Project Summary

Ronald L. Davis, Ph.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2005) of Baylor College of Medicine, notes that although bipolar disorder (BD) unequivocally involves genetic and other neurobiological factors, the disorder is currently recognized on the basis of behavioral manifestations, including the occurrence of manic or hypomanic episodes interspersed with episodes of depression, abnormalities in arousal and motor function, disruptions in circadian rhythms, impairments in sustained attention, and verbal learning and memory deficits. Dr. Davis plans to test the hypothesis that aberrant cAMP signaling underlies some of all of the behavioral phenotypes associated with BD, thus allowing for an animal model to be developed to study BD, as overall, the evidence strongly suggests that aberrant cAMP signaling is part of a spectrum of biochemical phenotypes associated with BD. He will examine circadian rhythms, home cage ultradian rhythms, activity (mania/depression), sustained attention, and learning behaviors. For example, abnormal cyclic alterations in motor activity would offer face validity as a phenotype potentially similar to that in BD. Hyperactivity and standard tests for depression offer potential value for endophenotypes of the extreme behavioral states of the disease. Ultimately, an animal model will be useful as an early screen for new medications for BD.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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