Diese Arbeit wurde vom NIH gewährt NS052535 zu GAG und EY014061 &amp; EY014997 zu ARL, sowie eine UL1DE019583-02-Konsortium Auszeichnung unterstützt.

Um zu verhindern, Bias, sollte der Experimentator die Durchführung der Prüfungen keine Kenntnis von dem Tier Genotyp. Einzelne Maßnahmen werden auf einer Skala von 0-3 bewertet, wobei 0 die Abwesenheit der relevanten Phänotyp und 3, die die schwerste Manifestation. Jeder Test wird mehrfach durchgeführt, um sicherzustellen, dass das Ergebnis reproduzierbar ist. Übergewicht erschwert die Interpretation aller beschriebenen Maßnahmen. Der Prüfer kann wollen Mäusen nach Phänotyp Scoring, die mögliche Rolle der Adipositas in den Ergebnissen beurteilen zu wiegen. Ledge-Test Die Sims-Test ist ein direktes Maß an Koordination, die in zerebelläre Ataxien und viele andere neurodegenerative Erkrankungen beeinträchtigt ist. Diese Maßnahme ist am ehesten vergleichbaren menschlichen Anzeichen von Ataxie. <ol><li> Heben Sie die Maus aus dem Käfig und legen Sie sie auf dem Käfig des Sims. Mäuse in der Regel an der Kante gehen und versuchen, wieder hinunter in den Käfig. </li><li> Beachten Sie die Maus, wie sie entlang der Käfig ledge Spaziergänge und senkt sich in seinen Käfig. A-Wildtyp-Maus wird in der Regel an der Kante gehen, ohne das Gleichgewicht zu verlieren, und wird sich im unteren Rücken in den Käfig anmutig, mit seinen Pfoten. Dies ist ein Ergebnis von 0 zugeordnet. Wenn die Maus verliert den Halt bei einem Spaziergang entlang der Kante, aber ansonsten scheint koordiniert, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 1. Wenn es nicht effektiv zu nutzen ist die Hinterbeine, oder landet auf dem Kopf, anstatt ihre Pfoten beim Abstieg in den Käfig, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 2. Wenn sie abfällt dem Sims, oder fast so, beim Gehen oder versucht, sich senken, oder schüttelt und sich weigert, überhaupt zu bewegen trotz Ermutigung, erhält er einen Wert von 3. Einige Mäuse benötigen einen leichten Schubs sie zu ermutigen, an der Kante zu Fuß oder in den Käfig steigen. </li><li> Notieren Sie sich den Vorsprung Testergebnis. </li></ol> Hinterlauf zuschnallend Hinterlauf umklammert ist ein Marker der Progression der Erkrankung in einer Reihe von Mausmodellen der Neurodegeneration, einschließlich bestimmter zerebellären Ataxien [1]. <ol><li> Fassen Sie den Schwanz in der Nähe seiner Basis und heben Sie die Maus frei von allen umliegenden Objekte. </li><li> Beachten Sie die hinteren Gliedmaßen Position für 10 Sekunden. Wenn die Hinterbeine konsequent gespreizt nach außen, weg vom Bauch, es ist ein Wert von 0 zugewiesen. Wenn man Hinterlauf zum Bauch hin mehr als 50% der Zeit ausgesetzt eingefahren ist, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 1. Wenn beide Hinterbeine teilweise in Richtung des Bauches seit mehr als 50% der Zeit ausgesetzt eingefahren sind, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 2. Wenn seine Hinterbeine völlig zurückgezogen und berühren den Bauch mehr als 50% der Zeit ausgesetzt, erhält es einen Wert von 3. </li><li> Platzieren Sie die Maus zurück in seinen Käfig und notieren Sie die hinteren Gliedmaßen umklammert punkten. </li></ol> Gang Der Gang ist ein Maß für die Koordination und Muskelfunktion. <ol><li> Entfernen Sie die Maus aus dem Käfig und legen Sie es auf eine ebene Fläche mit dem Kopf abgewandten der Ermittler. </li><li> Beachten Sie die Maus von hinten, wie es geht. Wenn die Maus bewegt in der Regel mit seinem Körpergewicht auf allen Gliedmaßen unterstützt wird, mit seinem Bauch nicht den Boden berühren, und mit beiden Hinterbeinen teilnehmenden gleichmäßig, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 0. Wenn es ein Beben zeigt oder scheint zu hinken beim Gehen, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 1. Wenn es eine schwere Erschütterung, starke Hinken, das Becken kommt, oder die Füße zeigen vom Körper weg bei der Fortbewegung (&quot;Ente Füße&quot;), erhält er eine Punktzahl von 2. Wenn die Maus hat Schwierigkeiten voran und zieht seinen Bauch über den Boden, erhält er einen Wert von 3. </li><li> Platzieren Sie die Maus zurück in seinen Käfig und notieren Sie seine Gangart des Gastes. </li></ol> Kyphose Kyphose ist eine charakteristische Rückenflosse Verkrümmung der Wirbelsäule, die eine gemeinsame Kundgebung von neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen im Mausmodell [2] ist. Es ist von einem Verlust des Muskeltonus im Bereich der Wirbelsäule Muskeln sekundär zu Neurodegeneration verursacht. <ol><li> Entfernen Sie die Maus aus dem Käfig und setzen Sie ihn auf eine ebene Fläche. </li><li> Beobachten Sie, wie es geht. Wenn die Maus in der Lage, einfach gerade seine Wirbelsäule wie es geht und nicht persistent Kyphose, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 0. Wenn die Maus zeigt mild Kyphose aber in der Lage ist, seine Wirbelsäule strecken, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 1. Wenn es nicht in der Lage, seine Wirbelsäule ganz gerade ist und bleibt hartnäckig, aber mild Kyphose, erhält er eine Punktzahl von 2. Wenn die Maus hält ausgeprägte Kyphose, wie es geht oder wenn es sitzt, es ist eine Punktzahl von 3 zugeordnet. </li><li> Platzieren Sie die Maus zurück in seinen Käfig und notieren ihre Kyphose des Gastes. </li></ol> Repräsentative Ergebnisse Bei einer ausreichenden Anzahl von Tieren, ist dieses Verfahren zum Aufspüren von Phänotyp Unterschiede zwischen Stämmen und innerhalb des gleichen Stammes im Laufe der Zeit. Für die Datenanalyse, die Berechnung der Punktzahl für jede Maßnahme, indem sie dieMittelwert der drei Messungen in jedem einzelnen. Die Maßnahmen können separat analysiert oder kombiniert in einem Verbund Phänotyp Punktzahl für jeden einzelnen. Diagramm der Daten und die entsprechenden statistischen Methoden an Bedeutung zu bestimmen. Abbildung 1 zeigt die Ergebnisse aus einem Verbundwerkstoff Phänotyp Beurteilung eines murinen transgenen SCA7 Modell. In diesem floxed-SCA7-92Q transgenen Modell ist das menschliche Ataxin-7-Gen mit 92 CAG-Wiederholungen von loxP-Stellen flankiert und drückte aus einer bakteriellen künstlichen Chromosom. Der Composite-Phänotyp Score beinhaltet die umklammert, ledge Gehen, Gehen und Kyphose Einschätzungen für eine maximal mögliche Punktzahl von 12 Jahren. Die progressive SCA7 Phänotyp in der floxed-SCA7-92Q transgenen Mäusen ist von einer zunehmenden Composite Phänotyp der Gäste, die im Einklang mit der progressiven Natur der menschlichen Erkrankung nachgewiesen ist. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/1787/1787fig1.jpg" alt="Abbildung 1" /> . Abbildung 1 Floxed-SCA7-92Q Mäuse zeigen eine progressive SCA7 Phänotyp signifikant von nicht-transgenen Geschwistern ist ab 20 Wochen (2-Wege ANOVA: Bonferroni post-hoc; *** P &lt;0,001). Die Mäuse wurden auf einer Skala 0-3 jeweils für Sims-Test beurteilt, umklammert, Gang und Kyphose. Durchschnittliche Composite Score für jeden Genotyp in jedem Alter berechnet. Bars repräsentieren SEM.

