DX63
Cuprizone Mouse Model of Demyelination: Environmental Enhancement Reverses Cognitive Deficits

Thursday, June 2, 2016
Exhibit Hall
Zahra Almosawi, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Amal Almahroos, Bsc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Reem Abdulla, Bsc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Ayman Mohamed, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Hawra Alalwan, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Ahmmed Almubarak, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Fajer Alammadi, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Amer Kamal, Professor , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Ahmed Al-Mahrezi, BSc , College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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Background:

Impairment in cognitive functioning and motor activity are commonly encountered in patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of enhanced environment on cuprizone mouse model of demyelination.  

Methods:

C57BL/6 male mice were divided into cuprizone only (Cup-O), cuprizone housed in EE (Cup-EE) and control groups (9 to 10 per group). Environmental enhancement continued for a period of nine weeks. Neurobehavioral tests were conducted after a six-week period of 0.2% cuprizone-enriched diet. All mice were assessed for cognitive performance in the Morris water maze, motor function in rotarod and exploratory behavior in open field test.

Results:

Cup-EE performed significantly better in fields of spatial learning and memory and motor functioning when compared to Cup-O as evident by Morris water maze (p<0.001) and rotarod (p<0.05) results. Open field test results failed to show an anxiety-like behavior in cuprizone mouse model.

Conclusions:

Environmental enhancement can improve MS-associated cognitive and motor deficits. Insights gained from these results facilitate the exploration of non-medical modes of intervention as an emerging adjuvant therapy in MS.

See more of: Disease Modification
See more of: CMSC
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