base knowledge

Question 1

Histological and molecular techniques

Answer 1

• Immunohistochemistry
• Western Blot
• qPCR

Question 2

What does immunohistochemistry test for?

Answer 2

to visualise and quantify protein expression in tissue sections

Question 3

what does Western Blot test for?

Answer 3

Measures protein levels in tissue homogenates or cultured cells

Question 4

what does qPCR test for?

Answer 4

Gene expression

Question 5

what is the Moris Water Maze test used for?

Answer 5

spatial memory & learning

Question 6

what is the reversal Morris Water Maze used for?

Answer 6

behavioural flexibility

Question 7

what is the T-maze alternation test for?

Answer 7

Working memory

Question 8

what is the elevated plus maze used for?

Answer 8

anxiety levels

Question 9

what is the open field test used for?

Answer 9

locomotion & anxiety

Question 10

what is the rotarod test used for?

Answer 10

motor learning & co-odrination

Question 11

what is the pole test used for?

Answer 11

parkinsons model motor assessment

Question 12

what is the three-chamber sovial test used for?

Answer 12

social behaviour - in ASD models

Question 13

what is the grooming behaviour analysis used for?

Answer 13

repetitive behaviour - ASD like phenotypes

Question 14

How is immunohistochemistry visualised?

Answer 14

• flourescence microscopy (IF)
• Colorimetric staining (IHC)

Question 15

what does a bands intensity indicate in Western blotting?

Answer 15

stronger band = more protein expression

Question 16

how is protein loading controlled in Western blot?

Answer 16

housekeeping proteins like B-actin

Question 17

why is WB better than IHC for quantifying protein levels?

Answer 17

• more precise level markers, but lacks spatial resolution

Question 18

why would you use qPCR over Western Blot?

Answer 18

• if you were measuring mRNA levels, not protein levels

Question 19

when would the Moris Water MAze be used?

Answer 19

evaluation of memory impairment in alzheimer’s models

Question 20

What does perservation in a T maze alternation test show?

Answer 20

indicates a deficit in memory or decision making (cognitive deficits), as wild type mice have a natural tendency to alternate between arms when making choices.

Question 21

what area of the brain does a positive T-Maze test indicate dysregulation is occuring?

Answer 21

prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia

Question 22

How the rotarod test works (3)

Answer 22

1. mice are placed on a rotating rod
2. time to fall (latency) is recorded over multiple trials
3. Learning is shown by increased latency over trials

Question 23

for which neuro-disorder would the rotarod test be a suitable test? (2)

Answer 23

Huntingtons’s and Parkinson’s

Question 24

what does reduced social interaction with the novel mouse indicate in a three-chamber social interaction test?

Answer 24

Autism like phenotype

Question 25

what neuro-divergent model of mice shows excessive grooming behvaiour?

Answer 25

autism models - linked to repetitive behaviours

Question 26

what behaviours are mice models of austism linked to? (2)

Answer 26

* repetitive behaviours * social deficits

Question 27

what are the typical tests for mouse mdoels of ASD? (3)

Answer 27

* three chamber test - social behaviour * Grooming - repetitive * perseverance tests

Question 28

what gene is important in ASD?

Answer 28

* UBE3A (angelman syndrome)

Question 29

what is the important gene related to schizophrenia & psychosis (1)?

Answer 29

DISC1 gene

Question 30

animal model tests for psychosis & schizophrenia

Answer 30

* Novel object recognition test - memory impairment * T maze alternation test - working memory deficits

Question 31

what are the animal model tests for mood disorders? (3)

Answer 31

* Forced swim test - Behvaioural despair in depression * Sucrose preference test - Anhedonia, lack of pleasure response * Elevated plus maze - anxiety related behaviour

Question 32

what is the major gene related to mood disorders?

Answer 32

BDNF

Question 33

what is the major gene related to epilepsy?

Answer 33

SCN1A

Question 34

what are the neurotransmitters invovled in epilepsy:

Answer 34

* GABAergic dysfunction - reduce inhibition leads to excessive firing * Glutamate overactivity - hyperexcitable neurons

Question 35

animal model tests for epilepsy: (1)

Answer 35

* electroencephalography (EEG) in mice - detects abnormal neural firing

Question 36

cause of parkinsons disease?

Answer 36

loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra

Question 37

what are the animal model tests used to test for Parkinsons?

Answer 37

* MPTP mouse model - induces PD-like neuro-degeneration * Pole test- tests bradykinesia * rotarod test - Motor coordination

Question 38

what are the neurotransmitter involvement in PD?

Answer 38

* dopamine depletion in basal ganglia - leads to motor symptoms * ACH imbalance - leads to cognitive dysfunction

Question 39

what are the animal model tests used to test for alzheimers? (3)

Answer 39

* Morris Water Maze - spatial memory deficits * T-maze alternation - working memory impairments * Novel object recognition - recognition memory

Question 40

what is the neurotransmitter involved in alzheimers?

Answer 40

ACH deficit - loss of cholinergic neurons

Question 41

What is the cause of huntingtons disease?

Answer 41

expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene, leading to toxic protein aggregation

Question 42

animal model tests for Huntington's (2)

Answer 42

* Rotarod test - tests motor decline * Gait analysis - coordination issues