title: Specific roles of GABA(B(1)) receptor isoforms in cognition.
abstract: The GABA(B) receptor is a heterodimer of GABA(B(1)) and GABA(B(2)) subunits. There are two isoforms of the GABA(B(1)) subunit: GABA(B(1a)) and GABA(B(1b)). Recent studies with mutant mice suggest a differential role for the two GABA(B(1)) isoforms in behavioural processes. As pharmacological and genetic studies have implicated GABA(B) receptors in cognition we investigated the behaviour of GABA(B(1a))(-/-) and GABA(B(1b))(-/-) mice in different types of cognitive paradigms. GABA(B(1a))(-/-) and GABA(B(1b))(-/-) mice were both impaired relative to wildtype controls in a continuous spontaneous alternation behaviour test of working spatial memory. In contrast to the reported phenotype of GABA(B(1))(-/-) mice, however, neither GABA(B(1a))(-/-) nor GABA(B(1b))(-/-) mice were deficient in a passive avoidance task. On the other hand, GABA(B(1a))(-/-) mice were impaired in familiar and novel object recognition. We conclude that GABA(B(1)) isoforms contribute differentially to GABA(B) receptor-mediated cognitive processes.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bettler
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaupmann
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cryan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B