1
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Chaudoin TR, Bonasera SJ, Dunaevsky A, Padmashri R. Exploring behavioral phenotypes in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Dev Neurobiol 2023; 83:184-204. [PMID: 37433012 PMCID: PMC10546278 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22922] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are one of the leading causes of developmental abnormalities worldwide. Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy leads to a diverse range of cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Although moderate-to-heavy levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have been associated with adverse offspring outcomes, there is limited data on the consequences of chronic low-level PAE. Here, we use a model of maternal voluntary alcohol consumption throughout gestation in a mouse model to investigate the effects of PAE on behavioral phenotypes during late adolescence and early adulthood in male and female offspring. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Baseline behaviors, including feeding, drinking, and movement, were examined by performing home cage monitoring studies. The impact of PAE on motor function, motor skill learning, hyperactivity, acoustic reactivity, and sensorimotor gating was investigated by performing a battery of behavioral tests. PAE was found to be associated with altered body composition. No differences in overall movement, food, or water consumption were observed between control and PAE mice. Although PAE offspring of both sexes exhibited deficits in motor skill learning, no differences were observed in basic motor skills such as grip strength and motor coordination. PAE females exhibited a hyperactive phenotype in a novel environment. PAE mice exhibited increased reactivity to acoustic stimuli, and PAE females showed disrupted short-term habituation. Sensorimotor gating was not altered in PAE mice. Collectively, our data show that chronic low-level exposure to alcohol in utero results in behavioral impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy R Chaudoin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Stephen J Bonasera
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anna Dunaevsky
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Ragunathan Padmashri
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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2
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Petersen N, Adank DN, Raghavan R, Winder DG, Doyle MA. LIQ HD (Lick Instance Quantifier Home Cage Device): An Open-Source Tool for Recording Undisturbed Two-Bottle Drinking Behavior in a Home Cage Environment. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0506-22.2023. [PMID: 36997312 PMCID: PMC10112549 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0506-22.2023] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigation of rodent drinking behavior has provided insight into drivers of thirst, circadian rhythms, anhedonia, and drug and ethanol consumption. Traditional methods of recording fluid intake involve weighing bottles, which is cumbersome and lacks temporal resolution. Several open-source devices have been designed to improve drink monitoring, particularly for two-bottle choice tasks. However, beam-break sensors lack the ability to detect individual licks for bout microstructure analysis. Thus, we designed LIQ HD (Lick Instance Quantifier Home cage Device) with the goal of using capacitive sensors to increase accuracy and analyze lick microstructure, building a device compatible with ventilated home cages, increasing scale with prolonged undisturbed recordings, and creating a design that is easy to build and use with an intuitive touchscreen graphical user interface. The system tracks two-bottle choice licking behavior in up to 18 rodent cages, or 36 single bottles, on a minute-to-minute timescale controlled by a single Arduino microcontroller. The data are logged to a single SD card, allowing for efficient downstream analysis. LIQ HD accuracy was validated with sucrose, quinine, and ethanol two-bottle choice tasks. The system measures preference over time and changes in bout microstructure, with undisturbed recordings tested up to 7 d. All designs and software are open-source to allow other researchers to build on the system and adapt LIQ HD to their animal home cages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Petersen
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Danielle N Adank
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Ritika Raghavan
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Danny G Winder
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Marie A Doyle
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
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3
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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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4
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DeKorver NW, Chaudoin TR, Zhao G, Wang D, Arikkath J, Bonasera SJ. Complement Component C3 Loss leads to Locomotor Deficits and Altered Cerebellar Internal Granule Cell In Vitro Synaptic Protein Expression in C57BL/6 Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5857-5875. [PMID: 34415487 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02480-0] [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] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Complement component 3 (C3) expression is increased in the cerebellum of aging mice that demonstrate locomotor impairments and increased excitatory synapse density. However, C3 regulation of locomotion, as well as C3 roles in excitatory synapse function, remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that constitutive loss of C3 function in mice evokes a locomotor phenotype characterized by decreased speed, increased active state locomotor probability, and gait ataxia. C3 loss does not alter metabolism or body mass composition. No evidence of significant muscle weakness or degenerative arthritis was found in C3 knockout mice to explain decreased gait speeds. In an enriched primary cerebellar granule cell culture model, loss of C3 protein results in increased excitatory synaptic density and increased response to KCl depolarization. Our analysis of excitatory synaptic density in the cerebellar internal granule cell and molecular layers did not demonstrate increased synaptic density in vivo, suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanisms regulating synaptic development. Functional deficits in C3 knockout mice are therefore more likely to result from altered synaptic function and/or connectivity than gross synaptic deficits. Our data demonstrate a novel role for complement proteins in cerebellar regulation of locomotor output and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W DeKorver
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3028 Durham Research Center II, Omaha, NE, 68198-5039, USA
| | - Tammy R Chaudoin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3028 Durham Research Center II, Omaha, NE, 68198-5039, USA
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, PDD 3020, Omaha, NE, 68198-6125, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, PDD 3020, Omaha, NE, 68198-6125, USA
| | - Jyothi Arikkath
- Monroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3031 Durham Research Center II, Omaha, NE, 68198-5960, USA
| | - Stephen J Bonasera
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 3028 Durham Research Center II, Omaha, NE, 68198-5039, USA.
