Research Keyword: behavioral testing

Premorbid characteristics of the SAPAP3 mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder: behavior, neuroplasticity, and psilocybin treatment

This research examined young genetically modified mice that lack the SAPAP3 gene to understand early signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder-like behavior. The study found that these juvenile mice showed anxiety-like behaviors before developing the excessive grooming typical of the adult model. Surprisingly, psilocybin treatment—which works in adult mice—did not help reduce anxiety in the younger mice, suggesting that the brain needs to mature for this treatment to be effective.

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Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1

Regular exercise, especially high-intensity training, can help improve depression symptoms in young people by changing how immune cells in the brain function. The study shows that exercise increases production of a specific enzyme (CerS1) in microglia, which are the brain’s immune cells. This enzyme helps balance certain fatty molecules that reduce brain inflammation, ultimately improving mood and reducing depression-like behaviors. The findings suggest exercise works similarly to antidepressant medications for adolescent depression.

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