Neuroanatomical and behavioral characterization of mice deficient in heparin -binding growth -associated molecule (HB-GAM)
Item
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Title
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Neuroanatomical and behavioral characterization of mice deficient in heparin -binding growth -associated molecule (HB-GAM)
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:ea8d4af2be15:10187
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identifier
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10296
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Creator
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Krellman, Jason W.,
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Contributor
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Susan D. Croll
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Date
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2009
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Physiological psychology | Behavioral psychology | autism | behavioral genetics | HB-GAM | knockout mice | neural developmental | pleiotrophin
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Abstract
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Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) is an extra-cellular matrix-associated protein involved in a variety of neurodevelopmental processes that has neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. Previous studies suggest that HB-GAM knockout mice exhibit cognitive inflexibility, anxiety, and motor impairment and that the brains of these animals possess increases in cortical neuronal density. Collectively, these features are most similar to the pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Therefore, the current studies sought to further characterize the neuroanatomical and behavioral phenotype of HB-GAM knockouts within the context of the hypothesis that these animals might serve as an animal model of the PDDs. Consistent with this hypothesis, HB-GAM knockouts demonstrated cognitive inflexibility, heightened anxiety, and both a contextual and social neophobia. In addition, the knockouts' brains were shown to possess cortical neuronal area decreases and cortical neuronal packing density increases. These data suggest that multiple abnormalities similar to those observed in individuals with PDDs characterize the phenotype of HB-GAM knockouts. The validity and limitations of HBGAM knockouts as an animal model of the PDDs are discussed, as are suggestions for future studies of these animals.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
