遺伝子改変マウスにおける情動、性・社会行動の研究

We have been studying neuroendocrinological bases of emotional and socio-sexual behaviors. Our studies using two types of estrogen receptor knockout mice during the last ten years have proven that the knockout mouse model is a powerful tool to delineate the relationship between genes, hormones, and behaviors. Since our main research interest, as behavioral scientists, is to understand brain mechanisms of emotional and socio-sexual behaviors, we have been focusing on developing test paradigms that are able to measure the behaviors of interest most appropriately and reliably. On the other hand, progress in molecular biology has enabled production of enormous numbers of genetically modified animals. As a result, interest and demand for analyses of behaviors as one of the phenotypes of these animals, have rapidly grown for molecular biologists. In this talk, I will first overview our findings in behavioral characteristics of estrogen receptor knockout mice and then discuss the problems in standardization of behavioral testing paradigms. Particularly, I will talk about differences between "how to measure" and "what is measured". [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S51]