Normal spatial learning despite regional inhibition of LTP in mice lacking Thy-1.
The process of learning involves stable changes in synaptic efficacy for which long-term potentiation (LTP) provides a widely adopted mammalian model. Synaptic modification induced by learning or LTP may involve the action of cell adhesion molecules. One such candidate is the ubiquitous neuronal glycoprotein Thy-1. In mice in which the gene encoding Thy-1 has been inactivated, we find a regionally selective impairment of LTP in vivo in the hippocampal formation: LTP is normal in area CA1 but strongly inhibited in the dentate gyrus. Spatial learning by Thy-1-deficient mice, as assessed in the watermaze, is unimpaired. Thus LTP in the cortical input to the dentate gyrus seems not to be required for spatial learning.
Nosten-Bertrand
M
M
Department of Neurology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
Errington
M L
ML
Murphy
K P
KP
Tokugawa
Y
Y
Barboni
E
E
Kozlova
E
E
Michalovich
D
D
Morris
R G
RG
Silver
J
J
Stewart
C L
CL
Bliss
T V
TV
Morris
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid