NR AKCE
AU Roesler,R.; Walz,R.; Quevedo,J.; de-Paris,F.; Zanata,S.M.; Graner,E.; Izquierdo,I.; Martins,V.R.; Brentani,R.R.
TI Normal inhibitory avoidance learning and anxiety, but increased locomotor activity in mice devoid of PrPc
QU Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research 1999 Aug 25; 71(2): 349-53
PT journal article
AB Prions are the causative agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The transmissible agent (PrPsc) is an abnormal form of PrPc, a normal neuronal protein. The physiological role of PrPc remains unclear. In the present report, we evaluated behavioral parameters in Prnp(0/0) mice devoid of PrPc. Prnp(0/0) mice showed normal short- and long-term retention of a step-down inhibitory avoidance task and normal behavior in an elevated plus maze test of anxiety. During a 5-min exploration of an open field, Prnp(0/0) mice showed normal number of rearings, defecation, and latency to initiate locomotion, but a significant increase in the number of crossings. The results suggest that Prnp(0/0) mice show normal fear-motivated memory, anxiety and exploratory behavior, and a slight increase in locomotor activity during exploration of a novel environment.
MH Animal; *Anxiety; Avoidance Learning/*physiology; Locomotion/*physiology; Male; Maze Learning/physiology; Mice; Mice, Knockout; PrPc Proteins/*physiology; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
AD Centro de Memoria, Departamento de Bioquimica, ICBS, UFRGS (Campus da Saude), Porto Alegre, Brazil. roesler@vortex.ufrgs.br
SP englisch
PO Niederlande