触须干扰测试:评估小鼠触觉超敏反应的重要工具。
Whisker Nuisance Test: A Valuable Tool to Assess Tactile Hypersensitivity in Mice.
作者信息
Balasco Luigi, Chelini Gabriele, Bozzi Yuri, Provenzano Giovanni
机构信息
Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy.
Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy.
出版信息
Bio Protoc. 2019 Aug 20;9(16):e3331. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.3331.
Abnormal response to tactile stimulation, described as both hyper- and hypo-reactivity, is a common sensory impairment in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. The neural bases of tactile sensitivity remain so far unknown. In the last years, animal studies have proven to be useful for shedding light on the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying sensory impairments. However, few behavioral tests have been developed in mice for assessing tactile perception abnormalities (, the whisker nuisance [WN] test and the tactile prepulse inhibition assay). Here we provide a modified version of the WN test, which is based on the previously developed method by McNamara (2010). The WN test permits to specifically detect tactile hypo/hyper-sensitivity relative to whisker stimulation in mice. The test starts with a habituation phase in which the mouse familiarizes itself with the experimental cage and the researcher/experimenter. After a sham session, the experimental session begins, consisting of bilateral whisker stimulation with a wooden stick. The advantages of using this protocol are many: it is relatively simple to set with no particular or expensive equipment needed, it is easily reproducible, it allows researchers to assess a variety of behavioral responses to a whisker-specific tactile perception in mice (, fearful behavior, stance, hyperventilation, aggressive behavior and evasiveness) and provides important translational opportunities.
对触觉刺激的异常反应,表现为过敏和反应迟钝,是多种神经精神疾病中常见的感觉障碍。迄今为止,触觉敏感性的神经基础尚不清楚。近年来,动物研究已被证明有助于揭示感觉障碍背后的细胞和分子机制。然而,在小鼠中开发的用于评估触觉感知异常的行为测试很少(如触须干扰[WN]测试和触觉前脉冲抑制试验)。在这里,我们提供了一种改良版的WN测试,它基于麦克纳马拉(2010年)之前开发的方法。WN测试能够特异性检测小鼠相对于触须刺激的触觉低敏/高敏。测试从适应阶段开始,在此阶段小鼠熟悉实验笼和研究人员/实验者。经过一次假实验后,实验阶段开始,包括用木棍对双侧触须进行刺激。使用该方案的优点有很多:设置相对简单,无需特殊或昂贵的设备,易于重复,可以让研究人员评估小鼠对触须特异性触觉感知的各种行为反应(如恐惧行为、姿势、过度换气、攻击行为和逃避行为),并提供重要的转化机会。