Manic Mice

Researchers have noticed a correlation in mice and humans involving the duplication of a single gene and the excess proteins formed as a result of this. In laboratories it has been seen that mice exhibiting this gene duplicate often suffer from seizures and show manic behavior. A study was done that treated these mice with a widely used drug and it was observed to have successfully treated these symptoms and brought them back to normal health and temperament. It has been seen that in many humans suffering from ADHD, aspbergers syndrome, autism, and other neurological disorders, that they often have a duplicate of the SHANK3 gene, which also causes the manic personalities in mice.  



Smoothly functioning synapses are key to normal every day functions in the body, from socializing to normal decision-making skills. Where scientists used to believe the normal neurological disorders were instances of synapses malfunctioning, the gene SHANK3 has come under focus in the past few years. SHANK3 is "a gene that encodes one of the 'architectural' proteins that help to ensure that messages are relayed properly between cells". After various treatments, the researchers gave the mice valproate, an anti-convolsive and mood stabilizing drug often used in individuals with bipolar disorder or suffering from epilepsy. These mice appeared to have been completely treated for their neurological disorders through this medication. What this study showed is that some neurological disorders and psychiatric syndromes are a product of excess SHANK3 protein that can be correctly treated.

Article:     http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=extra-gene-makes-mice-manic

Sub-article:      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24153177