Aberrant nest building and prolactin secretion in vitamin D receptor mutant mice

Serum cholesterol and expression of ApoAI, LXRβ and SREBP2 in vitamin D receptor knock-out mice

“…VDR-KO mice 129S1 were produced from the line initially generated in the University of Tokyo [23], which have been studied in our laboratory [24][25][26] [27,28]. All the mice were housed in the University of Tampere Laboratory Animal facility with a 12:12-light:dark cycle.…”

Adolescent toluene exposure produces enduring social and cognitive deficits in mice: An animal model of solvent-induced psychosis

“…A standard piece of paper towel (23 ϫ 23 cm) was placed in each cage overnight. The nests were assessed next morning using a scoring system described previously (Keisala et al 2007): 0ϭno nest, 1ϭprimitive fl at nest (fl at paper slightly elevated from the bedding), 2ϭmore complex nest (wrapping and biting the paper), 3ϭcomplex accurate cup-shaped nest (walls and shredded paper), 4ϭcomplex hooded nest. The amount of paper damage was also assessed here, using the following scale: 0ϭintact paper or little damage (Ͻ5% paper destroyed), 1ϭsome paper damage (5-20%), 2ϭpronounced paper damage (20-40%), 3ϭsevere paper damage (Ͼ40%).…”

Vestibular dysfunction in vitamin D receptor mutant mice

“…VDR−/− mice have numerous phenotypic abnormalities, including anxiety [22], food neophobia [23], aberrant nest-building [24,25], brain calcification [26] and impaired swimming [27,28]. In addition, VDR mutation accelerates neural degeneration in the cochlea [29], suggesting that otovestibular physiology may be affected in these mice.…”