Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Neuroscience

Cortex-, Hippocampus-, Thalamus-, Hypothalamus-, Lateral Septal Nucleus- and Striatum-specific In Utero Electroporation in the C57BL/6 Mouse

Jan Baumgart¹, Nadine Baumgart¹

¹TARC (Translational Animal Research Center), University Medical Center, JGU Mainz

This protocol describes in detail how to specifically transfect different regions in the C57BL/6 central nervous system via in utero electroporation. Included in this protocol are detailed instructions for transfections of regions that develop into the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, lateral septal nucleus and striatum.

Medicine

Evaluation of Planar-Cell-Polarity Phenotypes in Ciliopathy Mouse Mutant Cochlea

Helen May-Simera¹

¹Cell and Matrix Biology, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Primary cilia influence various signaling pathways. The mammalian cochlea is ideal for examining planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. Cilia dysfunction affects cochlear outgrowth, cellular patterning and hair cell orientation, readouts of PCP. Our goal is to analyze PCP signaling in mouse cochlea via phenotypic analysis, immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy.

Behavior

Introducing Clicker Training as a Cognitive Enrichment for Laboratory Mice

Charlotte Leidinger^1,2, Felix Herrmann¹, Christa Thöne-Reineke^*2, Nadine Baumgart^*1, Jan Baumgart^*1

¹Translational Animal Research Center, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, ²Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin

The development of new refinement strategies for laboratory mice is a challenging task that contributes towards fulfilling the 3R principle. This protocol introduces clicker training as a cognitive enrichment program for laboratory mice.

Behavior

Using Clicker Training and Social Observation to Teach Rats to Voluntarily Change Cages

Charlotte Sophie Leidinger¹, Nadine Kaiser¹, Nadine Baumgart¹, Jan Baumgart¹

¹Translational Animal Research Center, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

This protocol introduces a method of cage change for rats via clicker training. Rats learn the desired behavior not only by direct training but also by observational learning. The implementation of this fast and easy protocol might help to improve well-being and hygiene in rodent facilities.