<ol>
	<li>Chou, A. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polyglutamine-expanded+ataxin-3+causes+cerebellar+dysfunction+of+SCA3+transgenic+mice+by+inducing+transcriptional+dysregulation.">Polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3 causes cerebellar dysfunction of SCA3 transgenic mice by inducing transcriptional dysregulation.</a> Neurobiol Dis. 31 (1), 89-101 (2008).</li><li>Thomas, P. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loss+of+endogenous+androgen+receptor+protein+accelerates+motor+neuron+degeneration+and+accentuates+androgen+insensitivity+in+a+mouse+model+of+X-linked+spinal+and+bulbar+muscular+atrophy.">Loss of endogenous androgen receptor protein accelerates motor neuron degeneration and accentuates androgen insensitivity in a mouse model of X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.</a> Hum Mol Genet. 15 (14), 2225-2238 (2006).</li><li>Ditzler, S., Stoeck, J., LeBlanc, M., Kooperberg, C., Hansen, S., Coppin, L., Olson, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Rapid+Neurobehavioral+Assessment+Reveals+that+FK506+Delays+Symptom+Onset+in+R6/2+Huntington's+Disease+Mice.">A Rapid Neurobehavioral Assessment Reveals that FK506 Delays Symptom Onset in R6/2 Huntington's Disease Mice.</a> Preclinica Research Articles. 1 (3), 115-126 (2003).</li></ol>

