Calretinin expression as a critical component in the control of dentate gyrus long-term potentiation induction in mice.
We have recently reported that mice homozygous (Cr-/-) for a null mutation in the calretinin gene have impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in the dentate gyrus (S. Schurmans et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94, 10415 ). Here, we investigated dentate LTP induction in mice heterozygous (Cr+/-) for the same mutation. Despite the presence of calretinin in neurons of these mice, although at reduced levels as compared with normal mice, LTP induction in dentate gyrus was totally impaired. Spatial memory and learning were found unaffected in Cr+/- mice, such as in Cr-/- mice. Altogether, our results suggest that calretinin is a critical component in the control of dentate synaptic plasticity in mice, and that levels of calretinin higher than those observed in Cr+/- mice are required to induce LTP in this area. The possible mechanisms leading to the absence of correlation between gene dosage and biological effects are discussed.
Gurden
H
H
Department of Electrophysiology, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer S.A., Vitry-sur-Seine, France.
Schiffmann
S N
SN
Lemaire
M
M
Böhme
G A
GA
Parmentier
M
M
Schurmans
S
S
D000818:Animals; D064032:Calbindin 2; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*
C576511:Calb2 protein, mouse; D064032:Calbindin 2; D005136:Eye Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G