title: Mice deficient for the HNK-1 sulfotransferase show alterations in synaptic efficacy and spatial learning and memory.
abstract: The HNK-1 carbohydrate structure, a sulfated glucuronyl-lactosaminyl residue carried by many neural recognition molecules, is involved in cell interactions during ontogenetic development and in synaptic plasticity in the adult. To characterize the functional role of the HNK-1 carbohydrate in vivo, we have generated mice deficient for the HNK-1 sulfotransferase (ST). The ST-/- allele is inherited with Mendelian frequencies, and the ST-/- mice are viable and fertile. The anatomy of all major brain areas appeared histologically normal. However, basal synaptic transmission in pyramidal cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was increased and long-term potentiation evoked by theta-burst stimulation was reduced in ST mutants. In the water maze, ST-/- mice showed an impaired long-term memory and a poorer spatial learning when a short inter-trial interval was used. These observations indicate an essential role for the sulfate group of the HNK-1 carbohydrate in synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kutsche
authors.forename: Armen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saghatelyan
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bösl
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Löhler
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morellini
authors.forename: Melitta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schachner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D000097811:Carbohydrate Sulfotransferases
chemical_list: D015238:Sulfotransferases; C499545:Chst10 protein, mouse; D000097811:Carbohydrate Sulfotransferases; C499547:Chst10 protein, rat; C109318:HNK-1 sulfotransferase