Motor coordination deficits in mice lacking RGS9

Brain Res. 2008 Jan 23:1190:78-85. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.11.017. Epub 2007 Nov 19.

Abstract

RGS9-2 is a striatum-enriched protein that negatively modulates dopamine and opioid receptor signaling. We examined the role of RGS9-2 in modulating complex behavior. Genetic deletion of RGS9-2 does not lead to global impairments, but results in selective abnormalities in certain behavioral domains. RGS9 knockout (KO) mice have decreased motor coordination on the accelerating rotarod and deficits in working memory as measured in the delayed-match-to-place version of the water maze. In contrast, RGS9 KO mice exhibit normal locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, cue and contextual fear conditioning, startle threshold, and pre-pulse inhibition. These studies are the first to describe a role for RGS9-2 in motor coordination and working memory and implicate RGS9-2 as a potential therapeutic target for motor and cognitive dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia / genetics
  • Ataxia / metabolism*
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Inhibition, Psychological
  • Male
  • Matched-Pair Analysis
  • Maze Learning / physiology*
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • RGS Proteins / genetics
  • RGS Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reflex, Startle / genetics
  • Reflex, Startle / physiology*
  • Rotarod Performance Test
  • Single-Blind Method

Substances

  • RGS Proteins
  • regulator of g-protein signaling 9