title: Fyn tyrosine kinase is required for normal amygdala kindling.
abstract: To identify specific genes involved with epileptogenesis kindling was examined in mice carrying mutations engineered by gene targeting. Amygdala kindling was tested in mice with a null-mutation in the Fyn tyrosine kinase gene, a mutation that raises the threshold for the induction of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. The fyn mutants had a normal threshold, duration and stability of epileptiform after-discharge, which is crucial for kindling. Despite the normal after-discharge, fyn mutants showed a striking retardation in the rate of kindling. Once the kindled state was established in fyn mutants it remained stable. This implicates a Fyn-dependent biochemical pathway in the induction but not the maintenance of normal amygdala kindling. fyn is the first gene identified to be required for normal epileptogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saucier
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kandel
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases