In a mouse model ofAngelman Syndrome, early intervention with environmental stimulation appears have restored motor coordination as well as behaviors.
The protocol was more successful for male mice than it was for females. This suggests that different therapeutic approaches might be needed for males and females who are undergoing treatment. [Angelman syndrome]The researchers wrote:
The journal published the analysis. Brain and BehaviorIn the study Postweaning environmental enrichment and its effect on sex in Angelman Syndrome model mice.
Angelman syndrome is a developmental disorder that results from a defective gene. UBE3A gene. The condition is characterised by developmental delays and intellectual disability, seizures and impaired speech.
Angelman is currently untreatable. The only treatment options are to manage seizures and treat behavioral and physical symptoms.
There is evidence to suggest that developmental disorders may develop early in life. Early intervention may be a good option.
Environmental enrichment is an experimental strategy that provides additional sensory, cognitive and social stimulation to mice with various psychiatric disorders.
This report is by scientists from Augustana University, South Dakota. They applied environmental enrichment to young male mice and female mice that were missing. UBE3AGene and healthy controls
Three weeks after their birth, the pups were weaned and separated by sex. They were randomly assigned to an environmentally enriched housing, a clear plastic enclosure with a variety options for shelter, where they could run and climb, explore various textures, dig and burrow, or a standard mouse cage.
After six weeks, both males and female Angelman mice were able to gain significant weight in conventional housing. This is a well-documented characteristic of this mouse breed. Angelman mice were significantly lighter than other mice and could not be distinguished from healthy control mice after environmental enrichment.
After six weeks, environmental enrichment did not alter the expected deficit in marble burying in male Angelman mouse mice. A follow-up test two weeks later showed that environmental enrichment had completely rescued marble-burying deficiencies.
The female Angelman mice, however, showed significant improvements after six weeks of environmental enrichment. However, in the two-week follow up test, the previous improvements were gone.
Next, the mice were subjected to an open field behavior test. This was done to determine general activity levels and overall motor activity. It also revealed the exploration habits of rodent models. As expected, Angelman mice in standard cages traveled significantly less than those in open field.
After seven weeks of environmental enrichment, male Angelman mice were able to travel significantly farther than those in standard cages. They also traveled no more distance than normal mice living in standard housing.
Angelman mice had no effect on their rearing movements. This is a typical exploratory behavior and entry into the open field’s center zone.
Environmental enrichment was found to improve the performance of male Angelman mouse but not the performance on the rotarod testing, which measures motor skills through riding time and endurance on a rotating stick. Enrichment also increased the rotarod performance in healthy mice. Two days later, a second test confirmed these findings.
Finally, mice were subjected the forced swimming test. This tested their ability to swim in a cylinder and assessed their active (swimming or climbing) and passive (immobility). Similar to the rotarod and open field tests, environmental enrichment had a significant impact on the performance of Angelman mice. However, this was only true for males.
These findings are consistent in a body evidence proving that [environmental enrichment]Some phenotypes can be corrected with this product [features]The researchers wrote that they had used mouse models to study neurodevelopmental disorders in neurodevelopmental disorders. We reproduced the behavioral differences in male and female rats [Angelman syndrome]mice, but found that our [environmental enrichment]Protocol was much more successful in normalizing these traits in male mice than it is in female mice.