Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by a developmentally inappropriate, pervasive and persistent pattern of severe inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Despite onset in early childhood, ADHD may continue into adulthood with substantial impairment in social, academic and occupational functioning. A new animal model of this disorder was developed in rats with genetic deletion of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene (dopamine transporter knockout rats; DAT-KO rats). We analyzed the behavior of DAT-KO rats for a deeper phenotypical characterization of this model. We first tested rats of the 3 genotypes at different ages (preadolescent, adolescent and adult), in a novelty-seeking test using a black/white box (Experiment 1). After that, we tested adult rats in a novelty-preference test using a 3-chamber apparatus with different shapes (Experiment 2). Experiment 1: as evidenced by analysis of time spent in the novel environment, adult DAT heterozygous (DAT-HET) rats show an increased curiosity-driven exploration compared with wild-type (WT) controls while DAT-KO rats did not recognize novelty. The locomotor activity data show a minimal difference between genotypes at adolescent age while the preadolescent and adult DAT-KO rats have significantly increased activity rate compared with WT and DAT-HET subjects. Experiment 2: in this case, due to more clearly evident spatial differences, time spent in novel environment was not significantly different among genotypes. During first 10 minutes, DAT-KO rats showed a decreased hyperactivity, apparently related to curiosity and attention to the new environments. In conclusion, DAT-KO rats may show some inattention while more novelty-seeking traits appear in DAT-HET rats.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e12463 |
| Journal | Genes, Brain and Behavior |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- ADHD
- adolescence
- DAT-HET (heterozygous)
- explorative curiosity
- hippocampus
- inattention
- juvenile
- novelty preference
- novelty seeking
- prefrontal cortex
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- Neurology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
Novelty-related behavior of young and adult dopamine transporter knockout rats : Implication for cognitive and emotional phenotypic patterns. / Adinolfi, A.; Carbone, C.; Leo, D.; Gainetdinov, R. R.; Laviola, G.; Adriani, W.
In: Genes, Brain and Behavior, Vol. 17, No. 4, e12463, 01.04.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Novelty-related behavior of young and adult dopamine transporter knockout rats
T2 - Implication for cognitive and emotional phenotypic patterns
AU - Adinolfi, A.
AU - Carbone, C.
AU - Leo, D.
AU - Gainetdinov, R. R.
AU - Laviola, G.
AU - Adriani, W.
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by a developmentally inappropriate, pervasive and persistent pattern of severe inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Despite onset in early childhood, ADHD may continue into adulthood with substantial impairment in social, academic and occupational functioning. A new animal model of this disorder was developed in rats with genetic deletion of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene (dopamine transporter knockout rats; DAT-KO rats). We analyzed the behavior of DAT-KO rats for a deeper phenotypical characterization of this model. We first tested rats of the 3 genotypes at different ages (preadolescent, adolescent and adult), in a novelty-seeking test using a black/white box (Experiment 1). After that, we tested adult rats in a novelty-preference test using a 3-chamber apparatus with different shapes (Experiment 2). Experiment 1: as evidenced by analysis of time spent in the novel environment, adult DAT heterozygous (DAT-HET) rats show an increased curiosity-driven exploration compared with wild-type (WT) controls while DAT-KO rats did not recognize novelty. The locomotor activity data show a minimal difference between genotypes at adolescent age while the preadolescent and adult DAT-KO rats have significantly increased activity rate compared with WT and DAT-HET subjects. Experiment 2: in this case, due to more clearly evident spatial differences, time spent in novel environment was not significantly different among genotypes. During first 10 minutes, DAT-KO rats showed a decreased hyperactivity, apparently related to curiosity and attention to the new environments. In conclusion, DAT-KO rats may show some inattention while more novelty-seeking traits appear in DAT-HET rats.
AB - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by a developmentally inappropriate, pervasive and persistent pattern of severe inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Despite onset in early childhood, ADHD may continue into adulthood with substantial impairment in social, academic and occupational functioning. A new animal model of this disorder was developed in rats with genetic deletion of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene (dopamine transporter knockout rats; DAT-KO rats). We analyzed the behavior of DAT-KO rats for a deeper phenotypical characterization of this model. We first tested rats of the 3 genotypes at different ages (preadolescent, adolescent and adult), in a novelty-seeking test using a black/white box (Experiment 1). After that, we tested adult rats in a novelty-preference test using a 3-chamber apparatus with different shapes (Experiment 2). Experiment 1: as evidenced by analysis of time spent in the novel environment, adult DAT heterozygous (DAT-HET) rats show an increased curiosity-driven exploration compared with wild-type (WT) controls while DAT-KO rats did not recognize novelty. The locomotor activity data show a minimal difference between genotypes at adolescent age while the preadolescent and adult DAT-KO rats have significantly increased activity rate compared with WT and DAT-HET subjects. Experiment 2: in this case, due to more clearly evident spatial differences, time spent in novel environment was not significantly different among genotypes. During first 10 minutes, DAT-KO rats showed a decreased hyperactivity, apparently related to curiosity and attention to the new environments. In conclusion, DAT-KO rats may show some inattention while more novelty-seeking traits appear in DAT-HET rats.
KW - ADHD
KW - adolescence
KW - DAT-HET (heterozygous)
KW - explorative curiosity
KW - hippocampus
KW - inattention
KW - juvenile
KW - novelty preference
KW - novelty seeking
KW - prefrontal cortex
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042370175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042370175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/gbb.12463
DO - 10.1111/gbb.12463
M3 - Article
C2 - 29406596
AN - SCOPUS:85042370175
VL - 17
JO - Genes, Brain and Behavior
JF - Genes, Brain and Behavior
SN - 1601-1848
IS - 4
M1 - e12463
ER -