Environmental enrichment alters locomotor behaviour and ventricular volume in Mecp2 1lox mice

Behav Brain Res. 2009 Jan 3;196(1):44-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.07.008. Epub 2008 Jul 18.

Abstract

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an autistic spectrum developmental disorder associated with mutations in the X-linked Mecp2 gene, and severe behavioural and neuropathological deficits. In a mouse model of RTT (Mecp2(1lox)), we examined whether environmental enrichment (EE) alters behavioural performance and regional brain volume. At weaning, Mecp2(1lox) and control mice were assigned to enriched or standard housing. From postnatal day 29 to 43, mice were subjected to behavioural tasks measuring motor and cognitive performance. At postnatal day 44, volumes of whole brain, cerebellum, ventricles, and motor cortex were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. EE provided subtle improvements to locomotor activity and contextual fear conditioning in Mecp2(1lox) mice. Additionally, EE reduced ventricular volumes, which correlated with improved locomotor activity, suggesting that neuroanatomical changes contribute to improved behaviour. Our results suggest that post-weaning EE may provide a non-invasive palliative treatment for RTT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Cerebellum / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebellum / physiology
  • Cerebral Ventricles / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Ventricles / physiology
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Environment*
  • Fear / physiology
  • Fear / psychology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / deficiency
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Motor Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Mutation
  • Rett Syndrome / genetics
  • Rett Syndrome / pathology
  • Rett Syndrome / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2