title: Behavioural characterisation of transgenic mice overexpressing galanin under the PDGF-B promoter.
abstract: The behavioural phenotype of transgenic mice (3-5-months old) overexpressing galanin (GalOE mice) under the platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) promoter was evaluated in a battery of tests, including locomotor cages, light-dark exploration test, elevated plus-maze and the Porsolt forced swim test. Learning and memory were assessed in the Morris water maze task. GalOE mice showed a slight increase in spontaneous locomotor activity assessed in the locomotor cages, but the amphetamine-induced increase in locomotor activity was somewhat lower in GalOE mice. Anxiety-like behaviour in light-dark exploration and elevated plus-maze tests did not differ between genotypes. In the Porsolt forced swim test, GalOE mice displayed an increased time of immobility, indicative of increased learned helplessness possibly reflecting increased stress-susceptibility and/or depression-like behaviour. GalOE mice showed normal learning and memory retention in the Morris water maze tasks. These data support the hypothesis that galanin may have a role in functions related to mood states, including affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Division of Behavioral Neuroscience, Retzius väg 8, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuteeva
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
authors.forename: Sven Ove
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ogren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D019004:Galanin / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000235:genetics*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D019004:Galanin