Scientists Reveal Irregularities in the Strides of Mice Suffering from Angelman Syndrome
In a groundbreaking study published in Autism Research, a team of researchers led by Ion Cristian Cirstea, PhD, at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, have proposed that gait assessments could be a valuable tool for evaluating potential treatments for Angelman Syndrome.
The study involved detailed analyses of walking patterns in Angelman model mice, with the researchers finding that these mice tend to have wider stances, indicative of instability, and take fewer, longer steps compared to wild-type mice. This difference in gait was evident at the earliest times tested, around weaning, and persisted throughout the mice's lifespans.
To objectively assess these differences, the researchers used an automated test called DigiGait to process and analyze videos of the mice walking or running on a treadmill, which was recorded with a specifically placed camera. The study found that gait analysis proved a reliable, translational assay that can accomplish within-subject lifespan development, regression, progression, and/or decline without confounding test-retest effects.
The motor problems caused by Angelman Syndrome can result in difficulties or abnormalities in walking. As motor development in both mice and humans is similar, the findings of this study suggest that they could have relevance for humans. The researchers conclude that gait is a versatile quantitative outcome measure with great potential for use in therapeutic evaluation.
Assessing walking patterns in mice with Angelman Syndrome may be useful for measuring the efficacy of potential therapies. Further research could identify the specific parameters in mouse gait that may be most relevant for effects in humans. The study's findings suggest that gait analyses could be a reliable, translational assay for assessing potential treatments for Angelman Syndrome.
