title: Learning and memory impairment in Eph receptor A6 knockout mice.
abstract: Genetic inhibition of the ephrin receptor (EphA6) in mice produced behavioral deficits specifically in tests of learning and memory. Using a fear conditioning training paradigm, mice deficient in EphA6 did not acquire the task as strongly as did wild type (WT) mice. When tested in the same context 24h later, knockout (KO) mice did not freeze as much as WT mice indicating reduced memory of the consequences of the training context. The KO mice also displayed less freezing when presented with the conditioning stimulus (CS) in a separate context. In the hidden platform phase of the Morris water maze (MWM) task, KO mice did not reach the same level of proficiency as did WT mice. KO mice also exhibited less preference for the target quadrant during a probe trial and were significantly impaired on an initial reversal of the platform. These findings suggest that EphA6, in line with a number of other Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands, is involved in neural circuits underlying aspects of learning and memory.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 8800 Technology Forest Place, The Woodlands, TX 77381-1160, USA.
authors.forename: Katerina V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Savelieva
authors.forename: Indrani
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: Kevin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lanthorn
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D036124:Receptor, EphA6 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D036342:Ephrins; D036124:Receptor, EphA6