Graduation Year
2018
Embargo Period
3-22-2018
Document Type
Research Paper
Degree Name
Medical Doctor (MD)
Department
Biomedical Sciences
First Advisor
Andrea Bottaro
Second Advisor
Igor Kuzin
Third Advisor
Bradford D. Fischer
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology, Medical Research, Genetics
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic auto-inflammatory condition that affects multiple joints in the body, causing synovial thickening, joint swelling and significant bone erosion. The inflammatory effects of the disease are known to cause significant pain, disability and depression in many patients. Mouse models of RA, including a transgenic mouse model that over-expresses the inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α (i.e. the TNFtg mouse strain), have been used to explore the pathogenesis of RA. However, the role that TNF-α over-expression plays on behavior is understood poorly. The purpose of the present study was to quantify the progression of disease in TNFtg mice using two behavioral assays: the rotorod, and locomotor activity. The rotorod has been shown to be an effective method for the analysis of motor coordination, while locomotor activity has been an effective tool in assessing spontaneous ambulatory behavior. These data were compared to another study in which mechanical sensitivity was assessed. On both procedures, mice were tested from the age of 6 weeks to 18 weeks, in two-week increments. The data gathered showed a significant decrease in the time spent on the rotorod by the TNFtg mice compared to their wild type controls, and these effects emerged following 12 weeks of age. On locomotor activity, TNFtg mice had a significant decrease in ambulatory behavior compared to their wild type controls with significant effects also emerging after 12 weeks. The observations in this study provide further evidence that TNF-α plays a major role in RA and establishes a method of quantifying the progression of the disease.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, TNF-α, mechanical sensitivity
Recommended Citation
Adeyemo, Adeshina, "Behavioral changes following disease progression in the TNFtg mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis" (2018). Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Capstone Projects. 3.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/cmsru_capstones/3
