Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
07:46
Gait Analysis of Age-dependent Motor Impairments in Mice with Neurodegeneration
Published on: June 18, 2018
12.8K
Widespread cerebellar transcriptome changes in Ts65Dn Down syndrome mouse model after lifelong running
Marius Walus1, Elizabeth Kida1, Ausma Rabe1
1Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York 10314, USA.
Behavioural Brain Research
|August 26, 2015
Summary
Voluntary lifelong running significantly alters cerebellar gene expression in Ts65Dn mice, an animal model for Down syndrome (DS). These molecular changes suggest prolonged exercise may benefit motor deficits in individuals with DS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ts65Dn mice serve as a model for Down syndrome (DS).
- Previous research indicated locomotor improvements in Ts65Dn mice after lifelong voluntary running.
- Understanding the molecular underpinnings of these behavioral benefits is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular changes in the cerebellum of Ts65Dn mice associated with voluntary running.
- To compare cerebellar gene expression changes between Ts65Dn mice and euploid controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse microarrays with 55,681 probes to analyze cerebellar transcriptomes.
- Performed comparative analysis with euploid mice.
- Conducted functional and pathway analysis (KEGG) on differentially expressed genes.
- Validated selected mRNA changes using immunoblotting.
Main Results:
- Running significantly altered the expression of 4,315 genes in the Ts65Dn mouse cerebellum, over five times more than in euploid controls.
- Functional analysis revealed enrichment in terms related to biosynthesis, metabolism, synaptic transmission, neurogenesis, and neuron differentiation.
- KEGG pathway analysis identified numerous pathways associated with learning, memory, cell signaling, and cell growth, with most being upregulated by running.
- Immunoblotting confirmed significant changes in protein levels for key molecules, including glutamatergic receptor metabotropic 1.
Conclusions:
- The Ts65Dn mouse cerebellum exhibits significant molecular plasticity in response to prolonged voluntary exercise.
- These findings suggest that motor deficits in individuals with Down syndrome could potentially be alleviated through regular, prolonged physical activity.