Diese Studien wurden von der University of Washington Institutional Animal Care und Verwenden Committee genehmigt.

Dieses Protokoll wurde entwickelt, um eine sensible und leicht durchführbar Auswertung der Schwere der Erkrankung in Mausmodellen der Ataxie werden. Einzelne Komponenten des Scoring-System wird mehr oder weniger effektiv in verschiedenen Mausmodellen der Neurodegeneration. Elemente dieser Scoring-System wurden effektiv eingesetzt, um eine Vielzahl von Mausmodellen menschlicher neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen, einschließlich zerebellären Ataxien, Huntington-Krankheit und Spinobulbäre Musk...

a simple composite phenotype scoring system for evaluating mouse models of cerebellar ataxia

Wir beschreiben ein Protokoll für die schnelle und sensitive Quantifizierung der Schwere der Erkrankung in Mausmodellen der cerebella Ataxie. Es ist von zuvor veröffentlichten Phänotyp Einschätzungen in mehreren Krankheiten Modelle, darunter spinozerebelläre Ataxie, Huntington-Krankheit und Spinobulbäre Muskelatrophie abgeleitet. Die Maßnahmen umfassen Hinterbein umklammert, ledge Test, Gang-und Kyphose. Jede Maßnahme wird auf einer Skala von 0-3 erfasst, mit insgesamt von 0-12 für alle vier Maßnahmen. Die Ergebnisse effektiv zwischen betroffenen und nicht betroffenen Personen zu diskriminieren, während auch die Quantifizierung der zeitliche Verlauf von neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen Phänotypen. Die Maßnahmen können einzeln analysiert werden oder kombiniert in einem Verbund Phänotyp Punktzahl für größere statistische Aussagekraft. Die ideale Kombination aus den vier beschriebenen Maßnahmen wird auf die Unordnung in Frage abhängen. Wir präsentieren ein Beispiel für das Protokoll verwendet, um die Schwere der Erkrankung in einem transgenen Mausmodell der Spinozerebellären Ataxie Typ 7 (SCA7) zu beurteilen. Albert R. La Spada und Gwenn A. Garden trugen zu diesem Manuskript gleichermaßen.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple Composite Phenotype Scoring System for Evaluating Mouse Models of Cerebellar Ataxia at JoVE.com

A Simple Composite Phenotype Scoring System for Evaluating Mouse Models of Cerebellar Ataxia

Wir beschreiben ein Protokoll für die schnelle und sensitive Quantifizierung der Schwere der Erkrankung in Mausmodellen der Ataxie. Die Maßnahmen umfassen Hinterbein umklammert, ledge Test, Gang-und Kyphose. Dieses Protokoll effektiv unterscheidet zwischen betroffenen und nicht betroffenen Personen, und erkennt das Fortschreiten der Betroffenen im Laufe der Zeit.

Eine einfache Composite-Phänotyp Scoring System für die Beurteilung von Mausmodellen zerebelläre Ataxie

We describe a protocol for the rapid and sensitive quantification of disease severity in mouse models of cerebella ataxia. It is derived from previously ...

