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SERT and BDNF heterozygous knockout mice display alterations in grooming activity and syntax
Author(s) -
Kyzar Evan,
Gaikwad Siddharth,
Green Jeremy,
Roth Andrew,
Pham Mimi,
Stewart Adam,
Kalueff Allan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1042.9
Subject(s) - licking , serotonin transporter , knockout mouse , neuroscience , brain derived neurotrophic factor , neurotrophic factors , psychology , serotonin , medicine , endocrinology , biology , receptor
Animal self‐grooming behavior is becoming increasingly important in neuroscience research. In the present study, we assessed grooming behavior in serotonin transporter SERT (+/+ and +/−) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor BDNF (+/+ and +/−) adult male C57BL/6J mice. Custom‐upgraded HomeCageScan video‐tracking software (Clever Sys. Inc., Reston, VA) was used to record spontaneous novelty‐evoked mouse grooming behavior in transparent observation cylinders for 5 min. SERT +/− mice showed an overall increase in grooming behavior compared to +/+ mice, without altering locomotory responses. In contrast, BDNF +/− mice displayed a global decrease in both distance traveled and grooming behavior, indicating an overall reduction in activity. Both mutant strains also showed enhanced rostral grooming activity (i.e., paw licking and head washings) compared to wildtype controls. This data supports the role of serotonin and BDNF in stereotyped behavior, also validating the automated quantification of self‐grooming behavior as an efficient screen for neurobehavioral abnormalities.