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Neurological dysfunction expressed in the grooming behavior of developing weaver mutant mice
1Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Behavior Genetics
|November 1, 1993
Summary
The weaver (wv/wv) mouse mutant exhibits developmental motor deficits, including altered grooming patterns and ataxia. This study quantifies these movement abnormalities in weaver mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The weaver (wv/wv) mutation is an autosomal recessive mutation impacting motor performance.
- Striatal and cerebellar circuitries are known to be affected by this mutation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first quantitative developmental analysis of movement in weaver (wv/wv) mutant mice.
- To investigate the motor correlates of the weaver mutation.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of post-swim grooming behavior.
- Comparison of 14 mutant (wv/wv) and 14 control mice.
- Data collected on alternate postnatal Days 13-20.
Main Results:
- Mutant mice displayed more frequent but shorter grooming bouts.
- Weaver mice used external support, showed ataxia, and performed smaller forelimb strokes.
- Mutant animals failed to complete stereotypic grooming sequences as often as controls.
Conclusions:
- The weaver mutation causes significant, quantifiable motor deficits during development.
- Observed motor abnormalities correlate with known anatomical and physiological changes in weaver mice.