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Neuroscience

35.3K Aufrufe.  University of Washington. Wir beschreiben ein Protokoll für die schnelle und sensitive Quantifizierung der Schwere der Erkrankung in Mausmodellen der Ataxie. Die Maßnahmen umfassen Hinterbein umklammert, ledge Test, Gang-und Kyphose. Dieses Protokoll effektiv unterscheidet zwischen betroffenen und nicht betroffenen Personen, und erkennt das Fortschreiten der Betroffenen im Laufe der Zeit.

Serie: A Simple Composite Phenotype Scoring System for Evaluating Mouse Models of Cerebellar Ataxia

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia

We describe a protocol for establishing mouse models of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). PVL is the predominant form of brain injury in premature infants and the most common antecedent of cerebral palsy. PVL is characterized by periventricular white matter damage with prominent oligodendroglial injury. Hypoxia/ischemia with or without systemic infection/inflammation are the primary causes of PVL. We use P6 mice to create models of neonatal brain injury by the induction of hypoxia/ischemia with or without systemic infection/inflammation with unilateral carotid ligation followed by exposure to hypoxia with or without injection of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Immunohistochemistry of myelin basic protein (MBP) or O1 and electron microscopic examination show prominent myelin loss in cerebral white matter with additional damage to the hippocampus and thalamus. Establishment of mouse models of PVL will greatly facilitate the study of disease pathogenesis using available transgenic mouse strains, conduction of drug trials in a relatively high throughput manner to identify candidate therapeutic agents, and testing of stem cell transplantation using immunodeficiency mouse strains.

We established mouse models of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), the predominant brain injury in premature infants characterized by periventricular white matter lesions. Hypoxia/ischemia with/without systemic infection are the primary causes of PVL. Unilateral carotid ligation and hypoxia exposure with/without lipopolysaccharide injection creates PVL-like lesions in P6 mice.

Mausmodellen periventrikuläre Leukomalazie

We describe a protocol for establishing mouse models of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). PVL is the predominant form of brain injury in premature ...

Forschung

Neurowissenschaften

Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Organotypic cultures of neuronal tissue were first introduced by Hogue in 1947 1,2 and have constituted a major breakthrough in the field of neuroscience. Since then, the technique was developed further and currently there are many different ways to prepare organotypic cultures. The method presented here was adapted from the one described by Stoppini et al. for the preparation of the slices and from Gogolla et al. for the staining procedure 3,4.
A unique feature of this technique is that it allows you to study different parts of the brain such as hippocampus or cerebellum in their original structure, providing a big advantage over dissociated cultures in which all the cellular organization and neuronal networks are disrupted. In the case of the cerebellum it is even more advantageous because it allows the study of Purkinje cells, extremely difficult to obtain as dissociated primary culture. This method can be used to study certain developmental features of the cerebellum in vitro, as well as for electrophysiological and pharmacological experiments in both wild type and mutant mice.
The method described here was designed to study the effect of apoptotic stimuli such as Fas ligand in the developing cerebellum, using TUNEL staining to measure apoptotic cell death. If TUNEL staining is combined with cell type specific markers, such as Calbindin for Purkinje cells, it is possible to evaluate cell death in a cell population specific manner. The Calbindin staining also serves the purpose of evaluating the quality of the cerebellar cultures.

This method describes the generation of organotypic cerebellar cultures and the effect of certain apoptotic stimuli on the viability of different cerebellar cell types.

Organotypische Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Organotypic cultures of neuronal tissue were first introduced by Hogue in 1947 1,2 and have constituted a major breakthrough in the field of neuroscience. ...

