Increased repetitive self-grooming occurs in Pax2 mutant mice generated using CRISPR/Cas9

Hongen Wei; Min Wang; Na Lv; Hua Yang; Min Zhao; Bo Huang; Rongshan Li

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112803

Increased repetitive self-grooming occurs in Pax2 mutant mice generated using CRISPR/Cas9

Behav Brain Res. 2020 Sep 1:393:112803. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112803. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Authors

Hongen Wei¹, Min Wang², Na Lv², Hua Yang², Min Zhao², Bo Huang³, Rongshan Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. Electronic address: hongen.wei@sxmu.edu.cn.
² Department of Neurology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
³ Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, China.
⁴ Nephrology Division, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliate of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. Electronic address: rongshanli13@163.com.

PMID: 32653558
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112803

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and repetitive or restricted interest and behaviors. However, the specific pathogenesis of ASD is still unclear. It has been widely accepted that genetic and environmental risk factors are associated with the pathogenesis of ASD. Paired box2 (Pax2) gene encodes a transcription factor that plays an important role in the development of the central nervous system of humans and mice. In this study, we constructed Pax2 heterozygous gene knockout (Pax2^+/-) mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and performed several autistic-like behavioral assays, including self-grooming test, sociability approach, the elevated plus maze test and Y maze test. Results showed increased repetitive self-grooming and possible abnormal anxiety-like behavior occur in Pax2^+/- mice. Furthermore, no changes were observed in the abilities of sociability and working memory in Pax2^+/- mice compared to wild-type C57BL/6 J mice. Finally, we speculated that possible mechanism of abnormal autistic-like behaviors due to the deletion of Pax2 gene.

Keywords: Autism; Behavior; Mutant; Pax2; Self-grooming.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Anxiety / physiopathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
CRISPR-Cas Systems
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Grooming / physiology*
Male
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Mutation
PAX2 Transcription Factor / genetics
PAX2 Transcription Factor / physiology*

Substances

PAX2 Transcription Factor
Pax2 protein, mouse