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Show THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES LEAP PROGRAM CHRONIC DISRUPTION OF CORTICAL CAMP IN MICE LEADS TO EPILEPSY Jacob Acharte (Erik Peden, Mario Capecchi) Department of H u m a n Genetics University of Utah Elevated levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in both male and female mice were studied by inducing a transgene in their genome using CRE-LOX technology (Nagy, 2000). Data was collected from the genetically engineered mice's behaviors over a three month period using two prominent behavioral machines called the LABORAS (vibration platforms) and the open field (open clear box), starting at -2.5 months of age. Results from these two machines showed phenotypes such as hyperactivity, seizures, and weight gain. A total of 25 (n=25) mice were used to carry out the study, 10 wild-type (ere-) mice, and 15 Camkl- ICre/+; r-ctx/+ (mutant) mice. In humans, phenotypes similar to ones previously mentioned have been observed in patients w h o suffer from epileptic episodes. These findings and past literature reinforce that increased levels of cAMP are linked to symptoms seen in epileptic patients (Brooks, 2010). Better understanding of the phenotypes (hyperactivity, seizures, and weight gain) that arise in these mutant mice from elevated levels of cAMP in the PFC via LABORAS and open field, may assist future studies in gaining deeper insight on h o w to identify symptoms such as the ones discussed above. Jacob Acharte Erik Peden Mario Capecchi |
