Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

Defining Behavioral Phenotypes in Transgenic and Knockout Mice
Pages 119-129

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 119...
... Mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders mimic the human behavioral symptoms to a greater or lesser extent in targeted gene mutations relevant to Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ataxia, epilepsy, generalized anxiety, schizophrenia, and obesity (Bauer and others 1999; Bedell and others 1997; Burright and others 1997; Campbell and Gold 1996; Contarino and others 1999; Gingrich and Roder 1998; Jucker and Ingram 1997; Klockgether and Evert 1998; Lee and others 1996; Nelson and Young 1998; Picciotto 1999; Price and Sisodia 1998; Smithies 1993; Wahlsten 1999~.
From page 120...
... Background genes from each parent may have profound effects on behavioral tests. Unknown interactions between the mutated gene and the varying background genes will compromise the interpretation of the behavioral phenotype of the mutation.
From page 121...
... Absence of normal huddled sleeping patterns in the home cages led to the discovery of social interaction abnormalities in dishevelled-1 knockout mice (Lijam and others 1997~. Evaluation of Neurologic Reflexes Several quick tests reveal debilitating necrologic and physiologic problems (Crawley and Paylor 1997; Paylor and others 1998~.
From page 122...
... Acoustic startle to a loud tone is quantitated by an automated startle system that measures amplitude of whole body flinch (Davis and others 1982~. Sensitive measures of hearing acuity are conducted with neurophysiologic recording from the auditory nerve using the auditory brainstem response (Erway and others 1993~.
From page 123...
... Relevant behavioral phenotypes are often discovered during sensory and motor analyses. The auditory brainstem response detects impaired acoustic acuity in mice (Erway and others 1993)
From page 124...
... Reviews cited above describe specific tests and reference the source literature for methodologic details. Learning and memory tests for mice include spatial navigation learning tasks such as the Morris water task, Barnes maze, radial maze, T-maze, and Ymaze; rewarded tasks such as nose-poke for a food reward in an operant chamber or a five-hole chamber on various schedules; and aversive tasks such as passive avoidance, cued and contextual conditioning, and taste aversion.
From page 125...
... Order of Testing Our laboratory recommends an order of testing that begins with the home cage observations, continues with observations of general health and necrologic reflexes, then addresses sensory and motor abilities, and finally focuses on the behavioral domains relevant to the specific hypotheses. This approach allows the investigator to detect underlying physiologic abnormalities in the mutant mice that might limit their ability to perform the procedures necessary for complex behavioral tasks.
From page 126...
... Correct choices and implementation of behavioral tasks in mice require knowledge of more than 50 years of scientific literature in behavioral neuroscience, understanding of the standard methods for the basic behavioral paradigms, and familiarity with the technical tricks that make any method work well. Experience with proper testing and handling of mice, to minimize stress factors and to meet the international guidelines for the care and use of laboratory rodents, can best be gained by spending some time working in an established behavioral neuroscience laboratory.
From page 127...
... 1999. Behavioral phenotyping of transgenic and knockout mice: Experimental design and evaluation of general health, sensory functions, motor abilities, and specific behavioral tests.
From page 128...
... Behavioural abnormalities in male mice lacking neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Nature 378:383-386.
From page 129...
... 1995. Mouse models of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases differ in neurologic phenotype and ganglioside metabolism.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.