Beyond Aggression: Characterizing the Phenotype of the BALB/cJ Mouse
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2016-07-11
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en
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Background: Children with conduct disorder (CD) show high levels of aggression, cognitive
impairments and changes in baseline heart rate. Common comorbidities of CD are attentiondeficit-
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we further
characterized the behavioural and physiological phenotype of BALB/cJ mice, known for their
increased levels of aggression. We investigated if they show symptoms of ASD (social
withdrawal) and ADHD (hyperactivity and low temperature) as well as symptoms of CD
(cognitive impairments and changes in heart rate).
Method: In experiment 1, social withdrawal was investigated with a modified version of the
three-chamber social interaction test. In experiment 2, telemetric devices were implanted to
measure locomotion and body temperature for a period of 86 hours. Experiment 3 was an
extension of experiment 2 and also involved the investigation of the heart rate. In experiment
4, a virtual environment task was used to test for deficits in learning, attention and cognitive
flexibility.
Results: In the social interaction test, BALB/cJ mice showed less interest in an unfamiliar
mouse compared to BALB/cByJ mice. Experiment 2 showed that BALB/cJ mice had
increased locomotor activity during the active period and a lower body temperature in the
non-active period compared to control mice. In experiment 3, it was demonstrated that
BALB/cJ mice have a low heart rate given their increased locomotor activity. Experiment 4
indicated deficits in learning, attention and cognitive flexibility.
Discussion: We have further characterized the behavioural and physiological phenotype of
BALB/cJ mice, demonstrating that these mice show symptoms of CD, and its associated
comorbidities, ASD and ADHD. The model can be used to study brain structures that might
give rise to the linked symptoms of CD, ADHD and ASD.
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen