Conditional calcineurin knockout mice exhibit multiple abnormal behaviors related to schizophrenia

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jul 22;100(15):8987-92. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1432926100. Epub 2003 Jul 8.

Abstract

Calcineurin (CN), a calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, plays a significant role in the central nervous system. Previously, we reported that forebrain-specific CN knockout mice (CN mutant mice) have impaired working memory. To further analyze the behavioral effects of CN deficiency, we subjected CN mutant mice to a comprehensive behavioral test battery. Mutant mice showed increased locomotor activity, decreased social interaction, and impairments in prepulse inhibition and latent inhibition. In addition, CN mutant mice displayed an increased response to the locomotor stimulating effects of MK-801. Collectively, the abnormalities of CN mutant mice are strikingly similar to those described for schizophrenia. We propose that alterations affecting CN signaling could comprise a contributing factor in schizophrenia pathogenesis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Calcineurin / deficiency*
  • Calcineurin / genetics
  • Calcineurin / physiology
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects
  • Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology
  • Dopamine / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Schizophrenia / etiology*
  • Schizophrenia / genetics
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Social Behavior

Substances

  • Glutamic Acid
  • Dizocilpine Maleate
  • Amphetamine
  • Calcineurin
  • Dopamine