Impaired behavioural flexibility and memory in mice lacking GDNF family receptor alpha2

The European Journal of Neuroscience
Vootele VõikarMatti S Airaksinen

Abstract

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor GFRalpha2 is the binding receptor for neurturin (NRTN). The main biological responses of GFRalpha2 are mediated via the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase, although it may also signal independently of Ret via the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM. GFRalpha2 is expressed in many neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous system. Mice lacking GFRalpha2 receptors do not exhibit any gross defects in the central nervous system structure. However, they display profound deficits in the parasympathetic and enteric nervous system, accompanied by significant reduction in body weight after weaning. Here we present the results of behavioural analysis of the GFRalpha2-knockout mice. The knockout mice did not differ from wild-type mice in basic tests of motor and exploratory activity. However, differences were established in several memory tasks. The knockout mice were not impaired in the acquisition of spatial escape strategy. However, the deficit in flexibility in establishing a new strategy was revealed during reversal learning with the platform in the opposite quadrant of the pool. Furthermore, the knockout mice displayed significant impairment in contextual fear c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 12, 2008·Molecular Neurobiology·Justin W Kenney, Thomas J Gould
Feb 21, 2007·Nature Neuroscience·Fernanda LeddaCarlos F Ibáñez
Feb 1, 2013·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Ting WangBrian M Davis
Dec 1, 2012·Stem Cells Translational Medicine·Bharathi Hattiangady, Ashok K Shetty
Feb 16, 2016·Neuroscience Letters·Yaning LiuRuxun Huang
Apr 27, 2012·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Takashi KatoToshikazu Nakamura
Jul 1, 2007·Cell Adhesion & Migration·Fernanda Ledda
Nov 7, 2014·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Kimberly A K CarhuatantaRyan Jankord
Jul 4, 2008·Trends in Neurosciences·Gustavo Paratcha, Fernanda Ledda

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