Overexpression of hippocampal Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II improves spatial memory.
Hippocampal alpha-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (alphaCaMKII) has been implicated in neuronal plasticity and spatial learning. In the present experiment, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector was designed to express alphaCaMKII driven by the U6 promotor. Microinfusion of this vector into the rat hippocampus increased alphaCaMKII immunoreactivity by approximately 73% (Western analysis) and improved performance in a water maze task. Locomotor activity and exploratory behavior in an open field task were not altered by the overexpression of alphaCaMKII. These data support a role for alphaCaMKII in spatial or explicit memory storage. The advantages of viral vectors for manipulating target proteins expression compared with genetically modified mouse models are discussed.
Poulsen
D J
DJ
Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.
Standing
D
D
Bullshields
K
K
Spencer
K
K
Micevych
P E
PE
Babcock
A M
AM
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000502:physiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases