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Background: Quantitative genetic analysis of basic mouse behaviors is a powerful tool to identify novel genetic phenotypes contributing to neurobehavioral disorders. Here, we analyzed genetic contributions to single-trial, long-term social and nonsocial recognition and subsequently studied the functional impact of an identified candidate gene on behavioral development., Methods: Genetic mapping of single-trial social recognition was performed in chromosome substitution strains, a sophisticated tool for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) of complex traits. Follow-up occurred by generating and testing knockout (KO) mice of a selected QTL candidate gene. Functional characterization of these mice was performed through behavioral and neurological assessments across developmental stages and analyses of gene expression and brain morphology., Results: Chromosome substitution strain 14 mapping studies revealed an overlapping QTL related to long-term social and object recognition harboring Pcdh9, a cell-adhesion gene previously associated with autism spectrum disorder. Specific long-term social and object recognition deficits were confirmed in homozygous (KO) Pcdh9-deficient mice, while heterozygous mice only showed long-term social recognition impairment. The recognition deficits in KO mice were not associated with alterations in perception, multi-trial discrimination learning, sociability, behavioral flexibility, or fear memory. Rather, KO mice showed additional impairments in sensorimotor development reflected by early touch-evoked biting, rotarod performance, and sensory gating deficits. This profile emerged with structural changes in deep layers of sensory cortices, where Pcdh9 is selectively expressed., Conclusions: This behavior-to-gene study implicates Pcdh9 in cognitive functions required for long-term social and nonsocial recognition. This role is supported by the involvement of Pcdh9 in sensory cortex development and sensorimotor phenotypes., (Copyright © 2015 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several genetic mechanisms have been proposed for the variability of the Klinefelter syndrome (KS) phenotype such as the parent-of-origin of the extra X chromosome. Parent-of-origin effects on behavior in KS can possibly provide insights into X-linked imprinting effects on psychopathology that may be extrapolated to other populations. Here, we investigated whether the parent-of-origin of the supernumerary X chromosome influences autistic and schizotypal symptom profiles in KS., Methods: Parent-of-origin of the X chromosome was determined through analysis of the polymorphic CAG tandem repeat of the androgen receptor gene. Autistic traits (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) were measured in a younger KS sample (n = 33) with KS and schizotypal traits (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire) were assessed in an older KS sample (n = 43). Scale scores on these questionnaires were entered in statistical analyses to test parent-of-origin effects., Results: The results show that parent-of-origin of the X chromosome is reflected in autistic and schizotypal symptomatology. Differences were shown in the degree of both schizotypal and autistic symptoms between the parent-of-origin groups. Furthermore, the parent-of-origin could be correctly discriminated in more than 90% of subjects through Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised scales and in around 80% of subjects through Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire scales., Conclusions: These findings point to parent-of-origin effects on psychopathology in KS and indicate that imprinted X chromosomal genes may have differential effects on autistic and schizotypal traits. Further exploration of imprinting effects on psychopathology in KS is needed to confirm and expand on our findings., (Copyright © 2010 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Identifying susceptibility genes for endophenotypes by studying analogous behaviors across species is an important strategy for understanding the pathophysiology underlying psychiatric disorders. This approach provides novel biological pathways plus validated animal models critical for selective drug development. One such endophenotype is avoidance behavior., Methods: In the present study, novel automated registration methods for longitudinal behavioral assessment in home cages are used to screen a panel of recently generated mouse chromosome substitution strains that are very powerful in quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection of complex traits. In this way, we identified chromosomes regulating avoidance behavior (increased sheltering preference) independent of motor activity levels (horizontal distance moved). Genetic information from the mouse QTL-interval was integrated with that from the homologous human linkage region for a mood disorder., Results: We genetically mapped a QTL for avoidance behavior on mouse chromosome 15, homologous with a human genome region (8q24) linked to bipolar disorder. Integrating the syntenic mouse QTL-interval with genotypes of 1868 BPD cases versus 14,311 control subjects revealed two associated genes (ADCY8 and KCNQ3). Adenylyl cyclase 8 (Adcy8) was differentially expressed in specific brain regions of mouse strains that differ in avoidance behavior levels. Finally, we showed that chronic infusion of the human mood stabilizer carbamazepine (that acts via adenylyl cyclase activity) significantly reduced mouse avoidance behavior, providing a further link between human mood disorders and this mouse home cage behavior., Conclusions: Our data suggest that Adcy8 might encode a translational behavioral endophenotype of bipolar disorder.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients often show extreme hypophagia and excessive physical activity. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of AN and mimics food restriction and hyperactivity in rats. This study investigated whether treatment with olanzapine (Zyprexa) reduces the development of ABA in rats. The effect of olanzapine treatment in AN patients was also evaluated in a small open-label study., Methods: Rats were chronically (1 week) infused with olanzapine (7.5 mg/kg) and exposed to the ABA model or ad libitum feeding. Hyperactive AN patients were followed for up to 3 months of olanzapine treatment (5 mg/kg)., Results: Olanzapine treatment reduced development of ABA in rats by reducing running wheel activity, starvation-induced hypothermia and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Olanzapine treatment reduced activity levels of AN patients compared with untreated AN patients, without affecting body weight and plasma leptin levels., Conclusions: Olanzapine treatment reduced wheel running and thereby diminished development of ABA in rats. Olanzapine treatment also reduced physical activity in hyperactive AN patients in a small open-label study. These data support the need for controlled studies investigating the putative beneficial effects of olanzapine treatment in AN patients.

Background: Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa (AN). In ABA, scheduled feeding together with voluntary access to a running wheel results in increased running wheel activity (RWA), hypophagia, and body weight loss. Previously it was shown that leptin treatment reduced semi-starvation-induced hyperactivity in rats. The present study was performed to confirm and extend this finding, to evaluate leptin's effect on energy balance in ABA., Methods: The effects of chronic leptin treatment (intracerebroventricular, 4 microg/day) in ABA rats, ad libitum-fed running rats, and sedentary rats exposed to ad libitum feeding or scheduled feeding were investigated., Results: Leptin treatment decreased RWA in ABA rats. Additionally, leptin treatment reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure by thermogenesis in ABA rats. Ad libitum-fed running/sedentary rats or food-restricted sedentary rats did not reduce activity after leptin treatment, whereas all leptin-treated rats showed hypophagia. Body temperature was slightly increased in leptin-treated food-restricted sedentary rats., Conclusions: Although leptin treatment reduced RWA in ABA rats, it also prevented hypothermia and decreased food intake. Altogether, this resulted in a stronger negative energy balance and body weight loss in leptin-treated ABA rats.