Quantitative Analysis of Synaptic Vesicle Pool Replenishment in Cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons using FM Dyes

After neurotransmitter release in central nerve terminals, SVs are rapidly retrieved by endocytosis. Retrieved SVs are then refilled with neurotransmitter and rejoin the recycling pool, defined as SVs that are available for exocytosis1,2. The recycling pool can generally be subdivided into two distinct pools - the readily releasable pool (RRP) and the reserve pool (RP). As their names imply, the RRP consists of SVs that are immediately available for fusion while RP SVs are released only during intense stimulation1,2. It is important to have a reliable assay that reports the differential replenishment of these SV pools in order to understand 1) how SVs traffic after different modes of endocytosis (such as clathrin-dependent endocytosis and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis) and 2) the mechanisms controlling the mobilisation of both the RRP and RP in response to different stimuli.
FM dyes are routinely employed to quantitatively report SV turnover in central nerve terminals3-8. They have a hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail that allows reversible partitioning in the lipid bilayer, and a hydrophilic head group that blocks passage across membranes. The dyes have little fluorescence in aqueous solution, but their quantum yield increases dramatically when partitioned in membrane9. Thus FM dyes are ideal fluorescent probes for tracking actively recycling SVs. The standard protocol for use of FM dye is as follows. First they are applied to neurons and are taken up during endocytosis (Figure 1). After non-internalised dye is washed away from the plasma membrane, recycled SVs redistribute within the recycling pool. These SVs are then depleted using unloading stimuli (Figure 1). Since FM dye labelling of SVs is quantal10, the resulting fluorescence drop is proportional to the amount of vesicles released. Thus, the recycling and fusion of SVs generated from the previous round of endocytosis can be reliably quantified.
Here, we present a protocol that has been modified to obtain two additional elements of information. Firstly, sequential unloading stimuli are used to differentially unload the RRP and the RP, to allow quantification of the replenishment of specific SV pools. Secondly, each nerve terminal undergoes the protocol twice. Thus, the response of the same nerve terminal at S1 can be compared against the presence of a test substance at phase S2 (Figure 2), providing an internal control. This is important, since the extent of SV recycling across different nerve terminals is highly variable11.
Any adherent primary neuronal cultures may be used for this protocol, however the plating density, solutions and stimulation conditions are optimised for cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs)12,13.

A live fluorescence imaging technique to quantify the replenishment and mobilisation of specific synaptic vesicle (SV) pools in central nerve terminals is described. Two rounds of SV recycling are monitored in the same nerve terminals providing an internal control.

Quantitative Analyse der synaptischen Vesikel Pool Replenishment in Cultured Cerebellar Nervenzellen Granulat mit FM Dyes

After neurotransmitter release in central nerve terminals, SVs are rapidly retrieved by endocytosis.  Retrieved SVs are then refilled with ...

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Only a few neuronal populations in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals show local regrowth upon dissection of their axon. In order to understand the mechanism that promotes neuronal regeneration, an in-depth analysis of the neuronal types that can remodel after injury is needed. Several studies showed that damaged climbing fibers are capable of regrowing also in adult animals1,2. The investigation of the time-lapse dynamics of degeneration and regeneration of these axons within their complex environment can be performed by time-lapse two-photon fluorescence (TPF) imaging in vivo3,4. This technique is here combined with laser surgery, which proved to be a highly selective tool to disrupt fluorescent structures in the intact mouse cortex5-9.
This protocol describes how to perform TPF time-lapse imaging and laser nanosurgery of single axonal branches in the cerebellum in vivo. Olivocerebellar neurons are labeled by anterograde tracing with a dextran-conjugated dye and then monitored by TPF imaging through a cranial window. The terminal portion of their axons are then dissected by irradiation with a Ti:Sapphire laser at high power. The degeneration and potential regrowth of the damaged neuron are monitored by TPF in vivo imaging during the days following the injury.

Laser Nanosurgery of Cerebellar Axons In Vivo

Two-photon imaging, coupled to laser nanodissection, are useful tools to study degenerative and regenerative processes in the central nervous system with subcellular resolution. This protocol shows how to label, image, and dissect single climbing fibers in the cerebellar cortex in vivo.

Laser-Nanochirurgie der Kleinhirn-Axone<em&gt; In Vivo</em

Only a few neuronal populations in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals show local regrowth upon dissection of their axon. In order to ...

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

In many neurodegenerative diseases and particularly in Parkinson&#8217;s disease, deficits in olfaction are reported to occur early in the disease process and may be a useful behavioral marker for early detection. Earlier detection in neurodegenerative disease is a major goal in the field because this is when neuroprotective therapies have the best potential to be effective. Therefore, in preclinical studies testing novel neuroprotective strategies in rodent models of neurodegenerative disease, olfactory assessment could be highly useful in determining therapeutic potential of compounds and translation to the clinic. In the present study we describe a battery of olfactory assays that are useful in measuring olfactory function in mice. The tests presented in this study were chosen because they measure olfaction abilities in mice related to food odors, social odors, and non-social odors. These tests have proven useful in characterizing novel genetic mouse models of Parkinson&#8217;s disease as well as in testing potential disease-modifying therapies.

