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The Intellicage system provides a reproducible and standardized method to assess behavioral changes in
Giulia Cisbani1, Silvia Poggini2, Nataly Laflamme1
1CHU de Québec Research Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 2705 Laurier Boul., Québec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by myelin loss in the brain parenchyma. To mimic the disease, mice are fed a cuprizone-supplemented diet for 5 weeks, which leads to demyelination of white and grey matter regions, with the corpus callosum being the most susceptible to cuprizone intoxication. Although this model is highly exploited, classical behavioural tests showed inconsistent results.
Objective:
In our study, we aimed to use the automated system Intellicage to phenotype the behaviour of cuprizone-fed mice.
Methods:
Mice were continuously monitored during the 5 weeks of intoxication in their home cages, with minimal interference from the experimenter. Mice were assessed for spontaneous activity, fine movements, and impulsivity.
Results:
Consistently, cuprizone-fed mice showed reduced activity and impulsivity throughout the test period. These behavioral results were confirmed by repeating the battery of behavioral tests in a second cohort of cuprizone-fed mice. Our results suggest that the behavioural phenotyping of cuprizone-fed mice using Intellicage is reproducible and sensitive enough to detect changes normally missed in standard behavioral test batteries.
Conclusion:
Using a reproducible and standardized method to assess behavioral changes in mice intoxicated with cuprizone is crucial to better understand the disease as well as the functional outcome of treatments.
Insights
The Intellicage system accurately detects behavioral changes in cuprizone-induced demyelination mouse models. This automated method reveals reduced activity and impulsivity, offering a reproducible approach for multiple sclerosis research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Models
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis involves myelin loss in the brain.
- The cuprizone diet in mice mimics demyelination, particularly in the corpus callosum.
- Standard behavioral tests in this model yield inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize the automated Intellicage system for phenotyping cuprizone-fed mouse behavior.
- To assess spontaneous activity, fine movements, and impulsivity in demyelinated mice.
Main Methods:
- Continuous monitoring of mice over 5 weeks of cuprizone intoxication within home cages.
- Minimal experimenter interference during behavioral assessment.
- Assessment of spontaneous activity, fine movements, and impulsivity using the Intellicage system.
Main Results:
- Cuprizone-fed mice consistently exhibited reduced activity and impulsivity.
- These findings were reproducible across a second cohort of mice.
- Intellicage phenotyping detected behavioral changes often missed by standard tests.
Conclusions:
- The Intellicage system provides a reproducible and sensitive method for behavioral phenotyping in cuprizone-intoxicated mice.
- Standardized assessment of behavioral changes is vital for understanding multiple sclerosis and treatment outcomes.
