Improved spatial learning is associated with increased hippocampal but not prefrontal long‐term potentiation in mGluR4 knockout mice. (20th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iscru, E.; Goddyn, H.; Ahmed, T.; Callaerts‐Vegh, Z.; D'Hooge, R.; Balschun, D.
• Is Part Of: Genes, brain, and behavior. Volume 12:Number 6(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 615
• Page End: 625
• Publication Date: 2013-06-20
• Subjects: CA1 region -- dentate gyrus -- GABAA receptors -- hippocampus -- long‐term potentiation -- metabotropic glutamate receptors -- metaplasticity -- prefrontal cortex -- spatial learning -- synaptic plasticity; Behavior genetics -- Periodicals; Neurogenetics -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1601-1848

Abstract

Abstract : Although much information about metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and their role in normal and pathologic brain function has been accumulated during the last decades, the role of group III mGluRs is still scarcely documented. Here, we examined mGluR4 knockout mice for types of behavior and synaptic plasticity that depend on either the hippocampus or the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We found improved spatial short‐ and long‐term memory in the radial arm maze, which was accompanied by enhanced long‐term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal CA1 region. In contrast, LTP in the PFC was unchanged when compared with wild‐type controls. Changes in paired‐pulse facilitation that became overt in the presence of the GABAA antagonist picrotoxin indicated a function of mGluR4 in maintaining the excitation/inhibition balance, which is of crucial importance for information processing in the brain and the deterioration of these processes in neuropsychological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia . Abstract : mGluR4 knockout mice show improved spatial memory in the radial arm maze accompanied by enhanced LTP in hippocampal CA1 region but not in PFC.