The unsung heroes of neuroscience research
In Novosibirsk, Russia, there’s a statue honoring something that has played an invaluable role in scientific discoveries. We might expect the statue to be of an important historical figure, like a famous scientist or a doctor, but the statue is of none of these things - in fact, it’s a statue of a mouse [1]. We might ask, Why would someone choose to make a statue of a mouse? After all, when we think of mice, we probably think of the creatures running around on subway tracks or scavenging through trash on the streets.
Much of what we know about the brain has been found through research on all kinds of animals, including mice, but also rats, monkeys, and even flies [2]! But how did neuroscientists decide to use animals to study the brain?
Turns out animals and humans have a lot in common - for example, many neuroscientists who study social behavior observe rats rather than humans for their experiments. Like people, rats live in groups, seek out social interactions, and find social interactions rewarding [3–6]. By studying how rodents behave in social settings, neuroscientists can better understand how certain factors in one’s environment, like stress, might have an impact on social behavior, and from there, look at what changes in the brain might be causing differences in behavior.
The similarities between animals and humans don’t stop at behavior, though. The structure of the brain is similar enough between mice and humans to help neuroscientists better understand how different parts of the human brain work and how they’re connected to each other [7]. The genome (see glossary) of mice and humans are also surprisingly close to each other [8]. Some neuroscientists study how altering certain genes in mice changes their behavior and brain function, which can give scientists and physicians ideas about how changes in these same genes impact people’s health. For example, neuroscientists have been able to find how mutations (see glossary) in certain genes are linked to autism spectrum disorder [9].
The thought of researching with animals may make some people sad or uncomfortable, and those reactions are valid. We should naturally feel compassion for other living creatures. The hope is someday there will be new tools, like computer models, so scientists will no longer need to test animals. But right now, scientists are taught to treat all animals, whether it’s a mouse or a monkey, with care and respect. Everywhere that scientists work with animals, there are committees that are responsible for having researchers follow rules and regulations for taking good care of their animals. These committees take their job very seriously so they can ensure that animals always receive humane and ethical treatment [2].
Thanks to animals, neuroscientists have made countless amazing discoveries that have improved the lives of people living with neurological and psychiatric diseases. Neuroscience will continue to need animals to learn more about how the human brain works and ultimately, how to help all people with brain disorders.
Glossary:
Genome: all the genetic information that makes up a living organism. The genetic information is contained in chromosomes which are made up of DNA [10]
Mutation: a change in the genetic material found in the genome. Mutations are random and can be passed down from parent to children or from exposure to certain environmental factors [11]
References:
1. Magazine, S. and Panko, B. This Russian Monument Honors the Humble Lab Mouse. Smithsonian Magazine. [Online]. Available: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/russian-statue-honoring-laboratory-mice-gains-renewed-popularity-180964570/. [Accessed: 10-Mar-2023]
2. Animal Research FAQs. Foundation for Biomedical Research. [Online]. Available: https://fbresearch.org/biomedical-research/faq. [Accessed: 10-Mar-2023]
3. Van Loo, P.L.P. et al. (2001) Modulation of aggression in male mice: influence of group size and cage size. Physiology & Behavior 72, 675–683
4. Jirkof, P. et al. (2020) The effect of group size, age and handling frequency on inter-male aggression in CD 1 mice. Sci Rep 10
5. Wills, G.D. et al. (1983) Social interactions among rodent conspecifics: a review of experimental paradigms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 7, 315–323
6. Gunaydin, L.A. et al. (2014) Natural neural projection dynamics underlying social behavior. Cell 157, 1535–1551
7. Tolliday, B. (2021) Feature: Why do we need to use animals in neuroscience research?. EARA. [Online]. Available: https://www.eara.eu/post/feature-why-do-we-need-to-use-animals-in-neuroscience-research. [Accessed: 11-Mar-2023]
8. What is a mouse model?. The Jackson Laboratory. [Online]. Available: https://www.jax.org/why-the-mouse/model. [Accessed: 10-Mar-2023]
9. (2012) SFARI | Mouse models. SFARI. [Online]. Available: https://www.sfari.org/resource/mouse-models/. [Accessed: 11-Mar-2023]
10. Human genome project - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help[Online]. Available: https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/human-genome-project/476279. [Accessed: 11-Mar-2023]
11. What is a mutation?. @yourgenome · Science website. [Online]. Available: https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-a-mutation/. [Accessed: 11-Mar-2023]
Edited by Alexandra Fink
