Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas.
Institute of Pharmacology and Neurotherapeutics, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas.
Curr Protoc. 2023 Mar;3(3):e707. doi: 10.1002/cpz1.707.
Gulf War illness (GWI) is a chronic multifaceted condition with debilitating pain and fatigue, as well as sleep, behavioral, and cognitive impairments in war veterans. Currently, there is no effective treatment or cure for GWI; therefore, there is a critical need to develop experimental models to help better understand its mechanisms and interventions related to GWI-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Chemical neurotoxicity appears to be one cause of GWI, and its symptoms manifest as disruptions in neuronal function. However, the mechanisms underlying such incapacitating neurologic and psychiatric symptoms are poorly understood. The etiology of GWI is complex, and many factors including chemical exposure, psychological trauma, and environmental stressors have been associated with its development. Attempts have been made to create GWI-like symptomatic models, including through chronic induction in mice and rats. Here, we present a brief protocol of GWI in rats and mice, which exhibit robust neuropsychiatric signs and neuropathologic changes reminiscent of GWI. This article provides a guide to working protocols, application of therapeutic drugs, outcomes, troubleshooting, and data analysis. Our broad profiling of GWI-like symptoms in rodents reveals features of progressive morphologic and long-lasting neuropsychiatric features. Together, the GWI model in rodents shows striking consistency in recapitulating major hallmark features of GWI in veterans. These models help identify mechanisms and interventions for GWI. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Experimental induction of Gulf War illness in rats Support Protocol 1: Monitoring of Gulf War illness signs and neuroimaging analysis in rats Basic Protocol 2: Experimental induction of Gulf War illness in mice Support Protocol 2: Monitoring of Gulf War illness signs and neuropathology analysis in mice.
海湾战争病（GWI）是一种慢性多方面的疾病，患有该病的退伍军人会出现衰弱性疼痛和疲劳，以及睡眠、行为和认知障碍。目前，GWI 没有有效的治疗或治愈方法；因此，迫切需要开发实验模型，以帮助更好地了解其机制以及与 GWI 相关的神经精神障碍的干预措施。化学神经毒性似乎是 GWI 的一个原因，其症状表现为神经元功能紊乱。然而，导致这种使人丧失能力的神经和精神症状的机制还不清楚。GWI 的病因复杂，许多因素，包括化学暴露、心理创伤和环境应激源，都与 GWI 的发生有关。人们已经尝试创建 GWI 样症状模型，包括通过在小鼠和大鼠中进行慢性诱导。在这里，我们介绍了一种大鼠和小鼠 GWI 的简要方案，它们表现出类似于 GWI 的强大神经精神症状和神经病理学变化。本文提供了工作方案、治疗药物应用、结果、故障排除和数据分析指南。我们对啮齿动物类 GWI 症状的广泛分析揭示了进行性形态和持久神经精神特征的特征。总之，啮齿动物的 GWI 模型在重现退伍军人中 GWI 的主要标志性特征方面表现出惊人的一致性。这些模型有助于确定 GWI 的机制和干预措施。© 2023 威利父子公司。基本方案 1：在大鼠中实验诱导海湾战争病支持方案 1：大鼠海湾战争病体征和神经影像学分析的监测基本方案 2：在小鼠中实验诱导海湾战争病支持方案 2：小鼠海湾战争病体征和神经病理学分析的监测。
