Source Paper
Prepulse Inhibition Deficits and Perseverative Motor Patterns in Dopamine Transporter Knock-Out Mice: Differential Effects of D1 and D2 Receptor Antagonists
Rebecca J. Ralph, Martin P. Paulus, Fabio Fumagalli, Marc G. Caron, Mark A. Geyer
Journal of Neuroscience • 2001
Locomotor Activity and Motor Pattern Analysis
Objective: Assessment of baseline motor activity, perseverative locomotion patterns, and hyperactivity in a novel environment in DAT knock-out mice, with evaluation of D1 and D2 receptor antagonist effects on sensorimotor gating and motor behavior
This is a Locomotor Activity and Motor Pattern Analysis protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 6 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2001 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
mouse • dopamine transporter (DAT) knock-out mice and DAT (+/+) control mice • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Baseline behavioral assessment • Prepulse inhibition testing • Locomotor pattern analysis
Primary readouts
- Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle response
- Perseverative locomotion patterns (nonfocal vs. meandering)
- Total motor activity/hyperactivity in novel environment
- Effects of D1 receptor antagonism on motor behavior
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Baseline behavioral assessment
Assess baseline motor activity, perseverative locomotion patterns, and hyperactivity in DAT (−/−) mice in a novel environment
Note: DAT (−/−) mice exhibited deficient sensorimotor gating, nonfocal perseverative patterns of locomotion, and hyperactivity
View evidence from paper
“At baseline, DAT (−/−) mice exhibited deficient sensorimotor gating as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response, exhibited nonfocal perseverative patterns of locomotion, and were hyperactive in a novel environment”
Prepulse inhibition testing
Measure prepulse inhibition of the startle response in DAT (−/−) mice at baseline
Note: Baseline PPI is deficient in DAT (−/−) mice compared to controls
View evidence from paper
“deficient sensorimotor gating as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response”
Locomotor pattern analysis
Analyze motor behavior patterns in the novel environment, documenting perseverative versus meandering locomotion
Note: DAT (−/−) mice show nonfocal perseverative patterns; DAT (+/+) control mice show meandering behavior
View evidence from paper
“exhibited nonfocal perseverative patterns of locomotion”
Raclopride pretreatment and testing
Pretreat DAT (−/−) mice with raclopride (D2 receptor antagonist) and assess effects on PPI and motor behavior
Note: Raclopride significantly increased PPI in DAT (−/−) mice but did not affect perseverative motor patterns
View evidence from paper
“Pretreatment with raclopride significantly increased PPI in the DAT (−/−) mice, whereas SCH23390 had no significant effect. Blockade of D2 receptors did not affect the predominantly straight patterns of motor behavior”
SCH23390 pretreatment and testing
Pretreat DAT (−/−) mice with SCH23390 (D1 receptor antagonist) and assess effects on PPI, motor patterns, and hyperactivity
Note: SCH23390 had no significant effect on PPI but significantly attenuated perseverative patterns and decreased hyperactivity
View evidence from paper
“antagonism of D1 receptors significantly attenuated the perseverative patterns, producing more of a meandering behavior seen in the DAT (+/+) control mice. Both D1 and D2 receptor antagonists decreased the hyperactivity”
Hyperactivity assessment
Measure total motor activity levels in DAT (−/−) mice with and without receptor antagonist treatment
Note: Both D1 and D2 receptor antagonists decreased hyperactivity in DAT (−/−) mice
View evidence from paper
“Both D1 and D2 receptor antagonists decreased the hyperactivity seen in the DAT (−/−) mice”