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5
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Mice lacking galectin-3 (Lgals3) function have decreased home cage movement. BMC Neurosci 2018; 19:27. [PMID: 29716523 PMCID: PMC5930520 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-018-0428-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Galectins are a large family of proteins evolved to recognize specific carbohydrate moieties. Given the importance of pattern recognition processes for multiple biological tasks, including CNS development and immune recognition, we examined the home cage behavioral phenotype of mice lacking galectin-3 (Lgals3) function. Using a sophisticated monitoring apparatus capable of examining feeding, drinking, and movement at millisecond temporal and 0.5 cm spatial resolutions, we observed daily behavioral patterns from 10 wildtype male C57BL/6J and 10 Lgals3 constitutive knockout (Lgals3−/−; both cohorts aged 2–3 months) mice over 17 consecutive days. We performed a second behavioral assessment of this cohort at age 6–7 months. Results At both ages, Lgals3−/− mice demonstrated less movement compared to wildtype controls. Both forward locomotion and movement-in-place behaviors were decreased in Lgals3−/− mice, due to decreased bout numbers, initiation rates, and durations. We additionally noted perturbation of behavioral circadian rhythms in Lgals3−/− mice, with mice at both ages demonstrating greater variability in day-to-day performance of feeding, drinking, and movement (as assessed by Lomb-Scargle analysis) compared to wildtype. Conclusion Carbohydrate recognition tasks performed by Lgals3 may be required for appropriate development of CNS structures involved in the generation and control of locomotor behavior. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12868-018-0428-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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6
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DeKorver NW, Chaudoin TR, Bonasera SJ. Toll-Like Receptor 2 Is a Regulator of Circadian Active and Inactive State Consolidation in C57BL/6 Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:219. [PMID: 28769782 PMCID: PMC5510442 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory systems required to maintain behavioral arousal remain incompletely understood. We describe a previously unappreciated role that toll-like receptor 2 (Tlr2, a membrane bound pattern recognition receptor that recognizes specific bacterial, viral, and fungal peptides), contributes toward regulation of behavioral arousal. In 4–4.5 month old mice with constitutive loss of Tlr2 function (Tlr2−/− mice), we note a marked consolidation in the circadian pattern of both active and inactive states. Specifically, Tlr2−/− mice demonstrated significantly fewer but longer duration active states during the circadian dark cycle, and significantly fewer but longer duration inactive states during the circadian light cycle. Tlr2−/− mice also consumed less food and water, and moved less during the circadian light cycle. Analysis of circadian rhythms further suggested that Tlr2−/− mice demonstrated less day-to-day variability in feeding, drinking, and movement behaviors. Reevaluation of this same mouse cohort at age 8–8.5 months revealed a clear blunting of these differences. However, Tlr2−/− mice were still noted to have fewer short-duration active states during the circadian dark cycle, and continued to demonstrate significantly less day-to-day variability in feeding, drinking, and movement behaviors. These results suggest that Tlr2 function may have a role in promoting transitions between active and inactive states. Prior studies have demonstrated that Tlr2 regulates sickness behaviors including hypophagia, hyperthermia, and decreased activity. Our work suggests that Tlr2 function also evokes behavioral fragmentation, another aspect of sickness behavior and a clinically significant problem of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W DeKorver
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Durham Research Center II, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE, United States
| | - Tammy R Chaudoin
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Durham Research Center II, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE, United States
| | - Stephen J Bonasera
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Durham Research Center II, University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE, United States
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7
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Bonasera SJ, Chaudoin TR, Goulding EH, Mittek M, Dunaevsky A. Decreased home cage movement and oromotor impairments in adult Fmr1-KO mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2017; 16:564-573. [PMID: 28218824 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited disorder that significantly impacts family and patient day-to-day living across the entire life span. The childhood and adolescent behavioral consequences of FXS are well appreciated. However, there are significantly fewer studies (except those examining psychiatric comorbidities) assessing behavioral phenotypes seen in adults with FXS. Mice engineered with a genetic lesion of fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) recapitulate important molecular and neuroanatomical characteristics of FXS, and provide a means to evaluate adult behavioral phenotypes associated with FXS. We give the first description of baseline behaviors including feeding, drinking, movement and their circadian rhythms; all observed over 16 consecutive days following extensive environmental habituation in adult Fmr1-KO mutant mice. We find no genotypic changes in mouse food ingestion, feeding patterns, metabolism or circadian patterns of movement, feeding and drinking. After habituation, Fmr1-KO mice show significantly less daily movement during their active phase (the dark cycle). However, Fmr1-KO mice have more bouts of activity during the light cycle compared with wild types. In addition, Fmr1-KO mice show significantly less daily water ingestion during the circadian dark cycle, and this reduction in water intake is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of water ingested per lick. The observed water ingestion and circadian phenotypes noted in Fmr1-KO mice recapitulate known clinical aspects previously described in FXS. The finding of decreased movement in Fmr1-KO mice is novel, and suggests a dissociation between baseline and novelty-evoked activity for Fmr1-KO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Bonasera
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - T R Chaudoin
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - E H Goulding
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - M Mittek
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
| | - A Dunaevsky
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Monroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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8
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Macrì S, Mainetti L, Patrono L, Pieretti S, Secco A, Sergi I. A tracking system for laboratory mice to support medical researchers in behavioral analysis. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2016; 2015:4946-9. [PMID: 26737401 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7319501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The behavioral analysis of laboratory mice plays a key role in several medical and scientific research areas, such as biology, toxicology, pharmacology, and so on. Important information on mice behavior and their reaction to a particular stimulus is deduced from a careful analysis of their movements. Moreover, behavioral analysis of genetically modified mice allows obtaining important information about particular genes, phenotypes or drug effects. The techniques commonly adopted to support such analysis have many limitations, which make the related systems particularly ineffective. Currently, the engineering community is working to explore innovative identification and sensing technologies to develop new tracking systems able to guarantee benefits to animals' behavior analysis. This work presents a tracking solution based on passive Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. Much emphasis is given to the software component of the system, based on a Web-oriented solution, able to process the raw tracking data coming from a hardware system, and offer 2D and 3D tracking information as well as reports and dashboards about mice behavior. The system has been widely tested using laboratory mice and compared with an automated video-tracking software (i.e., EthoVision). The obtained results have demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed solution, which is able to correctly detect the events occurring in the animals' cage, and to offer a complete and user-friendly tool to support researchers in behavioral analysis of laboratory mice.
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9
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Knibbe-Hollinger JS, Fields NR, Chaudoin TR, Epstein AA, Makarov E, Akhter SP, Gorantla S, Bonasera SJ, Gendelman HE, Poluektova LY. Influence of age, irradiation and humanization on NSG mouse phenotypes. Biol Open 2015; 4:1243-52. [PMID: 26353862 PMCID: PMC4610222 DOI: 10.1242/bio.013201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Humanized mice are frequently utilized in bench to bedside therapeutic tests to combat human infectious, cancerous and degenerative diseases. For the fields of hematology-oncology, regenerative medicine, and infectious diseases, the immune deficient mice have been used commonly in basic research efforts. Obstacles in true translational efforts abound, as the relationship between mouse and human cells in disease pathogenesis and therapeutic studies requires lengthy investigations. The interplay between human immunity and mouse biology proves ever more complicated when aging, irradiation, and human immune reconstitution are considered. All can affect a range of biochemical and behavioral functions. To such ends, we show age- and irradiation-dependent influences for the development of macrocytic hyper chromic anemia, myelodysplasia, blood protein reductions and body composition changes. Humanization contributes to hematologic abnormalities. Home cage behavior revealed day and dark cycle locomotion also influenced by human cell reconstitutions. Significant age-related day-to-day variability in movement, feeding and drinking behaviors were observed. We posit that this data serves to enable researchers to better design translational studies in this rapidly emerging field of mouse humanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn S Knibbe-Hollinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Natasha R Fields
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Tammy R Chaudoin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Division, 986155 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6155, USA
| | - Adrian A Epstein
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Edward Makarov
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Sidra P Akhter
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Stephen J Bonasera
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Division, 986155 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6155, USA
| | - Howard E Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
| | - Larisa Y Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA
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