Disorders of the Nervous System
Author: Zoe Ziperovich | Email: zoe.ziperovich00@gmail.com
Zoe Ziperovich1°, Adrián M Kim1°, Elizabeth Mamani1°, Malco D Rossi2°, Andrés P Varani1°
1° Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (Instituto Universidad de Buenos Aires – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas). Paraguay 2155, 7°piso, (CP: 1121), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2° Servicio de Movimientos Anormales, FLENI. Montañeses 2325, (CP: 1428), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The cerebellum is often described as a motor structure, but in recent years its involvement in sensory behaviors such as emotions, learning, addiction, among others, has been demonstrated. Reciprocal disynaptic connections between the basal ganglia, motor cortex and cerebellum have been proposed, which suggest their contribution to compulsive and impulsive behavior. However, the specific region of the cerebellum that would be responsible for the modulation of these behaviors is unknown. We aimed to analyze whether site-specific alterations in the cerebellar cortex induce impulsive/compulsive behavior in male and female mice. Excitotoxic lesions with kainic acid were performed at different cerebellar vermis levels using stereotaxic surgery. Behavioral tests were performed to evaluate the impact of the lesions on the animal’s behavior. Impulsiveness was measured by the plus-maze, cliff, emerge, and y-maze tests; Compulsiveness was assessed with the marble, nesting and hole board tests. Motor function was studied with the grip strength, balance, gait and rotarod tests. The results showed an increase in impulsivity in mice of both sexes in the plus-maze, cliff and emerge tests. However, these lesions did not trigger compulsive behaviors. Regarding motor function, the lesions showed alterations only in balance compared to control animals. In conclusion, these results suggest that the cerebellar vermis could be involved in the modulation of impulsive, but not compulsive behaviors.