Journal article
Heterozygous mice with Ric-8 mutation exhibit impaired spatial memory and decreased anxiety
Behavioural Brain Research, Vol.167(1), pp.42-48
2006
Abstract
Ric-8 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for a subset of Gα proteins and it is required to maintain Gαq and the Gαs pathways in functional state. In adult mice Ric-8 is expressed in regions involved in the regulation of behavior (neocortex, cingulate cortex and hippocampus). As Ric-8 is shown to regulate neuronal transmitter release, the aim of present study was to perform behavioral analysis of ric-8 mutant. Homozygous (−/−) ric-8 mutant mice are not viable and die in early embryonic development, therefore for behavioral analysis heterozygous (+/−) ric-8 mutant mice were used. We found decreased anxiety of ric-8 heterozygous mice in light–dark compartment test where mutant mice significantly avoided the light compartment. In spatial learning paradigm (Morris water maze) the performance of ric-8 (+/−) mice was impaired. Namely, in the reversal test, ric-8 (+/−) mice exhibited significant delay to find the hidden platform compared to wild-type (wt) littermates. We did not find differences in the behavioral tests reflecting the motor abilities of mice (motor activity, rota-rod). Therefore, described alterations seem to be specific for anxiety and spatial learning. Based on these results we can conclude the importance of ric-8 in the regulation of memory and emotional behavior.
Details
- Title
- Heterozygous mice with Ric-8 mutation exhibit impaired spatial memory and decreased anxiety
- Authors/Creators
- T. Tõnissoo (Author/Creator)S. Kõks (Author/Creator)R. Meier (Author/Creator)S. Raud (Author/Creator)M. Plaas (Author/Creator)E. Vasar (Author/Creator)A. Karis (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Behavioural Brain Research, Vol.167(1), pp.42-48
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Identifiers
- 991005542489307891
- Copyright
- © 2005 Elsevier B.V.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.159 Membrane Channels & Receptors
- 1.159.426 GPCR Signaling
- Web Of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Neurosciences
- ESI research areas
- Neuroscience & Behavior