Systematic analysis of goal‐related movement sequences during maternal behavior in a female mouse model for Rett syndrome

Parenting is an ethologically relevant social behavior consisting of stereotypic components involving the care and nourishment of young. First-time rodent dams seek and gather wandering/scattered pups back to the nest (pup retrieval), an essential aspect of maternal care. Over the decades, qualitative observations of the behaving animal have been presented in quantitative discrete units. However, systematic analysis of the dynamic sequences of goal-related movements that comprise the entire behavioral sequence, which would be ultimately essential for understanding the underlying neurobiology, is usually not analyzed. Here, we present systematic analysis of pup retrieval behavior across three days in alloparental female mice (Surrogates or Sur) of two genotypes; Mecp2Heterozygotes (Het), a female mouse model for a neuropsychiatric disorder called Rett syndrome and their wild type (WT) siblings. Additionally, we analyzed CBA/CaJ and C57BL/6J WT surrogates for within-strain comparisons. Frame-by-frame analysis over different phases was performed manually using DataVyu software.We previously showed that Het are inefficient, by measuring latency and errors, at pup retrieval. Here, we show that the sequence of searching, pup-approach and good retrieval crystallizes over time for WT; this sequence does not crystallize in Het. We found that goal-related movements of Het in different phases were similar to WT, suggesting context-driven atypical dynamic patterns in Het. We also identified pup approach and pup grooming as atypical tactile interactions between pups and Het, which contribute to inefficient pup retrieval. Day-by-day analysis showed dynamic changes in goal-related movements in individual animals across genotypes and strains in response to the growing pups. Overall, our approach 1) embraces natural variation in individual mice on different days of pup retrieval behavior, 2) establishes a “gold-standard” manually curated dataset to next build behavioral repertoires using machine learning approaches, and 3) identifies distinct atypical tactile sensory processing in a female mouse model for Rett syndrome.

Download Full-text

Breathing abnormalities in a female mouse model of Rett syndrome

The Journal of Physiological Sciences ◽

10.1007/s12576-015-0384-5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

pp. 451-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Christopher M. Johnson ◽

Ningren Cui ◽

Weiwei Zhong ◽

Max F. Oginsky ◽

Chun Jiang

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Rett Syndrome ◽

Female Mouse

Download Full-text

P.219 The antidiabetic drug metformin improves cognitive flexibility deficits in a female mouse model of Rett syndrome

European Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.01.048 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. S28-S29

Author(s):

C. Urbinati ◽

L. Cosentino ◽

M. Evoli ◽

B. De Filippis

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Rett Syndrome ◽

Cognitive Flexibility ◽

Female Mouse ◽

Antidiabetic Drug

Download Full-text

Tsix–Mecp2 female mouse model for Rett syndrome reveals that low-level MECP2 expression extends life and improves neuromotor function

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1800931115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 115 (32) ◽

pp. 8185-8190 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Lieselot L. G. Carrette ◽

Roy Blum ◽

Weiyuan Ma ◽

Raymond J. Kelleher ◽

Jeannie T. Lee

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Rett Syndrome ◽

Female Mouse ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Therapeutic Benefit ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Allelic Series ◽

Neuromotor Function ◽

Excessive Grooming

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). There is currently no disease-specific treatment, but MECP2 restoration through reactivation of the inactive X (Xi) has been of considerable interest. Progress toward an Xi-reactivation therapy has been hampered by a lack of suitable female mouse models. Because of cellular mosaicism due to random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), Mecp2+/− heterozygous females develop only mild RTT. Here, we create an improved female mouse model by introducing a mutation in Tsix, the antisense regulator of XCI allelic choice. Tsix–Mecp2 mice show reduced MECP2 mosaicism and closely phenocopy the severely affected Mecp2-null males. Tsix–Mecp2 females demonstrate shortened lifespan, motor weakness, tremors, and gait disturbance. Intriguingly, they also exhibit repetitive behaviors, as is often seen in human RTT, including excessive grooming and biting that result in self-injury. With a Tsix allelic series, we vary MECP2 levels in brain and demonstrate a direct, but nonlinear correlation between MECP2 levels and phenotypic improvement. As little as 5–10% MECP2 restoration improves neuromotor function and extends lifespan five- to eightfold. Our study thus guides future pharmacological strategies and suggests that partial MECP2 restoration could have disproportionate therapeutic benefit.

Download Full-text