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Jaehne EJ, Kent JN, Lam N, Schonfeld L, Spiers JG, Begni V, De Rosa F, Riva MA, van den Buuse M. Chronic running-wheel exercise from adolescence leads to increased anxiety and depression-like phenotypes in adulthood in rats: Effects on stress markers and interaction with BDNF Val66Met genotype. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22347. [PMID: 36567651 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of affective disorders and to increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with reduced activity-dependent BDNF release and increased risk for anxiety and depression. Male and female Val66Met rats were given access to running wheels from 3 weeks of age and compared to sedentary controls. Anxiety- and depression-like behaviors were measured in adulthood using the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF), and forced swim test (FST). Expression of BDNF and a number of stress-related genes, the glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3c1), serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (Sgk1), and FK506 binding protein 51 (Fkbp5) in the hippocampus were also measured. Rats given access to running wheels developed high levels of voluntary exercise, decreased open-arm time on the EPM and center-field time in the OF, reduced overall exploratory activity in the open field, and increased immobility time in the FST with no differences between genotypes. Chronic exercise induced a significant increase in Bdnf mRNA and BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus with some of these effects being genotype specific. Exercise decreased the expression of Nr3c1 and Sgk1, but increased the expression of Fkbp5. These results suggest that chronic running-wheel exercise from adolescence increased anxiety and depression-like phenotypes in adulthood, independent of BDNF Val66Met genotype. Further studies are required to confirm that increased indices of anxiety-like behavior are independent from reduced overall locomotor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Jaehne
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jessica N Kent
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nikki Lam
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lina Schonfeld
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jereme G Spiers
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico De Rosa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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2
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Karl T, Nithianantharajah J, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Editorial: Looking at the Complete Picture: Tackling Broader Factors Important for Advancing the Validity of Preclinical Models in Disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:905327. [PMID: 35558434 PMCID: PMC9090468 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.905327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Tim Karl
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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3
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Maleninska K, Janikova M, Radostova D, Vojtechova I, Petrasek T, Kirdajova D, Anderova M, Svoboda J, Stuchlik A. Selective deficits in attentional set-shifting in mice induced by maternal immune activation with poly(I:C). Behav Brain Res 2022; 419:113678. [PMID: 34838932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation has been identified as a significant risk factor for schizophrenia. Using rodent models, past work has demonstrated various behavioral and brain impairments in offspring after immune-activating events. We applied 5 mg/kg of poly(I:C) on gestation day 9 to pregnant mouse dams, whose offspring were then stressed during puberty. We show impairments in attentional set-shifting in a T-maze, and a decreased number of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the hippocampus as a result of peripubertal stress specifically in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Maleninska
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Janikova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Radostova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Vojtechova
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Petrasek
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Denisa Kirdajova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Svoboda
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Stuchlik
- Laboratory of the Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic.
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Stover MG, Villano JS. Evaluation of Various IVC Systems According to Mouse Reproductive Performance and Husbandry and Environmental Parameters. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2022; 61:31-41. [PMID: 34980294 PMCID: PMC8786386 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-21-000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
IVC systems are marketed for improving the health and management of mouse colonies. The current study compared mouse reproductive performance and husbandry and environmental parameters among 3 high-density (HD) IVC rack systems (RS1, RS2, and RS3), which were present in separate but comparable rooms. Three breeding trios each of Swiss Webster (CFW) and BALB/c mice were placed in each rack (n = 36 female, n = 18 male). Reproductive indices were measured for 3 breeding cycles over 2 generations; indices included time to parturition, litter size and pup weight, survivability, and interbirth interval. Over 18 wk, personnel used scoring systems to evaluate each RS daily to every other week according to cage dirtiness, need for spot changing, ease of cage changing, daily health checks, and cage wash processing. Macroenvironmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, noise, total particulate matter) were measured weekly over 14 wks. Microenvironmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, NH₃, CO₂, O₂) of 2 cages each of male and female CFW mice (4 mice/cage) on each RS were measured at 6 time points over 2 wks. RS1 had significantly smaller mean litter sizes of CFW mice (mean ± 1 SD, 6.5 ± 2.9 pups) as compared with both RS2 (9.5 ± 1.7 pups) and RS3 (9.3 ± 3.8 pups). RS1 scored as being significantly easier to process through the cage wash. RS2 had significantly lower room noise levels (46.0 ± 5.0 dBA) but higher humidity (58.6% ± 8.9%) as compared with both RS1 (43.7% ± 9.9%) and RS3 (46.0% ± 12.0%) over the 2-wk cycle, particularly at 8 and 12 d after cage change. In conclusion, in terms of mouse reproductive performance and husbandry and environmental parameters, each system had at least 1 advantage over the other 2. Therefore, various factors should be considered when choosing an IVC system for mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchel G Stover
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, and
- Research Animal Resources, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jason S Villano
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, and
- Research Animal Resources, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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5
