title: Semaphorin 6A knockout mice display abnormalities across ethologically-based topographies of exploration and in motor learning.
abstract: Semaphorins are secreted or membrane-bound proteins implicated in neurodevelopmental processes of axon guidance and cell migration. Exploratory behaviour and motor learning was examined ethologically in Semaphorin 6A (Sema6A) mutant mice. The ethogram of initial exploration in Sema6A knockout mice was characterised by increased rearing to wall with decreased sifting; over subsequent habituation, locomotion, sniffing and rearing to wall were increased, with reduced habituation of rearing seated. Rotarod analysis indicated delayed motor learning in Sema6A heterozygous mutants. Disruption to the axonal guidance and cell migration processes regulated by Sema6A is associated with topographically specific disruption to fundamental aspects of behaviour, namely the ethogram of initial exploration and subsequent habituation to the environment, and motor learning.
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.affiliation: Smurfit Institute of Genetics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Runker
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Smurfit Institute of Genetics and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Waddington
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: c.otuathaigh@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Colm M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: O'Tuathaigh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C504203:Sema6a protein, mouse; D039961:Semaphorins
keywords: Behavioural phenotype; Ethogram; Knockout mice; Motor learning; Semaphorin 6A