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Brainpower mice improved by modifying a single gene
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Geneticists managed to significantly improve the ability to think mice by limiting the activity of only one enzyme in their body, fosfodiesterazy- 4B ( PDE4B ). These studies may lead to the creation of drugs that help people with cognitive disorders or experiencing age-related problems associated with this feature. The project involved scientists from the University of Leeds (UK), and the Canadian Hospital at Mount Sinai.
Mice that were PDE4B activity suppression by changes in genes that were trained better and faster, longer retained the memory of the event occurred, and solve complex problems better than their usual companions. The researchers argue that the murine & quot; элджерноны" better recognize other mouse, with which they introduced the day before, and quickly find the hidden platform, out of the Morris Water Maze.
Morris water maze ( MWM ) - one of the key tests for the study of spatial memory and learning process in rodents. Now there are many variations of this method. Basic version of it represents the pool, usually cylindrical in shape, filled with colored milk powder or other non-toxic dye water. In one of its fourth is a platform whose height slightly below the water level - thus, the animal can not see it.
Once in the water, rodent experiencing stress, and starts looking for a way out of it. The first platform is by or randomly, or use the experimenter, but in the course of the experiment the animals are trained to find the platform using spatial memory, and it has chosen independently.
Also, the mouse with a low level under the supervision of PDE4B behaved more calmly - they are faster than others forget about the unpleasant moments that occurred a few days ago, and spent more time on the open spaces lit, while the rodents usually try to stay in the shade. In addition, the modified rodents are less afraid of the smell of cats.
The researchers suggest that similar effects can attempt to achieve in humans, due to the fact that PDE4B are also present in the human body. For example, in case of success such an effect could lead to the mitigation of post-traumatic stress. Science is already known that the changed activity of phosphodiesterase-4B in humans may be associated with the pathology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But so far the experiments are limited only by rodents.
Now, researchers will try to get drugs that inhibit the action of this enzyme is to conduct research on different kinds of animals and find out suitable to be a preparation for clinical tests on humans.
Source: geektimes.ru/post/260526/
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