title: Behavioral characterization of female zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) knockout mice.
abstract: Zinc is an important element in all cells of the body, having structural, enzymatic, and regulatory functions. In some neurons, zinc is loaded into synaptic vesicles by zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) and released into the synaptic cleft, where it can modulate neuronal function. ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice lack ZnT3 and thus lack synaptic zinc. Previous studies have examined the behavioral phenotype of ZnT3 KO mice, mostly using mixed-sex or male-only groups. In the present study we focused specifically on the behavior of female ZnT3 KO mice (2-3 months old). An extensive battery of tests was administered to assess sensorimotor and cognitive behaviours, as well as to examine for a possible schizophrenia-like phenotype. ZnT3 KO mice performed similarly to wild type controls in the majority of tests. However, they were less accurate in the skilled reach task, suggesting impaired skilled motor learning, and faster to descend a vertical pole. ZnT3 KO mice were also slower in the open field and made fewer chamber entries in the social preference test, suggesting decreased exploratory locomotion. No differences were observed in the Morris water task or fear conditioning test. This is the first study to show a behavioural phenotype specifically for female ZnT3 KO mice. Comparing our results to previous studies, it appears that there may be sex-specific effects of eliminating ZnT3. Female ZnT3 KO mice exhibit abnormalities in locomotion and at skilled motor learning, but we were unable to detect spatial or fear learning deficits previously described in male ZnT3 KO mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Thackray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Brendan B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: rdyck@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dyck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000502:physiology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D065808:Prepulse Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C491177:Slc30a3 protein, mouse
keywords: Learning and memory; Motor behaviour; Sex differences; Skilled reach; Synaptic zinc; Vesicular zinc