Investigate the differences in executive functions and behavioral baseline indicators of Parkinson’s disease model mice based on the five - choice serial reaction time task
10.1186/s42826-025-00262-6
- Author:
Heng GU
1
;
Zihan LIAO
;
Zihang ZHOU
;
Zhiyuan LIU
;
Mengying GU
;
Xinyu LIANG
;
Hong PAN
;
Chuanxi TANG
Author Information
1. Department of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
- Publication Type:RESEARCH
- From:Laboratory Animal Research
2025;41(4):352-366
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:In the field of neuroscience research, executive functions (EFs) are of great significance. Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often encounter the problem of EFs impairment, which severely affects their lives and health.However, currently, the methods for evaluating EFs in experimental mice are limited, and there is a lack of effective evaluation indicators for touchscreen behavioral tests in different disease model mice. This study aims to establish a paradigm process and an evaluation baseline for touchscreen behavioral analysis in PD model mice, deeply explore the mechanisms of EFs impairment in PD, and provide a crucial foundation for subsequent research and treatment.
Methods:Thirty clean - grade SNCA*A53T transgenic mice and forty clean - grade C57BL/6J wild - type mice were selected. For A53T mice, genetic identification was carried out. Molecular biology techniques such as PCR were used to determine their genetic characteristics. Protein detection was conducted through methods like Western blot to clarify the expression of relevant proteins. In terms of behavioral tests, the five - choice serial reaction time task (5 - CSRT) was adopted, and various behavioral data of mice in this task were recorded. Four groups were set up: the control group, the MPTP group. Different groups of mice were given specific treatments. For example, the MPTP group of mice was injected with MPTP to construct a drug - induced PD model. Principal component analysis (PCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the obtained touchscreen behavioral baseline indicators of mice, and key indicators were screened and evaluated.
Results:In the 5 - CSRT, the optimal stage for wild - type C57 mice to achieve an accuracy rate of ≥ 80% was from the 11th to the 13th cycle, while for A53T mice, it was the 11th cycle. The EFs of A53T mice were impaired, with abnormalities in the accuracy rate, trace number, and number of punished times in the 5 - CSRT. When identifying drug - induced PD models, the 13th cycle of the 5 - CSRT was more effective; when identifying transgenic PD models, the 11th cycle was more suitable. Interventions could be carried out after the baseline accuracy rate reached 80%. Through the “genetic - environmental” dual - axis drive, the “chronic - acute” time - dimension complementarity, and the “mechanism - transformation” multi - level verification, the A53T and MPTP dual models were used to comprehensively cover the pathological cycle of PD EFs impairment.
Conclusions:This study has successfully established a paradigm process and an evaluation baseline for touchscreen behavioral analysis in PD model mice. This provides an important basis for a deep understanding of the mechanisms of EFs impairment in PD patients, has potential guiding significance for the development of intervention strategies and treatment methods for EFs impairment in PD patients, and is expected to promote new progress in PD research in the field of neuroscience.