Hyperactivity and lack of social discrimination in the adolescent Fmr1 knockout mouse

Behav Pharmacol. 2015 Dec;26(8 Spec No):733-40. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000152.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate behaviour relevant to human autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the fragile X syndrome in adolescent Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice and to evaluate the tissue levels of striatal monoamines. Fmr1 KO mice were evaluated in the open field, marble burying and three-chamber test for the presence of hyperactivity, anxiety, repetitive behaviour, sociability and observation of social novelty compared with wild-type (WT) mice. The Fmr1 KO mice expressed anxiety and hyperactivity in the open field compared with WT mice. This increased level of hyperactivity was confirmed in the three-chamber test. Fmr1 KO mice spent more time with stranger mice compared with the WT. However, after a correction for hyperactivity, their apparent increase in sociability became identical to that of the WT. Furthermore, the Fmr1 KO mice could not differentiate between a familiar or a novel mouse. Monoamines were measured by HPLC: Fmr1 KO mice showed an increase in the striatal dopamine level. We conclude that the fragile X syndrome model seems to be useful for understanding certain aspects of ASD and may have translational interest for studies of social behaviour when hyperactivity coexists in ASD patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / genetics
  • Anxiety / metabolism*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / genetics
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / metabolism*
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Biogenic Monoamines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / genetics
  • Hyperkinesis / genetics
  • Hyperkinesis / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Behavior Disorders / genetics
  • Social Behavior Disorders / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biogenic Monoamines
  • Fmr1 protein, mouse
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein