Impaired social discrimination behavior despite normal social approach by kallikrein-related peptidase 8 knockout mouse

Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2019 Jul:162:47-58. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.04.014. Epub 2019 May 16.

Abstract

For social mammals, recognition of conspecifics and discrimination of each other (social memory) is crucial to living in a stable colony. Here, we investigated whether kallikrein-related peptidase 8 (KLK8)-neuregulin 1 (NRG1)-ErbB signaling is crucial for social discrimination behavior using the social discrimination three chamber behavioral test. Klk8 knockout mice (NRG1-deactivated mice) exhibited normal social approach but impaired social discrimination. Intraventricular injection of recombinant NRG1177-246 into Klk8 knockout mice reversed this impaired social discrimination. This study reveals that KLK8 is a key regulator of NRG1-ErbB signaling, which contributes to social discrimination behavior.

Keywords: Hippocampus; KLK8; NRG1-ErbB signaling; Social discrimination; Social memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Kallikreins / genetics
  • Kallikreins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuregulin-1 / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Social Behavior*
  • Social Discrimination*

Substances

  • Neuregulin-1
  • Kallikreins