Besides providing the technology for behavioural tests, the facility is designed to instruct users on how to correctly conduct different tests. Indeed, the access to the facility is possible by 3 different methods of service, charged by 3 different fees:

• Method 1: technical work, data analysis, data interpretation and work writing carried out entirely by the facility.
• Method 2: technical work, data analysis, data interpretation and work writing entirely done by users.
• Method 3: technical work performed by users and data analysis, data interpretation and work writing carried out by the facility.

Whenever Method 1 and Method 3 are preferred, there’s the need for one more step in order to ensure a correct usage of the software and handle of mice to be tested. In details, an introductory course of 200 € is mandatory to explain rules for behavioural facility entry, tests and software use.

No free access is permitted concerning Learning & Memory tests because of the complexity of the software used; thus, only technical work is allowed. Data extrapolation will be done by the facility, whether data analysis is done by either the facility or the users. Costs will be established directly with the user.

• Basic sensory functions: Fox battery test
• Sensorial analysis: Hotplate, Olfaction test, Visual test
• Motor skills: RotaRod, Automated gait analysis (CatWalk), Grip Strength Meter test
• Anxiety-like and Explorative behaviour: Open field, Emergence boxes, Novelty boxes, Dark/Light box, Elevated Plus maze
• Depression-like behaviour: Tail suspension, Forced swim test, Sucrose preference
• Learning & Memory: Water maze, 8-arms radial maze, 4-arms spontaneous alternation test, T-maze, Contextual and cue fear conditioning boxes, Appetitive modular conditioning boxes, Conditioning taste aversion
• Social behaviour: 3-chambers box, Resident-intruder box
• Noldus Ethovision 15XT and AnyMaze software’s are used for extrapolation and data analysis.

Oettinghaus B, Schulz JM, Restelli LM, Licci M, Savoia C, Schmidt A, Schmitt K, Grimm A, Morè L, Hench L, Tolnay M, Eckert A, D`Adamo P, Franken P, Ishihara N, Mihara K, Bischofberger J, Scorrano L and Frank S. Synaptic dysfunction, memory deficits and hippocampal atrophy due to ablation of mitochondrial fission in adult forebrain neurons. Cell Death Differ Jan;23(1):18-28. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2015.39. Epub 2015 Apr 24 (2016)

Muzio L, Brambilla V, Calcaterra L, D’Adamo P, Martino G, Benedetti F. Increased neuroplasticity and hippocampal microglia activation in a mice model of rapid antidepressant treatment. Behav Brain Res Sep 15;311:392-402. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.063 (2016)

Zamboni V, Armentano M, Sarò G, Ciraolo E, Ghigo A, Germena G, Umbach A, Valnegri P, Passafaro M, Carabelli V, Gavello D, Bianchi V, D'Adamo P, de Curtis I, El-Assawi N, Mauro A, Priano L, Ferri N, Hirsch E, Merlo GR. Distruption of ArhGAP15 results in hyperactive Rac1, affects the architecture and function of hippocampal inhibitory neurons and causes cognitive deficits. Sci Rep. Oct 7;6:34877. doi: 10.1038/srep34877 (2016)

Bolino A, Piguet F, Alberizzi V, Pellegatta M, Rivellini C, Guerrero-Valero M, Noseda R, Brombin C, Nonis A, D'Adamo P, Taveggia C, Previtali SC. Niacin-mediated Tace activation ameliorates CMT neuropathies with focal hypermyelination. EMBO Mol Med Oct 31. pii: e201606349. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201606349 (2016)

Sauer AV, Hernandez RJ, Fumagalli F, Bianchi V, Poliani PL, Dallatomasina C, Riboni E, Politi LS, Tabucchi A, Carlucci F, Casiraghi M, Carriglio N, Cominelli M, Forcellini CA, Barzaghi F, Ferrua F, Minicucci F, Medaglini S, Leocani L, la Marca G, Notarangelo LD, Azzari C, Comi G, Baldoli C, Canale S, Sessa M, D'Adamo P, Aiuti A. Alterations in the brain adenosine metabolism cause behavioral and neurological impairment in ADA-deficient mice and patients. Sci Rep. Jan 11;7:40136. doi: 10.1038/srep40136 (2017).

Morè L, Künnecke B, Yekhlef L, Bruns A, Marte A, Fedele E, Bianchi V, Taverna S, Gatti S, D'Adamo P. Altered Fronto-Striatal Functions in the Gdi1-null Mouse Model of X-linked Intellectual Disability. Neuroscience. Jan 2. pii: S0306-4522(16)30743-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.12.043 (2017).

Murru L, Vezzoli E, Longatti A, Ponzoni L, Falqui A, Folci A, Moretto E, Bianchi V, Braida D, Sala M, D’Adamo P, Bassani S, Francolini M and Passafaro M. Pharmacological modulation of AMPAR rescues intellectual disability-like phenotype in Tm4sf2-/y mice. Cerebral Cortex doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx221 (2017).

Zanardi A, Conti A, Cremonesi M, D'Adamo P, Gilberti E, Apostoli P, Cannistraci CV, Piperno A, David S, Alessio M. Ceruloplasmin replacement therapy ameliorates neurological symptoms in a preclinical model of aceruloplasminemia. EMBO Mol Med doi: 10.15252/emmm.201708361 (2017)

Cusimano M, Brambilla E, Capotondo A, De Feo D, Tomasso A, Comi G, D'Adamo P, Muzio L, Martino G. Selective killing of spinal cord neural stem cells impairs locomotor recovery in a mouse model of spinal cord injury. J Neuroinflammation Feb 23;15(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1085-9 (2018)

Gandaglia A, Brivio E, Carli S, Palmieri M, Bedogni F, Stefanelli G, Bergo A, Leva B, Cattaneo C, Pizzamiglio L, Cicerone M, Bianchi V, Kilstrup-Nielsen C, D'Annessa I, Di Marino D, D'Adamo P, Antonucci F, Frasca A, Landsberger N. A Novel Mecp2Y120D Knock-in Model Displays Similar Behavioral Traits But Distinct Molecular Features Compared to the Mecp2-Null Mouse Implying Precision Medicine for the Treatment of Rett Syndrome. Mol Neurobiol Nov 6. doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1412-2 (2018) 

Fratta P, Ornaghi F, Dati G, Zambroni D, Saveri P, Belin S, D'Adamo P, Shy M, Quattrini A, Laura Feltri M, Wrabetz L. A nonsense mutation in Myelin Protein Zero causes congenital hypomyelination neuropathy through altered P0 membrane targeting and gain of abnormal function. Hum Mol Genet Jan 1;28(1):124-132. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy336 (2019)