1
|
Harper KM, Nikolova VD, Conrad ME, Moy SS. Neonatal Behavioral Screen for Mouse Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2583:159-173. [PMID: 36418733 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2752-5_14] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral phenotyping approaches for neonatal mice are important for investigating early alterations in brain development and function, relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. This chapter describes a behavioral screen that can provide an overall profile of function across the neonatal and preweaning period while also minimizing pup stress and disturbance of the maternal environment. Testing begins when mice are between 6 and 8 days in age, with additional evaluations at discrete time points until postnatal day (PD) 20-21, using tests for negative geotaxis, surface righting reflex, activity in an open field, acoustic startle responses and sensorimotor gating, and limb clasp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Harper
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Viktoriya D Nikolova
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Monika E Conrad
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sheryl S Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jenkins S, Harker A, Gibb R. Distinct sex-dependent effects of maternal preconception nicotine and enrichment on the early development of rat offspring brain and behavior. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2022; 91:107062. [PMID: 34998861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107062] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Developmental nicotine exposure is harmful to offspring. Whereas much is known about the consequences of prenatal nicotine exposure, relatively little is understood about how maternal preconception nicotine impacts the next generation. Positive experiences, such as environmental enrichment/complexity, have considerable potential to improve developmental outcomes and even treat and prevent drug addiction. Therefore, the current study sought to identify how maternal exposure to moderate levels of nicotine prior to conception impacts offspring development, and if the presumably negative consequence of nicotine could be reversed by concurrent exposure to an enriched environment. We treated female Long Evans rats with nicotine in their drinking water (15 mg nicotine salt/L) for seven weeks while residing in either standard or enriched conditions. Both experiences occurred exclusively prior to mating. Nicotine exposure reduced dam fertility by ~20% (p = .06). Females reared their own litters, and offspring were tested in two assessments of early development: negative geotaxis and open field. Offspring were euthanized at weaning (P21), and their brains were processed with Golgi-Cox solution to allow quantification of dendritic spine density. Results indicate that neither maternal nicotine or enrichment had an impact on maternal care, but male offspring were impaired at negative geotaxis due to maternal nicotine, female offspring showed altered open field exploration due to maternal enrichment, and offspring of both sexes had increased spine density in OFC due to maternal enrichment. Therefore, this experiment provides novel insights into the unique, sex-dependent consequences of maternal preconception nicotine and enrichment on the early development of rat behavior and brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Jenkins
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Allonna Harker
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Robbin Gibb
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pütz SM, Kram J, Rauh E, Kaiser S, Toews R, Lueningschroer-Wang Y, Rieger D, Raabe T. Loss of p21-activated kinase Mbt/PAK4 causes Parkinson-like phenotypes in Drosophila. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm047811. [PMID: 34125184 PMCID: PMC8246267 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.047811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) provokes bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity and postural instability, and also non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep and cognitive impairments. Similar phenotypes can be induced in Drosophila melanogaster through modification of PD-relevant genes or the administration of PD-inducing toxins. Recent studies correlated deregulation of human p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) with PD, leaving open the question of a causative relationship of mutations in this gene for manifestation of PD symptoms. To determine whether flies lacking the PAK4 homolog Mushroom bodies tiny (Mbt) show PD-like phenotypes, we tested for a variety of PD criteria. Here, we demonstrate that mbt mutant flies show PD-like phenotypes including age-dependent movement deficits, reduced life expectancy and fragmented sleep. They also react to a stressful situation with higher immobility, indicating an influence of Mbt on emotional behavior. Loss of Mbt function has a negative effect on the number of dopaminergic protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) neurons, most likely caused by a proliferation defect of neural progenitors. The age-dependent movement deficits are not accompanied by a corresponding further loss of PAM neurons. Previous studies highlighted the importance of a small PAM subgroup for age-dependent PD motor impairments. We show that impaired motor skills are caused by a lack of Mbt in this PAM subgroup. In addition, a broader re-expression of Mbt in PAM neurons improves life expectancy. Conversely, selective Mbt knockout in the same cells shortens lifespan. We conclude that mutations in Mbt/PAK4 can play a causative role in the development of PD phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Pütz
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jette Kram
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elisa Rauh
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sophie Kaiser
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Romy Toews
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yi Lueningschroer-Wang
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Rieger
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Raabe
- Medical Radiation and Cell Research, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tamberg L, Jaago M, Säälik K, Sirp A, Tuvikene J, Shubina A, Kiir CS, Nurm K, Sepp M, Timmusk T, Palgi M. Daughterless, the Drosophila orthologue of TCF4, is required for associative learning and maintenance of the synaptic proteome. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm042747. [PMID: 32641419 PMCID: PMC7406316 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.042747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian transcription factor 4 (TCF4) has been linked to schizophrenia and intellectual disabilities, such as Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). Here, we show that similarly to mammalian TCF4, fruit fly orthologue Daughterless (Da) is expressed widely in the Drosophila brain. Furthermore, silencing of da, using several central nervous system-specific Gal4 driver lines, impairs appetitive associative learning of the larvae and leads to decreased levels of the synaptic proteins Synapsin (Syn) and Discs large 1 (Dlg1), suggesting the involvement of Da in memory formation. Here, we demonstrate that Syn and dlg1 are direct target genes of Da in adult Drosophila heads, as Da binds to the regulatory regions of these genes and the modulation of Da levels alter the levels of Syn and dlg1 mRNA. Silencing of da also affects negative geotaxis of the adult flies, suggesting the impairment of locomotor function. Overall, our findings suggest that Da regulates Drosophila larval memory and adult negative geotaxis, possibly via its synaptic target genes Syn and dlg1 These behavioural phenotypes can be further used as a PTHS model to screen for therapeutics.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Mariliis Jaago
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Mäealuse 4, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Kristi Säälik
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Mäealuse 4, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Anastassia Shubina
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Carl Sander Kiir
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Kaja Nurm
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Mari Sepp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
- Protobios LLC, Mäealuse 4, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| | - Mari Palgi
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xu P, Damschroder D, Zhang M, Ryall KA, Adler PN, Saucerman JJ, Wessells RJ, Yan Z. Atg2, Atg9 and Atg18 in mitochondrial integrity, cardiac function and healthspan in Drosophila. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2018; 127:116-124. [PMID: 30571977 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In yeast, the Atg2-Atg18 complex regulates Atg9 recycling from phagophore assembly site during autophagy; their function in higher eukaryotes remains largely unknown. In a targeted screening in Drosophila melanogaster, we show that Mef2-GAL4-RNAi-mediated knockdown of Atg2, Atg9 or Atg18 in the heart and indirect flight muscles led to shortened healthspan (declined locomotive function) and lifespan. These flies displayed an accelerated age-dependent loss of cardiac function along with cardiac hypertrophy (increased heart tube wall thickness) and structural abnormality (distortion of the lumen surface). Using the Mef2-GAL4-MitoTimer mitochondrial reporter system and transmission electron microscopy, we observed significant elongation of mitochondria and reduced number of lysosome-targeted autophagosomes containing mitochondria in the heart tube but exaggerated mitochondrial fragmentation and reduced mitochondrial density in indirect flight muscles. These findings provide the first direct evidence of the importance of Atg2-Atg18/Atg9 autophagy complex in the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity and, regulation of heart and muscle functions in Drosophila, raising the possibility of augmenting Atg2-Atg18/Atg9 activity in promoting mitochondrial health and, muscle and heart function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xu
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Deena Damschroder
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Mei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Karen A Ryall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Paul N Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Jeffrey J Saucerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
| | - Robert J Wessells
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Krams I, Eichler Inwood S, Trakimas G, Krams R, Burghardt GM, Butler DM, Luoto S, Krama T. Short-term exposure to predation affects body elemental composition, climbing speed and survival ability in Drosophila melanogaster. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2314. [PMID: 27602281 PMCID: PMC4991848 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Factors such as temperature, habitat, larval density, food availability and food quality substantially affect organismal development. In addition, risk of predation has a complex impact on the behavioural and morphological life history responses of prey. Responses to predation risk seem to be mediated by physiological stress, which is an adaptation for maintaining homeostasis and improving survivorship during life-threatening situations. We tested whether predator exposure during the larval phase of development has any influence on body elemental composition, energy reserves, body size, climbing speed and survival ability of adult Drosophila melanogaster. Fruit fly larvae were exposed to predation by jumping spiders (Phidippus apacheanus), and the percentage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, extracted lipids, escape response and survival were measured from predator-exposed and control adult flies. The results revealed predation as an important determinant of adult phenotype formation and survival ability. D. melanogaster reared together with spiders had a higher concentration of body N (but equal body C), a lower body mass and lipid reserves, a higher climbing speed and improved adult survival ability. The results suggest that the potential of predators to affect the development and the adult phenotype of D. melanogaster is high enough to use predators as a more natural stimulus in laboratory experiments when testing, for example, fruit fly memory and learning ability, or when comparing natural populations living under different predation pressures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indrikis Krams
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Risk Assessment and Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Riga, Latvia
| | - Sarah Eichler Inwood
- Bredesen Center, Energy Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville , United States
| | - Giedrius Trakimas
- Centre for Ecology and Environmental Research, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Biotechnology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Ronalds Krams
- Department of Biotechnology, Daugavpils University , Daugavpils , Latvia
| | - Gordon M Burghardt
- Departments of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee , Knoxville , TN , United States
| | - David M Butler
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee , Knoxville , United States
| | - Severi Luoto
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; English, Drama and Writing Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tatjana Krama
- Department of Plant Protection, Estonian University of Life Science , Tartu , Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bae JE, Bang S, Min S, Lee SH, Kwon SH, Lee Y, Lee YH, Chung J, Chae KS. Positive geotactic behaviors induced by geomagnetic field in Drosophila. Mol Brain 2016; 9:55. [PMID: 27192976 PMCID: PMC4870802 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-016-0235-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Appropriate vertical movement is critical for the survival of flying animals. Although negative geotaxis (moving away from Earth) driven by gravity has been extensively studied, much less is understood concerning a static regulatory mechanism for inducing positive geotaxis (moving toward Earth). Results Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism, we showed that geomagnetic field (GMF) induces positive geotaxis and antagonizes negative gravitaxis. Remarkably, GMF acts as a sensory cue for an appetite-driven associative learning behavior through the GMF-induced positive geotaxis. This GMF-induced positive geotaxis requires the three geotaxis genes, such as cry, pyx and pdf, and the corresponding neurons residing in Johnston’s organ of the fly’s antennae. Conclusions These findings provide a novel concept with the neurogenetic basis on the regulation of vertical movement by GMF in the flying animals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13041-016-0235-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Bae
- Department of Biology Education, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Korea.,Department of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sunhoe Bang
- National Creative Research Initiatives Center for Energy Homeostasis Regulation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics and School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea
| | - Soohong Min
- National Creative Research Initiatives Center for Energy Homeostasis Regulation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics and School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea
| | - Sang-Hyup Lee
- Department of Biology Education, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - Soon-Hwan Kwon
- Department of Biology Education, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - Youngseok Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Ho Lee
- Brain and Cognition Measurement Laboratory, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jongkyeong Chung
- National Creative Research Initiatives Center for Energy Homeostasis Regulation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics and School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea.
| | - Kwon-Seok Chae
- Department of Biology Education, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, Korea. .,Department of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea. .,Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|