Impairment in olfactory function is a common feature in many neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson, Alzheimer, and Huntington diseases. In the present article, we describe a set of tests for assessing olfaction discrimination and detection in mice that can be used to measure olfactory abilities in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases.

Riech Assays für Mausmodelle für Neurodegenerative Disease

In many neurodegenerative diseases and particularly in Parkinson&#8217;s disease, deficits in olfaction are reported to occur early in the disease process ...

Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are a commonly used neuronal model, forming an abundant homogeneous population in the cerebellum. In light of their post-natal development, abundance, and accessibility, CGNs are an ideal model to study neuronal processes, including neuronal development, neuronal migration, and physiological neuronal activity stimulation. In addition, CGN cultures provide an excellent model for studying different modes of cell death including excitotoxicity and apoptosis. Within a week in culture, CGNs express N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, a specific ionotropic glutamate receptor with many critical functions in neuronal health and disease. The addition of low concentrations of NMDA in conjunction with membrane depolarization to rodent primary CGN cultures has been used to model physiological neuronal activity stimulation while the addition of high concentrations of NMDA can be employed to model excitotoxic neuronal injury. Here, a method of isolation and culturing of CGNs from 6 day old pups as well as genetic manipulation of CGNs by adenoviruses and lentiviruses are described. We also present optimized protocols on how to stimulate NMDA-induced excitotoxicity, low-potassium-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage following transduction of these neurons.

This protocol describes a simple method for isolating and culturing primary mouse cerebral granule neurons (CGNs) from 6-7 day old pups, efficient transduction of CGNs for loss and gain of function studies, and modelling NMDA-induced neuronal excitotoxicity, low-potassium-induced cell death, DNA-damage, and oxidative stress using the same culture model.

Modellierung von neuronalen Tod und Degeneration in Maus primären zerebelläre Granulat Neuronen

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are a commonly used neuronal model, forming an abundant homogeneous population in the cerebellum. In light of their ...

Assessment of Long-term Depression Induction in Adult Cerebellar Slices

Synaptic plasticity provides a mechanism for learning and memory. For cerebellar motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmissions from parallel fibers (PF) to Purkinje cells (PC) is considered the basis for motor learning, and deficiencies of both LTD and motor learning are observed in various gene-manipulated animals. Common motor learning sets, such as adaptation of the optokinetic reflex (OKR), the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR), and rotarod test were used for evaluation of motor learning ability. However, results obtained from the GluA2-carboxy terminus modified knock-in mice demonstrated normal adaptation of the VOR and the OKR, despite lacking PF-LTD. In that report, induction of LTD was only attempted using one type of stimulation protocol at room temperature. Thus, conditions to induce cerebellar LTD were explored in the same knock-in mutants using various protocols at near physiological temperature. Finally, we found stimulation protocols, by which LTD could be induced in these gene-manipulated mice. In this study, a set of protocols are proposed to evaluate LTD-induction, which will more accurately allow examination of the causal relationship between LTD and motor learning. In conclusion, experimental conditions are crucial when evaluating LTD in gene-manipulated mice.

In some gene-manipulated animals, using a single protocol may fail to induce LTD in cerebellar Purkinje cells, and there may be a discrepancy between LTD and motor learning. Multiple protocols are necessary to assess LTD-induction in gene-manipulated animals. Standard protocols are shown.

Bewertung der Langzeit-Depressionsinduktion bei erwachsenen Cerebellarscheiben

Synaptic plasticity provides a mechanism for learning and memory. For cerebellar motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmissions from ...

