Behavioural Phenotyping within the European Mouse Phenotyping Resource for Standardized Screens (EMPRESS)

One of the objectives of the European integrated research programme EUMORPHIA is the development of a comprehensive platform of screens for the systematic and standardized phenotypic characterization of mouse mutant models. EMPReSS (http://www. eumorphia. org/EMPReSS) is a collection of protocols and standard operating procedures for the functional evaluation of all body systems. In particular, a set of procedures specific for the analysis of mouse behavioral phenotypes to reliably detect dysfunctions relevant to human neurological and psychiatric disorders has been identified, standardized and optimized by a working group composed of 5 research centers from France, Germany, Italy and UK. The procedures have been validated comparing the results of tests conducted in at least 3 of the 5 centers on male mice of the same 4 inbred referenced strains (C57BL/6J, C3HeB/FeJ, BALB/cByJ, 129S2/SvPas) coming from the same source. These mouse strains were selected because they are common background strains predominantly used in comparative phenotypic analyses of transgenics and knock-outs and in ENU-mutagenesis. Among the tests that have been validated are: Open field, Modified SHIRPA, Rotarod, Y-maze spontaneous alternation, Pre-pulse inhibition, Fear conditioning, Mouse Reaching and Grasping performance scale, Hole board task. These tests were either integrated in a battery of tests or were performed on their own. The results of this validation effort are presented along with a discussion of the key issues for the development and optimization of standard procedures as well as the steps that have lead to their successful validation. For the rotarod test an additional validation round was required because of its initial high level of variability between centers and the need of better standardization of equipment and procedure. Additionally, examples of implementation of some of the validated standard operating procedures on several mouse mutants are shown. FP5 QLG2-CT-2002-00930.