Behavioral and neuroanatomical characterization of the Fmr1 knockout mouse
Hippocampus. 2002-01-01; 12(1): 39-46
DOI: 10.1002/hipo.10005
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1. Hippocampus. 2002;12(1):39-46.
Behavioral and neuroanatomical characterization of the Fmr1 knockout mouse.
Mineur YS(1), Sluyter F, de Wit S, Oostra BA, Crusio WE.
Author information:
(1)Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, Worcester 01604, USA.
Previous studies showed the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse to be an excellent animal
model for human fragile-X syndrome. The aim of this study was to further
characterize the phenotype of these animals. Neuroanatomically, KO male mice were
compared to wild-types (littermates) with respect to their sizes of hippocampal
intra- and infrapyramidal mossy fiber (IIPMF) terminal fields. Behaviorally, they
were tested in four different paradigms, each measuring different aspects of
cognitive and emotional behavior: elevated plus maze (anxiety), neutral cage
(aggression), open field (exploration), and radial maze (spatial memory). The
results showed a diminished ability for radial maze learning associated with
smaller sizes of IIPMF terminal fields. In addition, Fmr1 knockout animals
exhibited increased locomotor activity, while no differences were found for
aggression and anxiety. These data suggest the involvement of FMRP protein in the
development of spatial learning and the sprouting of IIPMF terminal fields.
DOI: 10.1002/hipo.10005
PMID: 11918286 [Indexed for MEDLINE]