Ataxia and paroxysmal dyskinesia in mice lacking axonally transported FGF14

Neuron. 2002 Jul 3;35(1):25-38. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00744-4.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) belongs to a distinct subclass of FGFs that is expressed in the developing and adult CNS. We disrupted the Fgf14 gene and introduced an Fgf14(N-beta-Gal) allele that abolished Fgf14 expression and generated a fusion protein (FGF14N-beta-gal) containing the first exon of FGF14 and beta-galactosidase. Fgf14-deficient mice were viable, fertile, and anatomically normal, but developed ataxia and a paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorder. Neuropharmacological studies showed that Fgf14-deficient mice have reduced responses to dopamine agonists. The paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorder phenocopies a form of dystonia, a disease often associated with dysfunction of the putamen. Strikingly, the FGF14N-beta-gal chimeric protein was efficiently transported into neuronal processes in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Together, these studies identify a novel function for FGF14 in neuronal signaling and implicate FGF14 in axonal trafficking and synaptosomal function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia / genetics
  • Ataxia / metabolism*
  • Ataxia / physiopathology
  • Axonal Transport / genetics*
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Axons / pathology
  • Basal Ganglia / growth & development
  • Basal Ganglia / metabolism
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cerebellum / growth & development
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / physiopathology
  • Chorea / genetics
  • Chorea / metabolism*
  • Chorea / physiopathology
  • Cocaine / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agonists / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / deficiency*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Gene Targeting
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Neostriatum / growth & development
  • Neostriatum / metabolism
  • Neostriatum / physiopathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / growth & development
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • fibroblast growth factor 14
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Cocaine