title: γ-aminobutyric acid transporter-1 is involved in anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive function in knockout mice.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid transporter-1 (GAT-1) on the anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive function in knockout mice. In total, 20 adult male mice were divided into two groups, namely the GAT-1 knockout (GAT-1-/-) and wild-type (WT) groups. The open field test, elevated 0-maze (EZM) and Morris water maze were used to evaluate changes in anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive function. Compared with the WT mice, GAT-1-/-mice made more entries and spent a longer time within the central area, traveling a greater distance, during the open field test (P<0.05). The EZM revealed that GAT-1-/-mice spent more time in the open sectors and made more total entries when compared with the WT mice (P<0.01). Observations from the two tests indicated reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the GAT-1-/-mice. During the learning session using a Morris water maze, the latency to find the platform was significantly longer in the GAT-1-/-mice when compared with the WT mice (P<0.01). In addition, during the probe test, the GAT-1-/-mice spent less time in the target quadrant and more time in the opposite quadrant when compared with the WT mice (P<0.01); thus, the cognitive function in the GAT-1-/-mice was impaired. Therefore, the results demonstrated that the anxiety-like behaviors were reduced and cognitive function was impaired in GAT-1 knockout mice, indicating that GAT-1 is involved in anxiety and cognitive functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China ; Department of Neurology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China ; Department of Neurology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yiye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Center Laboratory, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China ; Department of Neurology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China ; Department of Neurology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cuicui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, P.R. China ; Department of Neurology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: anxiety; cognition; knockout; γ-aminobutyric acid; γ-aminobutyric acid transporter-1