Mice lacking leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) protein tyrosine phosphatase domains demonstrate spatial learning impairment in the two-trial water maze and hyperactivity in multiple behavioural tests.
Leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) protein is a cell adhesion molecule-like receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase. We previously reported that in LAR tyrosine phosphatase-deficient (LAR-Delta P) mice the number and size of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons as well as their innervation of the hippocampal area was reduced. With the hippocampus being implicated in behavioural activity aspects, including learning and memory processes, we assessed possible phenotypic consequences of LAR phosphatase deficiency using a battery of rodent behaviour tests. Motor function and co-ordination tests as well as spatial learning ability assays did not reveal any performance differences between wildtype and LAR-Delta P mice. A spatial learning impairment was found in the difficult variant of the Morris water maze. Exploration, nestbuilding and activity tests indicated that LAR-Delta P mice were more active than wildtype littermates. The observed hyperactivity in LAR-Delta P mice could not be explained by altered anxiety or curiosity levels, and was found to be persistent throughout the nocturnal period. In conclusion, behavioural testing of the LAR-Delta P mice revealed a spatial learning impairment and a significant increase in activity.
Department of Cell Biology, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences, UMC St. Radboud, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Marloes J M
MJ
Kolkman
Femke
F
Streijger
Marianne
M
Linkels
Marjon
M
Bloemen
Dick J
DJ
Heeren
Wiljan J A J
WJ
Hendriks
Catharina E E M
CE
Van der Zee
D000818:Animals; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000201:enzymology; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D054630:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; C516843:Ptpra protein, mouse; D054630:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 4