Motor coordination in mice with hotfoot, Lurcher, and double mutations of the Grid2 gene encoding the delta-2 excitatory amino acid receptor

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 333 - 339
• Main Authors: Lalonde, R., Hayzoun, K., Selimi, F., Mariani, J., Strazielle, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Inc 01.11.2003; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - genetics; Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Cognitive Sciences; excitatory amino acid receptors delta 2; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grid2 gene; Life Sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Neurologic Mutants - abnormalities; Mice, Neurologic Mutants - genetics; Mice, Neurologic Mutants - metabolism; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Motor coordination; Mutation; Neurons and Cognition; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Reaction Time; Receptors, Glutamate - genetics; Receptors, Glutamate - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Walking - physiology; Motor coordination; Grid2 gene; Mutation; Cerebellum; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Purkinje neuron; Motor control; Equilibrium; Encephalon; Mus domesticus; Locomotion; Vertebrata; Animal activity; Mammalia; Morphometry
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2003.08.006

Grid2 ho/ho is a loss of function gene mutation resulting in abnormal dendritic arborizations of Purkinje cells. These mutants were compared in a series of motor coordination tests requiring balance and equilibrium to nonataxic controls ( Grid2 ho/+ ) and to a double mutant ( Grid2 ho/Lc ) with an inserted Lc mutation. The performance of Grid2 ho/ho mutant mice was poorer than that of controls on stationary beam, coat hanger, unsteady platform, and rotorod tests. Grid2 ho/Lc did not differ from Grid2 Lc/+ mice. However, the insertion of the Lc mutation in Grid2 ho/Lc potentiated the deficits found in Grid2 ho/ho in stationary beam, unsteady platform, and rotorod tests. These results indicate a deleterious effect of the Lc mutation on Grid2-deficient mice.