Developing whisker movement protocols for the study of rodent models of neurological disease

Simanaviciute, Ugne (2025) Developing whisker movement protocols for the study of rodent models of neurological disease. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Laboratory rodents are a valuable tool for research in biomedical science and are key to improving our understanding of neurological disease. Behavioural studies are fundamental for revealing the connectivity between molecular and genetic changes and the system-level response of affected individuals. However, behavioural studies in many rodent models reveal quite variable outcomes. One way to better capture sensorimotor and executive deficits that are common in rodent models of neurodegenerative disease is by using a highly quantitative, repeatable behavioural task. I propose that measuring whisker movements in rodent models offers an easy, quick and robust way to capture elements of motor, sensory and cognitive disturbances. In this thesis, I will make recommendations for the application of whisker movement measures for the study of rodent models of neurological disease, especially developing methods to standardise and automate the method. I will also discuss the integration of whisker movements with other behavioural tasks and within the context of general exploratory behaviour. My thesis will consist of three experimental chapters, using three rodent models, including: 3xTg-AD mice (a model of Alzheimer’s disease), MIA rats (a model of neurodevelopmental disorders) and reeler mice (a model of disrupted development of cortical layer formation). In the first experimental chapter I present the whisker tracking protocol and increase its automation by removing manual scoring. In the second experimental chapter I, for the first time, demonstrate treatment differences using the protocol with rats, and integrate it with a sequential object task. In the third experimental chapter, I integrate the whisker movement protocol with a habituation task and place whisker movements within the general locomotor-exploratory measures. Overall, I documented whisker movement deficits in all the rodent models tested. The findings in this thesis suggest that measuring whisker movements is a powerful behavioural measurement tool, capable of revealing age-related and treatment effects, as well as sex and object differences. However, measuring whiskers in the standard task might not suit all rodent models, and further exploring how whisker movement measures might combine with other tests could be useful, especially with the novel object recognition and social tasks that are thought to be translatable to humans.