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Effects of handling on the behavioural phenotype of the neuregulin 1 type III transgenic mouse model for schizophrenia. Behav Brain Res 2021; 405:113166. [PMID: 33588020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Handling of laboratory mice affects animal wellbeing and behavioural test outcomes. However, present research has focused on handling effects in common strains of laboratory mice despite the knowledge that environmental factors can modify established phenotypes of genetic mouse models. Thus, we examined the impact of handling on the face validity of a transgenic mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1 (i.e. Nrg1 type III overexpression). Nrg1 III tg and wild type-like (WT) control mice of both sexes underwent tail or tunnel handling before being assessed in the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), social preference/novelty, prepulse inhibition, and fear conditioning tests. Tunnel-handling reduced the startle response in all mice, increased OF locomotion and exploration in males and reduced anxiety in males (OF) and females (EPM) compared to tail-handling. Importantly, tunnel handling induced a more pronounced startle response to increasing startle stimuli in Nrg1 III tg females compared to respective controls, a phenomenon absent in tail-handled females. Finally, Nrg1 III tg males displayed reduced OF exploration and centre locomotion and Nrg1 III tg females displayed increased cue freezing over time compared to controls. In conclusion, handling methods have a significant impact on a variety of behavioural domains thus the impact of routine handling procedures need be considered when testing behavioural phenotypes. Handling did not change the main schizophrenia-relevant characteristics of Nrg1 III tg mice but affected the acoustic startle-response in a genotype- and sex-specific manner. Future research should evaluate the effect of handling on other genetic models.
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Turner JG. Noise and Vibration in the Vivarium: Recommendations for Developing a Measurement Plan. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020; 59:665-672. [PMID: 32928338 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Noise and vibration are present in every room of laboratory animal vivaria, with great variability from room-to-room and facility-to-facility. Such stimuli are rarely measured. As a result, the many stakeholders involved in biomedical research, (for example, funding agencies, construction personnel, equipment manufacturers, animal facility administrators, veterinarians, technicians, and scientists) have little awareness of the effects such stimuli may have on their research animals. Noise and vibration present a potential source of unrecognized animal distress, and a significant, uncontrolled and confounding variable in scientific studies. Unmeasured and unrecognized noise and vibration can therefore undermine the fundamental goals of the 3R's to refine animal models and reduce the number of animals used in biomedical and behavioral research. This overview serves to highlight the scope of this problem and proposes a series of recommended practices to limit its negative effects on research animals and the scientific data derived from them. These practices consist of developing a written plan for managing noise and vibration concerns, assessment of noise and vibration both annually and whenever unexpected changes in the facility or animals are observed, and for maintaining levels of chronic noise below thresholds that might cause animal welfare concerns or disruptions in ongoing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy G Turner
- Department of Psychology, Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois; Turner Scientific, Jacksonville, Illinois; , ,
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7
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Lee VK, David JM, Huerkamp MJ. Micro- and Macroenvironmental Conditions and Stability of Terrestrial Models. ILAR J 2020; 60:120-140. [PMID: 33094820 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental variables can have profound effects on the biological responses of research animals and the outcomes of experiments dependent on them. Some of these influences are both predictable and unpredictable in effect, many are challenging to standardize, and all are influenced by the planning and conduct of experiments and the design and operation of the vivarium. Others are not yet known. Within the immediate environment where the research animal resides, in the vivarium and in transit, the most notable of these factors are ambient temperature, relative humidity, gaseous pollutant by-products of animal metabolism and physiology, dust and particulates, barometric pressure, electromagnetic fields, and illumination. Ambient temperatures in the animal housing environment, in particular those experienced by rodents below the thermoneutral zone, may introduce degrees of stress and thermoregulatory compensative responses that may complicate or invalidate study measurements across a broad array of disciplines. Other factors may have more subtle and specific effects. It is incumbent on scientists designing and executing experiments and staff responsible for animal husbandry to be aware of, understand, measure, systematically record, control, and account for the impact of these factors on sensitive animal model systems to ensure the quality and reproducibility of scientific studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa K Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Division of Animal Resources, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John M David
- Translational Medicine Department, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J Huerkamp
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Division of Animal Resources, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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8
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Reproducibility of animal research in light of biological variation. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:384-393. [PMID: 32488205 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0313-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Context-dependent biological variation presents a unique challenge to the reproducibility of results in experimental animal research, because organisms' responses to experimental treatments can vary with both genotype and environmental conditions. In March 2019, experts in animal biology, experimental design and statistics convened in Blonay, Switzerland, to discuss strategies addressing this challenge. In contrast to the current gold standard of rigorous standardization in experimental animal research, we recommend the use of systematic heterogenization of study samples and conditions by actively incorporating biological variation into study design through diversifying study samples and conditions. Here we provide the scientific rationale for this approach in the hope that researchers, regulators, funders and editors can embrace this paradigm shift. We also present a road map towards better practices in view of improving the reproducibility of animal research.
