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Impaired Motor Learning Performance in Cerebellar En-2 Mutant Mice

Mice homozygous for a null mutation in their En-2 gene exhibit cerebellar neuroanatomical alterations including absence and misplacements of specific fissures and size reduction. The present study investigated cerebellar function by comparing the behavior of age-matched homozygous and heterozygous E...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral neuroscience 1996-02, Vol.110 (1), p.126-133
Main Authors: Gerlai, R, Millen, K. J, Herrup, K, Fabien, K, Joyner, A. L, Roder, J
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Mice homozygous for a null mutation in their En-2 gene exhibit cerebellar neuroanatomical alterations including absence and misplacements of specific fissures and size reduction. The present study investigated cerebellar function by comparing the behavior of age-matched homozygous and heterozygous En-2 mutant and wild-type mice. Motor function of the mutants was found normal in several situations. Habituation to novelty in the open field was not significantly different in mutants. However, in a motor learning paradigm, the rotating rod, the performance of homozygous mutant mice improved significantly less than that of the heterozygous mice which were also significantly impaired compared to wild-type mice. Unlike other cerebellar mutants in which severe motor or sensory defects are obvious, the En-2 mouse model offers a unique tool to study the role of cerebellum in complex behavioral phenomena, including motor learning, without confounding effects.
ISSN:0735-7044
1939-0084
DOI:10.1037/0735-7044.110.1.126