Cerebellar Regional Dissection for Molecular Analysis

Cerebellum plays an important role in several key functions including control of movement, balance, cognition, reward, and affect. Imaging studies indicate that distinct cerebellar regions contribute to these different functions. Molecular studies examining regional cerebellar differences are lagging as they are mostly done on whole cerebellar extracts thereby masking any distinctions across specific cerebellar regions. Here we describe a technique to reproducibly and quickly dissect four different cerebellar regions: the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN), anterior and posterior vermal cerebellar cortex, and the cerebellar cortex of the hemispheres. Dissecting out these distinct regions allows for the exploration of molecular mechanisms that may underlie their unique contributions to balance, movement, affect and cognition. This technique may also be used to explore differences in pathological susceptibility of these specific regions across various mouse disease models.

Different cerebellar regions have been implicated to play a role in distinct behavioral outputs, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. This work describes a method to reproducibly and quickly dissect cerebellar cortex of the hemispheres, anterior and posterior regions of the vermis, and the deep cerebellar nuclei in order to probe for molecular differences by isolating RNA and testing for differences in gene expression.&#160;

Zerebelläre regionale Dissektion für die molekulare Analyse

Cerebellum plays an important role in several key functions including control of movement, balance, cognition, reward, and affect. Imaging studies ...

Evaluation of Motor Impairment in C. elegans Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) features progressive loss of motor neurons accompanied by muscle weakness and motor impairment that worsens with time. While considerable advances have been made in determining genetic drivers of ALS for a subset of patients, the majority of cases have an unknown etiology. Further, the mechanisms underlying motor neuron dysfunction and degeneration are not well understood; therefore, there is an ongoing need to develop and characterize representative models to study these processes. Caenorhabditis elegans can adapt their movement to the physical constraints of their surroundings, with two primary movement paradigms studied in a laboratory environment- crawling on a solid surface and swimming in liquid. These represent a complex interplay between sensation, motor neurons, and muscles. C. elegans models of ALS can exhibit impairment in one or both of these movement paradigms. This protocol describes two sensitive assays for evaluating motility in C. elegans: an optimized radial locomotion assay measuring crawling on a solid surface and an automated method for tracking and analyzing swimming in liquid (thrashing). In addition to the characterization of baseline motor impairment of ALS models, these assays can detect suppression or enhancement of the phenotypes from genetic or small molecule interventions. Thus, these methods have utility for studying ALS&#160;models and any C. elegans strain that exhibits altered motility.

Evaluation of Motor Impairment in C. elegans Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This protocol describes two sensitive assays for discriminating among mild, moderate, and severe motor impairment in C. elegans models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with general utility for C. elegans strains, with altered motility.

Evaluation der motorischen Beeinträchtigung bei C. elegans Modellen der amyotrophen Lateralsklerose

The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) features progressive loss of motor neurons accompanied by muscle weakness and motor ...

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Transgenic mouse models have proved to be powerful tools in studying various aspects of human neurological disorders, including epilepsy. The SCN1A-associated genetic epilepsies comprise a wide spectrum of seizure disorders with incomplete penetrance and clinical variability. SCN1A mutations can result in a large variety of seizure phenotype ranging from simple, self-limited fever-associated febrile seizures (FS), moderate-level genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) to more severe Dravet Syndrome (DS). Although FS are commonly seen in children below 6-7 years of age who do not have genetic epilepsy, FS in GEFS+ patients continue to occur into adulthood. Traditionally, experimental FS have been induced in mice by exposing the animal to a stream of dry air or heating lamps, and the rate of change in body temperature is often not well controlled. Here, we describe a custom-built heating chamber, with a plexiglass front, that is fitted with a digital temperature controller and a heater-equipped electric fan, which can send heated forced air into the test arena in a temperature-controlled manner. The body temperature of a mouse placed in the chamber, monitored through a rectal probe, can be increased to 40-42 &#176;C in a reproducible manner by increasing the temperature inside the chamber. Continual visual monitoring of the animals during the heating period demonstrates induction of heat-induced seizures in mice carrying an FS mutation at a body temperature that does not elicit behavioral seizures in wild-type litter mates. Animals can be easily removed from the chamber and placed on a cooling pad to rapidly return body temperature to normal. This method provides for a simple, rapid, and reproducible screening protocol for the occurrence of heat-induced seizures in epilepsy mouse models.

The goal of the method is to screen for hyperthermia or heat-induced seizures in mouse models. The protocol describes the use of a custom-built chamber with continuous monitoring of the body temperature to determine whether elevated body temperature leads to seizures.