Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform
Centre de Génomique de Québec, CHUQ-CHUL, Université Laval
http://genome.ulaval.ca/neurobehavioral
Our Mission
The Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform of the Quebec Genomics Center located within the CHUQ Research Center is a state-of-the art facility designed to serve as a time-efficient and cost-effective service for researchers and pharmaceutical industry in need of behavioral and neuropharmacological analyses in small rodents. We will provide expertise in all aspects related to the consultation, selection of appropriate behavioral tests and background strains as well as deriving an optimal experimental design for testing specific hypotheses, statistical analysis, data interpretation and writing manuscripts.
The platform is equipped to accommodate a full battery of behavioral tests relevant to learning and memory, sensory abilities, motor function, nociception, and anxiety-related behaviors. We are specialized in genetic and pharmacological phenotyping in both mouse and rat. In addition, the core facility provides expertise in an array of experimental models of nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, cerebellar ataxia’s, muscular dystrophy, and peripheral nerve and spinal cord lesions.
Behavioral tests available:
The evaluation of behavioral effects is an important component for the in vivo screening of gene therapies, drugs or potentially toxic compounds in animals. In addition, each translational approach in medical research forces the establishment of neurobehavioral screening systems, dedicated to fill the gap between postgenomic generations of state-of-the-art animal models (transgenic and knockout mice) on the one hand and their added value for really predictive experimental preclinical therapy on the other. Owing to these developments in the field, neuroscientists are frequently challenged by the task of detecting discrete behavioral differences in animals at early time points. Systematic, comprehensive neurobehavioral phenotyping covers these needs and presents a central part of the process.
Before specific behavioral domains are tested, general health monitoring and basic sensorimotor abilities screening are performed to detect the presence of any early neurological/behavioral abnormalities exhibited by the animal related to its genotype or treatment. These initial evaluations ensure that animals are not too sick or otherwise disabled for further behavioral testing.
The Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform is equipped to perform a broad battery of behavioral tests to thoroughly phenotype specific behavioral domains (i.e., learning and memory, motor function, pain and anxiety -related behaviors). All tests are made in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Council of Protection of Animals (CCPA).
· Sensorimotor tests
· Cognitive tests
· Affective tests
Sensorimotor tests
Cognitive tests
Affective tests
The Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform is continually improving and expanding its battery of tests. If an investigator needs a test that is not currently available in our facility, we may develop new tests or adapt existing tests for specific research questions.
Contact information Investigators wishing to develop a project with the Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform are advised to contact the director: Mohammed Filali Mohammed Filali, Ph.D Director of the Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform Quebec Genomics Center 2705, boulevard Laurier T3-67Québec, G1V 4G2 Québec, CANADA Phone: + 1 (418) 654-2296 or +1 (418) 656-4141, Ext. 46452 Fax: +1 (418) 654-2761 Email: Mohammed.Filali@crchul.ulaval.ca Biography Ph.D (Behavioral neuroscience), Henri-Poincaré University, Nancy, France Postdoctoral research, University of Montreal, Canada Postdoctoral research, University of Toronto, Canada Selected publications Boissonneault V, Filali M, Lessard M, Relton J, Wong G, Rivest S. Powerful beneficial effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on beta-amyloid deposition and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Apr; 132(Pt 4):1078-92. Filali M, Lalonde R, Rivest S. Cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors in an APPswe/PS1 bigenic model of Alzheimer's disease. Genes Brain Behav. 2009 Mar; 8(2):143-8. Barrette B, Hébert MA, Filali M, Lafortune K, Vallières N, Gowing G, Julien JP, Lacroix S. Requirement of myeloid cells for axon regeneration. J Neurosci. 2008 Sep 17; 28(38):9363-76. Richard KL, Filali M, Préfontaine P, Rivest S. Toll-like receptor 2 acts as a natural innate immune receptor to clear amyloid beta 1-42 and delay the cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci. 2008 May 28; 28(22):5784-93. Boivin A, Pineau I, Barrette B, Filali M, Vallières N, Rivest S, Lacroix S. Toll-like receptor signaling is critical for Wallerian degeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury. J Neurosci. 2007 Nov 14; 27(46):12565-76. Pelletier JG, Likhtik E, Filali M, Paré D. Lasting increases in basolateral amygdala activity after emotional arousal: implications for facilitated consolidation of emotional memories. Learn Mem. 2005 Mar-Apr; 12(2):96-102. Filali M, Hutchison WD, Palter VN, Lozano AM, Dostrovsky JO. Stimulation-induced inhibition of neuronal firing in human subthalamic nucleus. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Jun; 156(3):274-81. Filali M, Lalonde R, Bensoula AN, Guastavino JM, Lestienne F. Spontaneous alternation, motor activity, and spatial learning in hot-foot mutant mice. J Comp Physiol [A]. 1996; 178(1): 101-104.
Contact information
Investigators wishing to develop a project with the Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform are advised to contact the director: Mohammed Filali
Mohammed Filali, Ph.D
Director of the Neurobehavioral Phenotyping Platform
Quebec Genomics Center
2705, boulevard Laurier T3-67Québec, G1V 4G2
Québec, CANADA
Phone: + 1 (418) 654-2296 or +1 (418) 656-4141, Ext. 46452
Fax: +1 (418) 654-2761
Email: Mohammed.Filali@crchul.ulaval.ca
Biography
Ph.D (Behavioral neuroscience), Henri-Poincaré University, Nancy, France
Postdoctoral research, University of Montreal, Canada
Postdoctoral research, University of Toronto, Canada
Selected publications
Boissonneault V, Filali M, Lessard M, Relton J, Wong G, Rivest S. Powerful beneficial effects of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on beta-amyloid deposition and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Brain. 2009 Apr; 132(Pt 4):1078-92.
Filali M, Lalonde R, Rivest S. Cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors in an APPswe/PS1 bigenic model of Alzheimer's disease. Genes Brain Behav. 2009 Mar; 8(2):143-8.
Barrette B, Hébert MA, Filali M, Lafortune K, Vallières N, Gowing G, Julien JP, Lacroix S. Requirement of myeloid cells for axon regeneration. J Neurosci. 2008 Sep 17; 28(38):9363-76.
Richard KL, Filali M, Préfontaine P, Rivest S. Toll-like receptor 2 acts as a natural innate immune receptor to clear amyloid beta 1-42 and delay the cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci. 2008 May 28; 28(22):5784-93.
Boivin A, Pineau I, Barrette B, Filali M, Vallières N, Rivest S, Lacroix S. Toll-like receptor signaling is critical for Wallerian degeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury. J Neurosci. 2007 Nov 14; 27(46):12565-76.
Pelletier JG, Likhtik E, Filali M, Paré D. Lasting increases in basolateral amygdala activity after emotional arousal: implications for facilitated consolidation of emotional memories. Learn Mem. 2005 Mar-Apr; 12(2):96-102.
Filali M, Hutchison WD, Palter VN, Lozano AM, Dostrovsky JO. Stimulation-induced inhibition of neuronal firing in human subthalamic nucleus. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Jun; 156(3):274-81.
Filali M, Lalonde R, Bensoula AN, Guastavino JM, Lestienne F. Spontaneous alternation, motor activity, and spatial learning in hot-foot mutant mice. J Comp Physiol [A]. 1996; 178(1): 101-104.