Abstract
Schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders are generally diagnosed based on a collection of symptoms defined by a combination of an individual’s feelings, perceptions, and behaviors. Many of these disorders are characterized by specific cognitive and social deficits. Although it is nearly impossible to recapitulate the full phenotypic spectrum of schizophrenia in mice, mouse models play an indispensable role in understanding the pathogenesis of this disorder and the development of new therapeutics. Genetic mouse models of schizophrenia and mouse behavioral tests provide a feasible approach for elucidating causal relationships between susceptibility gene(s) and schizophrenia-related symptoms. There has been a proliferation of studies characterizing basic behavioral phenotypes in mice. Since there is no way to completely model human psychiatric symptoms in mice, the major role of behavioral tests is to provide insights into underlying affected circuitry and pathophysiology. Given that the recovery of cognitive and social abilities significantly benefits functional outcomes, there has been an increasing interest in characterizing cognitive and social functions in mutant mice; however, these functions are not easy to measure. In this review, a selection of conventional behavioral tasks was briefly described and three specific behavioral tasks aimed at characterizing social communication, attentional function, and choice behavior in mice were highlighted. The choice of specific behavioral tasks during experimental planning should take into consideration a variety of factors, including their validity, reliability, sensitivity, utility, and specificity. Based upon the hypothetical hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated signaling pathways in the involvement of cognitive and social impairments in schizophrenia, three NMDAR-related compounds/drugs, D-serine, sarcosine, and D-cycloserine, are discussed as an example.
Keywords: Schizophrenia, mouse behavioral tasks, cognitive/social deficit, social communication, attention, choice behavior, glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia, glycine.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Assessing Schizophrenia-relevant Cognitive and Social Deficits in Mice: A Selection of Mouse Behavioral Tasks and Potential Therapeutic Compounds
Volume: 20 Issue: 32
Author(s): Wen-Sung Lai, Chia-Yuan Chang, Wan-Rong Wong, Ju-Chun Pei, Ya-Shan Chen and Wei-Li Hung
Affiliation:
Keywords: Schizophrenia, mouse behavioral tasks, cognitive/social deficit, social communication, attention, choice behavior, glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia, glycine.
Abstract: Schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders are generally diagnosed based on a collection of symptoms defined by a combination of an individual’s feelings, perceptions, and behaviors. Many of these disorders are characterized by specific cognitive and social deficits. Although it is nearly impossible to recapitulate the full phenotypic spectrum of schizophrenia in mice, mouse models play an indispensable role in understanding the pathogenesis of this disorder and the development of new therapeutics. Genetic mouse models of schizophrenia and mouse behavioral tests provide a feasible approach for elucidating causal relationships between susceptibility gene(s) and schizophrenia-related symptoms. There has been a proliferation of studies characterizing basic behavioral phenotypes in mice. Since there is no way to completely model human psychiatric symptoms in mice, the major role of behavioral tests is to provide insights into underlying affected circuitry and pathophysiology. Given that the recovery of cognitive and social abilities significantly benefits functional outcomes, there has been an increasing interest in characterizing cognitive and social functions in mutant mice; however, these functions are not easy to measure. In this review, a selection of conventional behavioral tasks was briefly described and three specific behavioral tasks aimed at characterizing social communication, attentional function, and choice behavior in mice were highlighted. The choice of specific behavioral tasks during experimental planning should take into consideration a variety of factors, including their validity, reliability, sensitivity, utility, and specificity. Based upon the hypothetical hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated signaling pathways in the involvement of cognitive and social impairments in schizophrenia, three NMDAR-related compounds/drugs, D-serine, sarcosine, and D-cycloserine, are discussed as an example.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Lai Wen-Sung, Chang Chia-Yuan, Wong Wan-Rong, Pei Ju-Chun, Chen Ya-Shan and Hung Wei-Li, Assessing Schizophrenia-relevant Cognitive and Social Deficits in Mice: A Selection of Mouse Behavioral Tasks and Potential Therapeutic Compounds, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612819666140110122750
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612819666140110122750 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Histamine H3 Receptor Function and Ligands: Recent Developments
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Positive Social Interactions in a Lifespan Perspective with a Focus on Opioidergic and Oxytocinergic Systems: Implications for Neuroprotection
Current Neuropharmacology Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Cardiovascular Disease: Exploring Pathophysiology and Existing Data
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Macrophage Differentiation to Foam Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design Modulation of Neuro-Inflammation and Vascular Response by Oxidative Stress Following Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Current Medicinal Chemistry Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in South Asians: A Review and Discussion of Causes, Challenges and Management Strategies
Current Diabetes Reviews Protein Conformational Pathology in Alzheimers and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases; New Targets for Therapy
Current Alzheimer Research Is Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Mediated Dementia an Autophagic Defect that Leads to Neurodegeneration?
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Drug Targets from Genetics: Alpha-Synuclein
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Determinants of Paraoxonase 1 Status: Genes, Drugs and Nutrition
Current Medicinal Chemistry Disorders of Consciousness and Pharmaceuticals that Act on Oxygen Based Amino Acid and Monoamine Neurotransmitter Pathways of the Brain
Current Pharmaceutical Design Evolution of Novel Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with Reduced Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Role of Dietary Polyphenols in Attenuating Brain Edema and Cell Swelling in Cerebral Ischemia
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Default Mode, Executive Function, and Language Functional Connectivity Networks are Compromised in Mild Alzheimer´s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Cell to Cell Spreading of Misfolded Proteins as a Therapeutic Target in Motor Neuron Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> Receptors and Antipsychotics - An Update in Light of New Concepts and Drugs
Current Pharmaceutical Design Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Major Depression: Focus on RNAi and Ketamine
Current Pharmaceutical Design A Dual Activity of ROS and Oxidative Stress on Adult Neurogenesis and Alzheimers Disease
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Neuroglial Roots of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Therapeutic Potential of Palmitoylethanolamide in Models of Alzheimer’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Brain Senescence and Neuroprotective Dietary Components
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry