Preservation of spatial learning in fyn tyrosine kinase knockout mice.
Previous work has shown that knockout mice lacking the fyn tyrosine kinase gene (fyn-/-) are impaired in spatial learning. Here, we have re-examined the spatial learning of fyn-/- mutants in an open field water maze. Unlike wild-type mice, fyn-/- knockouts often floated without moving when placed in the water but could swim adequately when their hind feet were mechanically stimulated. Under these conditions, fyn-/- mice showed significant improvement over trials in locating a hidden platform. On a transfer trial, at the end of training, they spent a disproportionate amount of time swimming in the location of the previously hidden platform. These findings suggest that fyn-/- knockouts are capable of spatial learning, but suffer an impairment that compromises their ability to swim normally.
Huerta
P T
PT
Center for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
Scearce
K A
KA
Farris
S M
SM
Empson
R M
RM
Prusky
G T
GT
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases