Mice lacking the schizophrenia-associated protein FEZ1 manifest hyperactivity and enhanced responsiveness to psychostimulants.
FEZ1 (fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 1), a mammalian ortholog of Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-76, interacts with DISC1 (disrupted in schizophrenia 1), a schizophrenia susceptibility gene product, and polymorphisms of human FEZ1 have been associated with schizophrenia. We have now investigated the role of FEZ1 in brain development and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia by generating mice that lack Fez1. Immunofluorescence staining revealed FEZ1 to be located predominantly in gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing interneurons. The Fez1(-/-) mice showed marked hyperactivity in a variety of behavioral tests as well as enhanced behavioral responses to the psychostimulants MK-801 and methamphetamine. In vivo microdialysis revealed that the methamphetamine-induced release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens was exaggerated in the mutant mice, suggesting that enhanced mesolimbic dopaminergic transmission contributes to their hyperactivity phenotype. These observations implicate impairment of FEZ1 function in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Sakae
Nobutaka
N
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-2-2 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Yamasaki
Nobuyuki
N
Kitaichi
Kiyoyuki
K
Fukuda
Takaichi
T
Yamada
Mitsunori
M
Yoshikawa
Hiroo
H
Hiranita
Takato
T
Tatsumi
Yoshiki
Y
Kira
Jun-ichi
J
Yamamoto
Tsuneyuki
T
Miyakawa
Tsuyoshi
T
Nakayama
Keiichi I
KI
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C412364:Zfp312 protein, mouse; D008694:Methamphetamine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D004298:Dopamine