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9
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Zieba J, Morris MJ, Karl T. Behavioural effects of high fat diet exposure starting in late adolescence in neuregulin 1 transmembrane domain mutant mice. Behav Brain Res 2019; 373:112074. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Åhlgren J, Voikar V. Housing mice in the individually ventilated or open cages-Does it matter for behavioral phenotype? GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 18:e12564. [PMID: 30848040 PMCID: PMC6849734 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Individually ventilated caging (IVC) systems for rodents are increasingly common in laboratory animal facilities. However, the impact of such substantial change in housing conditions on animal physiology and behavior is still debated. Most importantly, there arise the questions regarding reproducibility and comparison of previous or new phenotypes between the IVC and open cages. The present study was set up for detailed and systematic comparison of behavioral phenotypes in male and female mice of three widely used inbred strains (C57BL/6JRccHsd, DBA/2JRccHsd, 129S2/SvHSd) after being kept in two housing environments (IVC and open cages) for 6 weeks (since 4 weeks of age) before behavioral testing. The tests addressed exploratory, anxiety-like and stress-related behavior (light-dark box, open field, forced swim test, stress-induced hyperthermia), social approach and species-specific behavior (nest building, marble burying). In all tests, large and expected strain differences were found. Somewhat surprisingly, the most striking effect of environment was found for basal body temperature and weight loss after one night of single housing in respective cages. In addition, the performance in light-dark box and open field was affected by environment. Several parameters in different tests showed significant interaction between housing and genetic background. In summary, the IVC housing did not invalidate the well-known differences between the mouse strains which have been established by previous studies. However, within the strains the results can be influenced by sex and housing system depending on the behavioral tasks applied. The bottom-line is that the environmental conditions should be described explicitly in all publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Åhlgren
- Laboratory Animal Center, Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Vootele Voikar
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Laboratory Animal Center, Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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11
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Kentner AC, Bilbo SD, Brown AS, Hsiao EY, McAllister AK, Meyer U, Pearce BD, Pletnikov MV, Yolken RH, Bauman MD. Maternal immune activation: reporting guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:245-258. [PMID: 30188509 PMCID: PMC6300528 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 2017 American College of Neuropychopharmacology (ACNP) conference hosted a Study Group on 4 December 2017, Establishing best practice guidelines to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of the maternal immune activation (MIA) animal model of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The goals of this session were to (a) evaluate the current literature and establish a consensus on best practices to be implemented in MIA studies, (b) identify remaining research gaps warranting additional data collection and lend to the development of evidence-based best practice design, and (c) inform the MIA research community of these findings. During this session, there was a detailed discussion on the importance of validating immunogen doses and standardizing the general design (e.g., species, immunogenic compound used, housing) of our MIA models both within and across laboratories. The consensus of the study group was that data does not currently exist to support specific evidence-based model selection or methodological recommendations due to lack of consistency in reporting, and that this issue extends to other inflammatory models of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This launched a call to establish a reporting checklist focusing on validation, implementation, and transparency modeled on the ARRIVE Guidelines and CONSORT (scientific reporting guidelines for animal and clinical research, respectively). Here we provide a summary of the discussions in addition to a suggested checklist of reporting guidelines needed to improve the rigor and reproducibility of this valuable translational model, which can be adapted and applied to other animal models as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Kentner
- 0000 0001 0021 3995grid.416498.6School of Arts & Sciences, Health Psychology Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- 000000041936754Xgrid.38142.3cDepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,0000 0004 0386 9924grid.32224.35Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alan S. Brown
- 0000000419368729grid.21729.3fDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY USA ,0000 0000 8499 1112grid.413734.6New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Elaine Y. Hsiao
- 0000 0000 9632 6718grid.19006.3eDepartment of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - A. Kimberley McAllister
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bCenter for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Urs Meyer
- 0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland ,0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Neuroscience Centre Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brad D. Pearce
- 0000 0001 0941 6502grid.189967.8Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, and Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Mikhail V. Pletnikov
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pediatrics, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- 0000 0004 1936 9684grid.27860.3bThe UC Davis MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA
