Creatine transporter (CrT; Slc6a8) knockout mice as a model of human CrT deficiency.
Mutations in the creatine (Cr) transporter (CrT; Slc6a8) gene lead to absence of brain Cr and intellectual disabilities, loss of speech, and behavioral abnormalities. To date, no mouse model of CrT deficiency exists in which to understand and develop treatments for this condition. The purpose of this study was to generate a mouse model of human CrT deficiency. We created mice with exons 2-4 of Slc6a8 flanked by loxP sites and crossed these to Cre:CMV mice to create a line of ubiquitous CrT knockout expressing mice. Mice were tested for learning and memory deficits and assayed for Cr and neurotransmitter levels. Male CrT(⁻/y) (affected) mice lack Cr in the brain and muscle with significant reductions of Cr in other tissues including heart and testes. CrT(⁻/y) mice showed increased path length during acquisition and reversal learning in the Morris water maze. During probe trials, CrT(⁻/y) mice showed increased average distance from the platform site. CrT(⁻/y) mice showed reduced novel object recognition and conditioned fear memory compared to CrT(+/y). CrT(⁻/y) mice had increased serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Ubiquitous CrT knockout mice have learning and memory deficits resembling human CrT deficiency and this model should be useful in understanding this disorder.
Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America. Matthew.skelton@cchmc.org
Matthew R
MR
Skelton
Tori L
TL
Schaefer
Devon L
DL
Graham
Ton J
TJ
Degrauw
Joseph F
JF
Clark
Michael T
MT
Williams
Charles V
CV
Vorhees
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D007211:Indoles; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C080679:creatine transporter; C026785:5-hydroxyindole; D012701:Serotonin; D003401:Creatine
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