Impaired spatial navigation learning in transgenic mice over-expressing heme oxygenase-1.
Transgenic mice expressing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) using the neuron-specific enolase promoter were impaired in learning the Morris water maze compared to nontransgenic littermates. The memory of the HO-1 mice for the location of the platform was similarly impaired when tested using a probe trial after 7 training blocks, but performance on visible platform trials was similar for both groups of mice. Importantly, both HO-1 and nontransgenic mice had normal sensorimotor function, and performed the same on a Y-maze alternation task, highlighting the specificity of memory deficit in the spatial navigation task. These results suggest that carbon monoxide, one product of HO-1 activity, interferes in the development of spatial navigation memory, and may play a role in normal memory function.
Morgan
D
D
MDC Box 9, Alzheimer Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612-4799, USA. dmorgan@pharm.med.usf.edu
Holcomb
L
L
Saad
I
I
Gordon
M
M
Mahin Maines
D000818:Animals; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005838:Genotype; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D018782:Maze Learning; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008568:Memory; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse