MarmoDetector: A novel 3D automated system for the quantitative assessment of marmoset behavior.

BACKGROUND: Callithrix jacchus, generally known as the common marmoset, has recently garnered interest as an experimental primate model for better understanding the basis of human social behavior, architecture and function. Modelling human neurological and psychological diseases in marmosets can enhance the knowledge obtained from rodent research for future pre-clinical studies. Hence, comprehensive and quantitative assessments of marmoset behaviors are crucial. However, systems for monitoring and analyzing marmoset behaviors have yet to be established. NEW METHOD: In this paper, we present a novel multimodal system, MarmoDetector, for the automated 3D analysis of marmoset behavior under freely moving conditions. MarmoDetector allows the quantitative assessment of marmoset behaviors using computerised tracking analysis techniques that are based on a Kinect system equipped with video recordings, infrared images and depth analysis. RESULTS: Using MarmoDetector, we assessed behavioral circadian rhythms continuously over several days in home cages. In addition, MarmoDetector detected acute, transient complex behaviors of alcohol injected marmosets. COMPARISON TO EXISTING METHOD: Compared to 2D recording, MarmoDetector detects activities more precisely and is very sensitive as we could detect behavioral defects specifically induced by alcohol administration. CONCLUSION: MarmoDetector facilitates the rapid and accurate analysis of marmoset behavior and will enhance research on the neural basis of brain disorders.

Hereditary and histologic characteristics of the CF1/b cac mouse cataract model.

A substrain of mice originating from the CF1 strain (an outbred colony) reared at Osaka Prefecture University (CF1/b cac mice) develops cataracts beginning at 14 d old. Affected mice were fully viable and fertile and had developed cataracts by 22 d of age. The incidence of cataracts did not differ between male and female mice. Histologically, 14-wk-old CF1/b cac mice showed vacuolated lens epithelial cells, swollen lens fibers, many pyknotic nuclei, and vacuolation of the lens cortex. To elucidate the mode of inheritance, we analyzed heterozygous mutants hybrids generated from CF1/b cac and wildtype BALB/c mice and the offspring of the backcrossed heterozygous mutants. None of the heterozygous mutants was affected, but the ratio of affected to unaffected mice was 1:3 among the offspring of the heterozygous mutants. The initial genomewide screen of 20 affected backcrossed offspring (CF1/b cac × [CF1/b cac × BALB/c]) indicated that the mutant gene resides on chromosome 16. For further mapping, we used affected progeny of CF1/b cac × (CF1/b cac × MSM/Ms) mice. We concluded that the cataracts in CF1/b cac mice are inherited through an autosomal recessive mutation and that the mutant gene is located on mouse chromosome 16 between D16Mit5 and D16Mit92 and between D16Mit92 and D16Mit201. The mapping of the mutant gene of the CF1/b cac mice to mouse chromosome 16 provides the positional information necessary to identify the candidate gene responsible for the CF1/b cac phenotype.