title: Mice lacking alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase IX demonstrate disappearance of Lewis x structure in brain and increased anxiety-like behaviors.
abstract: The 3-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine [Lewis x (Le(x)), CD15, SSEA-1] carbohydrate structure is expressed on several glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans of the nervous system and has been implicated in cell-cell recognition, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal migration during development. To characterize the functional role of Le(x) carbohydrate structure in vivo, we have generated mutant mice that lack alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase IX (Fut9(-/-)). Fut9(-/-) mice were unable to synthesize the Le(x) structure carried on glycoproteins and glycolipids in embryonic and adult brain. However, no obvious pathological differences between wild-type and Fut9(-/-) mice were found in brain. In behavioral tests, Fut9(-/-) mice exhibited increased anxiety-like responses in dark-light preference and in elevated plus maze tests. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the number of calbindin-positive neurons was decreased in the basolateral amygdala in Fut9(-/-) mice. These observations indicated that the carbohydrates synthesized by Fut9 play critical roles in functional regulations of interneurons in the amygdalar subdivisions and suggested a role for the Le(x) structure in some aspects of emotional behavior in mice.
authors.affiliation: Glycogene Function Team, Research Center for Glycoscience, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central-2, Open Space Laboratory, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Yuzuru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikehara
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Togayachi
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuasa
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narimatsu
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D064026:Calbindins; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007858:Learning; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064026:Calbindins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D006017:Glycolipids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D005647:Fucosyltransferases; C518194:fucosyltransferase 9, mouse