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Mueller FS, Polesel M, Richetto J, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Mouse models of maternal immune activation: Mind your caging system! Brain Behav Immun 2018; 73:643-660. [PMID: 30026057 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) are increasingly used as experimental tools to study neuronal and behavioral dysfunctions in relation to infection-mediated neurodevelopmental disorders. One of the most widely used MIA models is based on gestational administration of poly(I:C) (= polyriboinosinic-polyribocytdilic acid), a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA that induces a cytokine-associated viral-like acute phase response. The effects of poly(I:C)-induced MIA on phenotypic changes in the offspring are known to be influenced by various factors, including the precise prenatal timing, genetic background, and immune stimulus intensity. Thus far, however, it has been largely ignored whether differences in the basic type of laboratory housing can similarly affect the outcomes of MIA models. Here, we examined this possibility by comparing the poly(I:C)-based MIA model in two housing systems that are commonly used in preclinical mouse research, namely the open cage (OC) and individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems. Pregnant C57BL6/N mice were kept in OCs or IVCs and treated with a low (1 mg/kg, i.v.) or high (5 mg/kg, i.v.) dose of poly(I:C), or with control vehicle solution. MIA or control treatment was induced on gestation day (GD) 9 or 12, and the resulting offspring were raised and maintained in OCs or IVCs until adulthood for behavioral testing. An additional cohort of dams was used to assess the influence of the different caging systems on poly(I:C)-induced cytokine and stress responses in the maternal plasma. Maternal poly(I:C) administration on GD9 caused a dose-dependent increase in spontaneous abortion in IVCs but not in OCs, whereas MIA in IVC systems during a later gestational time-point (GD12) did not affect pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, the precise type of caging system markedly affected maternal cytokines and chemokines at basal states and in response to poly(I:C) and further influenced the maternal levels of the stress hormone, corticosterone. The efficacy of MIA to induce deficits in working memory, social interaction, and sensorimotor gating in the adult offspring was influenced by the different housing conditions, the dosing of poly(I:C), and the precise prenatal timing. Taken together, the present study identifies the basic type of caging system as a novel factor that can confound the outcomes of MIA in mice. Our findings thus urge the need to consider and report the kind of laboratory housing systems used to implement MIA models. Providing this information seems pivotal to yield reproducible results in these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich - Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
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13
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Matsuda S, Tohyama S, Mizutani A. Sex differences in the effects of adult short-term isolation rearing on contextual fear memory and extinction. Neurosci Lett 2018; 687:119-123. [PMID: 30240823 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and extinction is a useful tool for understanding the pathogenesis of fear-related disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for developing treatments for them. To investigate the role of sub-brain regions or molecular mechanisms in fear conditioning and extinction, neuroscientists have been employing an optogenetic or in vivo recording technique, in which placement of an optical fiber or an electrode into the brain region of a free-moving mouse is essential. These methods require isolation rearing (at least one week) from the brain surgery to the behavioral test. Although such short-term adult rearing has been shown not to influence fear memory and extinction in males, the effect in females remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect on fear memory and fear extinction of adult isolation rearing during the one week before contextual fear conditioning in both male and female mice. This short-term adult isolation rearing increased fear responses in the contextual fear memory test in females but not in males. On the other hand, the rearing showed no effect on fear responses during fear extinction or the recall test in either sex. In summary, adult short-term isolation rearing enhanced only fear memory, and only in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Matsuda
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan; Department of Cognitive Behavioral Physiology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
| | - Suguru Tohyama
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Akihiro Mizutani
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
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Richetto J, Polesel M, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Effects of light and dark phase testing on the investigation of behavioural paradigms in mice: Relevance for behavioural neuroscience. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2018; 178:19-29. [PMID: 29782942 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Different timing and light phases are critical factors in behavioural neuroscience, which can greatly affect the experimental outcomes of the performed tests. Despite the fact that time of testing is one of the most common factors that varies across behavioural laboratories, knowledge about the consequences of testing time on behavioural readouts is limited. Thus, in this study we systematically assessed the effect of this factor on the readout of a variety of elementary and recurrent behavioural paradigms in C57Bl/6 mice. Furthermore, we investigated potential neuronal correlates of this phenomenon by analysing how testing time influences the expression pattern of genes relevant for neuronal activation functions and the control of brain circadian rhythms. We show that animals tested in the light phase display reduced social approach behaviour and sensorimotor gating and increased locomotor activity, whereas anxiety-related behaviour and working memory are not affected. In addition, animals tested in the light phase also exhibit increased locomotor response to systemic amphetamine treatment, which is paralleled by alterations in the expression patterns of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) and/or Midbrain (Mid). Lastly, we observed that neuronal activation, indexed by the gene expression levels of cFos, was increased in the NAc and Mid of animals tested during the light phase. Our data thus suggest that daily alterations in gene expression in mesolimbic brain structures might be involved in the different behavioural responses of mice tested in the light- versus the dark-phase. At the same time, our study adds further weight to the notion that the specific timing of testing can indeed strongly affect the readout of a given test. As comparison and reproducibility of findings is pivotal in science, experimental protocols should be clarified in detail to allow appropriate data comparison across different laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Shang K, Talmage DA, Karl T. Parent-of-origin effects on schizophrenia-relevant behaviours of type III neuregulin 1 mutant mice. Behav Brain Res 2017; 332:250-258. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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16
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Pasquarelli N, Voehringer P, Henke J, Ferger B. Effect of a change in housing conditions on body weight, behavior and brain neurotransmitters in male C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2017. [PMID: 28625548 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The development of modern housing regimes such as individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems has become very popular and attractive in order to reduce spreading of pathogenic organisms and to lower the risk to develop a laboratory animal allergy for staff members. Additionally, optimal housing of laboratory animals contributes to improve animal health status and ensures high and comparable experimental and animal welfare standards. However, it has not been clearly elucidated whether 1) a change to IVC systems have an impact on various physiological phenotypic parameters of mice when compared to conventional, standard cages and 2) if this is further affected by changing from social to single housing. Therefore, we investigated the influence of a change in housing conditions (standard cages with social housing changed to standard or IVC cages combined with social or single housing) on body weight, behavior and a neurochemical fingerprint of male C57BL/6J mice. Body weight progression was significantly reduced when changing mice to single or social IVC cages as well as in single standard cages when compared to social standard housing. Automated motor activity measurement in the open field showed that mice maintained in social husbandry with standard cages displayed the lowest exploratory behavior but the highest activity difference upon amphetamine treatment. Elevated plus maze test revealed that a change to IVC single and social housing as well as single standard housing produced anxiety-related behavior when compared to maintenance in social standard housing. Additionally, postmortem neurochemical analysis of the striatum using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection showed significant differences in striatal dopamine and serotonin turnover levels. In summary, our data indicate a crucial influence of a change in housing conditions on several mouse phenotype parameters. We propose that the maintenance of well-defined housing conditions is mandatory to ensure reproducible and comparable results and contributes to the application of the 3R refinement principle in animal studies by contributing to welfare and hygienical standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Pasquarelli
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany; Department of Experimental Neurology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrizia Voehringer
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - Julia Henke
- Nonclinical Drug Safety Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - Boris Ferger
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany.
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17
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Holm-Hansen S, Low JK, Zieba J, Gjedde A, Bergersen LH, Karl T. Behavioural effects of high fat diet in a mutant mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:295-304. [PMID: 26707035 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients are often obese or overweight and poor dietary choices appear to be a factor in this phenomenon. Poor diet has been found to have complex consequences for the mental state of patients. Thus, this study investigated whether an unhealthy diet [i.e. high fat diet (HFD)] impacts on the behaviour of a genetic mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1 (i.e. transmembrane domain Nrg1 mutant mice: Nrg1 HET). Female Nrg1 HET and wild-type-like littermates (WT) were fed with either HFD or a control chow diet. The mice were tested for baseline (e.g. anxiety) and schizophrenia-relevant behaviours after 7 weeks of diet exposure. HFD increased body weight and impaired glucose tolerance in all mice. Only Nrg1 females on HFD displayed a hyper-locomotive phenotype as locomotion-suppressive effects of HFD were only evident in WT mice. HFD also induced an anxiety-like response and increased freezing in the context and the cued version of the fear conditioning task. Importantly, CHOW-fed Nrg1 females displayed impaired social recognition memory, which was absent in HFD-fed mutants. Sensorimotor gating deficits of Nrg1 females were not affected by diet. In summary, HFD had complex effects on the behavioural phenotype of test mice and attenuated particular cognitive deficits of Nrg1 mutant females. This topic requires further investigations thereby also considering other dietary factors of relevance for schizophrenia as well as interactive effects of diet with medication and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Holm-Hansen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Brain and Muscle Energy Group, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - J K Low
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia
| | - J Zieba
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia
| | - A Gjedde
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L H Bergersen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Brain and Muscle Energy Group, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - T Karl
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Schizophrenia Research Institute, Randwick, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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