or BRL 44408. CONCLUSIONS Alpha1-, α2A/D- and α2B-ARs, and DA receptors underlie BUP's effects on size and initiation of meals, while blocking pre-synaptic α2-ARs enhanced BUP-induced hypophagia. An inverse agonist of (pre-synaptic) α2A-ARs could enhance BUP-induced anorexia and treat eating disorders and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K Janhunen
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Because the use of monoamine reuptake inhibitors as weight-reducing agents is limited by adverse effects, novel antiobesity drugs are needed. We studied acute effects of the noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor sibutramine (SIB), alone and after pretreatment with α1- and α2-adrenoceptor (AR), and 5-HT1/2/7, 5-HT1B and 5-HT2C receptor antagonists in order to determine which ARs and 5-HT receptors act downstream of SIB on feeding and locomotion. Acute effects on caloric and water intake, meal microstructure and locomotion were assessed, using an automated weighing system and telemetry in male rats with restricted 18-h access to Western style diet. SIB 3 mg/kg reduced meal size and frequency, which suggests enhanced within- and postmeal satiety. Imiloxan (α2B-AR), WB4101 (α1-AR), SB-224289 (5-HT1B), and modestly BRL 44408 (α2A/D-AR) attenuated SIB's effect on meal size, suggesting that α2B- and α1-ARs and 5-HT1B receptors mediate within-meal satiety, with a modest role for α2A/D-ARs. Only prazosin (α1/2B/2C-AR) counteracted SIB's effect on meal frequency. At 3 mg/kg, SIB modestly increased locomotion. This effect was blocked by metergoline (5-HT1/2/7), WB4101 (α1-AR), and RX821002 (α2-AR). Interestingly, the α2-AR antagonists atipamezole and RX821002 enhanced SIB's effect on caloric intake, probably due to inverse agonistic actions at α2A-autoreceptors that further enhanced release of NA that regulates caloric intake. Thus, an inverse agonist of presynaptic α2A-ARs might beneficially enhance SIB's weight-reducing effect and offer novel treatment for obesity. All in all, the present data supports the ARs and 5-HT receptors involved in the effects of SIB on different aspects of caloric intake and locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna K Janhunen
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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