Motor coordination defects in mice deficient for the Sam68 RNA-binding protein.

Full Abstract

The role of RNA-binding proteins in the central nervous system and more specifically their role in motor coordination and learning are poorly understood. We previously reported that ablation of RNA-binding protein Sam68 in mice results in male sterility and delayed mammary gland development and protection against osteoporosis in females. Sam68 however is highly expressed in most regions of the brain especially the cerebellum and thus we investigated the cerebellar-related manifestations in Sam68-null mice. We analyzed the mice for motor function, sensory function, and learning and memory abilities. Herein, we report that Sam68-null mice have motor coordination defects as assessed by beam walking and rotorod performance. Forty-week-old Sam68-null mice (n=12) were compared to their wild-type littermates (n=12). The Sam68-null mice exhibited more hindpaw faults in beam walking tests and fell from the rotating drum at lower speeds and prematurely compared to the wild-type controls. The Sam68-null mice were, however, normal for forelimb strength, tail-hang reflex, balance test, grid walking, the Morris water task, recognition memory, visual discrimination, auditory stimulation and conditional taste aversion. Our findings support a role for Sam68 in the central nervous system in the regulation of motor coordination.

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Author information

Author/s: Lukong, Kiven E (KE); Richard, Stéphane (S);

Affiliation: Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group and the Bloomfield Center for Research on Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, Medicine and Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Behavioural brain research (Behav Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 189 (issue 2) : pp 357-63

Dates: Created 2008/04/04; Completed 2008/07/09;

PMID: 18325609, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics; metabolism
Animals
Avoidance Learning - physiology
Cerebellum - metabolism
Conditioning, Classical - physiology
Gait - genetics; physiology
Male
Maze Learning - physiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL

Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Motor Skills - physiology
Muscle Strength - genetics; physiology
Musculoskeletal Equilibrium - physiology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; metabolism
Recognition (Psychology) - physiology
Rotarod Performance Test
Spatial Behavior - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing (0) ; Khdrbs1 protein, mouse (0) ; RNA-Binding Proteins (0)

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