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Investigating learning disabilities: fetal alcohol exposed rats. Perrone-Bizzozero-5R01NS030255-12-2

ABSTRACT: We are searching for common gene expression alteration in the hippocampus of animal models of learning disabilities and in post-mortem human tissues derived from patients with cognitive deficits. Our study has three phases. In phase I, we want to investigate the changes in gene expression in a transgenic mouse line that shows impairments in hippocampal-dependent learning. These animals are overexpressing the RNA-binding protein HuD in the forebrain under the control of the alpha CAMKinII promoter. For phase II, we plan to characterize the hippocampus of another animal model of learning disabilities: fetal alcohol exposed (FAE) rats. Last, for phase III, we would like to examine gene expression changes in the hippocampus and other tissues from patients with schizophrenia. To test our hypothesis, in phase 2 of our project, we propose to compare the pattern of gene expression in our mouse model with that in the hippocampus of rats prenatally exposed to alcohol (FAE model). Our hypothesis is that learning disabilities have common neural substrates regardless of the origin of the disability being genetic, environmental of a combination of these two. To test this hypothesis, we plan to examine the pattern of gene expression in the hippocampus of animals and humans with cognitive deficits and use bioinformatics tools to identify common changes in gene expression in three of such conditions: a genetic model (HuD transgenic mice), an environmental model (FAE rats) and a model for combined environmental and genetic effects (patients with schizophrenia). All the animals are adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 90-100 days). Animals were divided in three diet groups and three experimental treatment conditions (9 conditions altogether). Three groups of pregnant rat dams were placed on different diet regimens: a liquid diet containing 5% alcohol (A) groups, a control group fed an isocaloric liquid diet without alcohol (B) and a group of rats fed lab chow ad libitum (C). Offspring from each of these groups were allowed to grow until adulthood and placed into each of three training groups: a contextual fear conditioned group (1), a non-learning stress control group (2) and a naive/unhandled group (3). Hippocampi were dissected and used to isolate total RNA from each rat diet and training condition. Initially, we will submit 18 samples as follows: 10 samples from training group 1 and 8 samples from training group 3 (training group 2 will be analyzed at a later date). The diet assignment for the 18 samples is: 8 samples from group A, 6 samples of group B and 4 samples of group C. Please note that I was able to enter only the first 8 samples, as the sample list does not hold 18 samples altogether. Keywords: dose response

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE1996 | GEO | 2004/11/24

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA91015

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:We are searching for common gene expression alteration in the hippocampus of animal models of learning disabilities and in post-mortem human tissues derived from patients with cognitive deficits. Our study has three phases. In phase I, we want to investigate the changes in gene expression in a transgenic mouse line that shows impairments in hippocampal-dependent learning. These animals are overexpressing the RNA-binding protein HuD in the forebrain under the control of the alpha CAMKinII promoter. For phase II, we plan to characterize the hippocampus of another animal model of learning disabilities: fetal alcohol exposed (FAE) rats. Last, for phase III, we would like to examine gene expression changes in the hippocampus and other tissues from patients with schizophrenia. To test our hypothesis, in phase 2 of our project, we propose to compare the pattern of gene expression in our mouse model with that in the hippocampus of rats prenatally exposed to alcohol (FAE model). Our hypothesis is that learning disabilities have common neural substrates regardless of the origin of the disability being genetic, environmental of a combination of these two. To test this hypothesis, we plan to examine the pattern of gene expression in the hippocampus of animals and humans with cognitive deficits and use bioinformatics tools to identify common changes in gene expression in three of such conditions: a genetic model (HuD transgenic mice), an environmental model (FAE rats) and a model for combined environmental and genetic effects (patients with schizophrenia). All the animals are adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 90-100 days). Animals were divided in three diet groups and three experimental treatment conditions (9 conditions altogether). Three groups of pregnant rat dams were placed on different diet regimens: a liquid diet containing 5% alcohol (A) groups, a control group fed an isocaloric liquid diet without alcohol (B) and a group of rats fed lab chow ad libitum (C). Offspring from each of these groups were allowed to grow until adulthood and placed into each of three training groups: a contextual fear conditioned group (1), a non-learning stress control group (2) and a naive/unhandled group (3). Hippocampi were dissected and used to isolate total RNA from each rat diet and training condition. Initially, we will submit 18 samples as follows: 10 samples from training group 1 and 8 samples from training group 3 (training group 2 will be analyzed at a later date). The diet assignment for the 18 samples is: 8 samples from group A, 6 samples of group B and 4 samples of group C. Please note that I was able to enter only the first 8 samples, as the sample list does not hold 18 samples altogether.

Project description:Post-transcriptional mechanisms play an important role in the control of gene expression. RNA-binding proteins are key players in the post-transcriptional control of many neural genes and they participate in multiple processes, from RNA splicing and mRNA transport to mRNA stability and translation. Our laboratory has developed the first mouse model overexpressing a RNA-binding protein, the ELAV-like protein HuD, in the CNS under the control of the CaMKinII alpha promoter. Initial behavioral characterization of the mice revealed that they had significant learning deficits together with abnormalities in prepulse inhibition (PPI). At the molecular level, we found that the expression of the growth-associated protein GAP-43, one of the targets of HuD, was increased in the hippocampus of HuD transgenic mice. To characterize these mice further and to evaluate the utility of these animals in understanding human diseases, we propose to use DNA microarray methods. To test our hypothesis we propose 2 specific aims: 1)To characterize the pattern of gene expression in the hippocampus of HuD overexpressor mice 2)To compare the pattern of gene expression in our mouse model with that in the hippocampus of rats prenatally exposed to alcohol (FAS model) and in post-mortem tissues of patients with schizophrenia; Based on the behavioral and molecular properties of our HuD transgenic mice we hypothesize that these animals may be good models for the studying the basis of learning disabilities and of diseases that show deficits in PPI such as fetal alcohol syndrome and schizophrenia. All mice are in C57BL/6 background and are male approximately 60 days old. Initial studies were performed in animals that were not subjected to any experimental manipulation. Animals were bred and sacrificed according to our approved animal protocol. The brain was rapidly dissected on ice and we isolated the hippocampus, which has the highest expression of the transgene. After dissection both hippocampi were frozen in liquid nitrogen, pooled and stored at -80°C until analysis. RNA samples were isolated using RNAeasy Qiagen columns. For our first experiment, we want to examine the pattern of gene expression in the hippocampus of 3 transgenic mice and 3 non-transgenic littermates. RNAs from the 6 hippocampi were of high quality as revealed by the integrity of the 28S and 18S rRNA. We will provide 6 samples containing 10 ug of RNA each in DEPC water at a concentration of about 0.5 ug/ul. Three of the samples (#1, #2 and #3) are from transgenic mice and three from their non-transgenic littermates (#4, #5 and #6).

Project description:The goal of the endurance exercise training study in young adult rats was to perform exercise training studies in young adult (6-month-old) F344 rats, and from these rats collect multiple tissues in order to provide high quality samples for detailed analysis by chemical analysis sites. Tissues were collected from 10-12 rats sedentary control rats concurrent with the collection of the 8-week training groups. The 8-week training group and controls were from the same cohort and same age at euthanasia. For the older age group, an additional set of controls (n=5-6) were collected with the 1-2 week training group. Rats were either sedentary or underwent an exercise training program. Rats were exercised on the rodent treadmill 5 days per week using a progressive training protocol designed to exercise the rats at approximately 70% of VO2max and training was performed no earlier than 10:00 am and no later than 5:00 pm over 5 consecutive days per week. Training was initiated with the treadmill set at 70% of VO2 max and 5 degrees grade for 20 minutes. The duration of exercise was increased by one minute each day until day 31 of training (start of week 7), when a duration of 50 min was reached. Speed and grade of each training session increased in larger increments due to treadmill parameters. The highest intensity and duration of training began on day 31. This intensity was maintained for the final 10 days of the protocol to ensure steady state had been achieved. If any rats were unable to perform at least 4 days of training per week they were removed from the study and euthanized. It is important to note that the starting treadmill speed varied depending on the sex and age of the rat. The initial and maximum speeds were based on VO2max measurements obtained during the pre-training testing of the compliant rats. Rats assigned to the control group followed a schedule similar to the training group. They were placed in one lane on the treadmill for 15 minutes/day, 5 days per week. The treadmill was set at 0 m/min at an incline that corresponded to the incline being used by the training group.

Project description:The goal of the endurance exercise training study in young adult rats was to perform exercise training studies in young adult (6-month-old month) F344 rats, and from these rats collect multiple tissues in order to provide high quality samples for detailed analysis by chemical analysis sites. Tissues were collected from 10-12 rats sedentary control rats concurrent with the collection of the 8-week training groups. The 8-week training group and controls were from the same cohort and same age at euthanasia. For the older age group, an additional set of controls (n=5-6) were collected with the 1-2 week training group. Rats were either sedentary or underwent an exercise training program. Rats were exercised on the rodent treadmill 5 days per week using a progressive training protocol designed to exercise the rats at approximately 70% of VO2max and training was performed no earlier than 10:00 am and no later than 5:00 pm over 5 consecutive days per week. Training was initiated with the treadmill set at 70% of VO2 max and 5 degrees grade for 20 minutes. The duration of exercise was increased by one minute each day until day 31 of training (start of week 7), when a duration of 50 min was reached. Speed and grade of each training session increased in larger increments due to treadmill parameters. The highest intensity and duration of training began on day 31. This intensity was maintained for the final 10 days of the protocol to ensure steady state had been achieved. If any rats were unable to perform at least 4 days of training per week they were removed from the study and euthanized. It is important to note that the starting treadmill speed varied depending on the sex and age of the rat. The initial and maximum speeds were based on VO2max measurements obtained during the pre-training testing of the compliant rats. Rats assigned to the control group followed a schedule similar to the training group. They were placed in one lane on the treadmill for 15 minutes/day, 5 days per week. The treadmill was set at 0 m/min at an incline that corresponded to the incline being used by the training group.

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Investigating learning disabilities: fetal alcohol exposed rats. Perrone-Bizzozero-5R01NS030255-12-2

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