Transgenic mice overexpressing the full-length neurotrophin receptor trkB exhibit increased activation of the trkB-PLCgamma pathway, reduced anxiety, and facilitated learning

• Published in: Molecular and cellular neuroscience Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 166 - 181
• Main Authors: Koponen, Eija, Võikar, Vootele, Riekki, Ruusu, Saarelainen, Tommi, Rauramaa, Tuomas, Rauvala, Heikki, Taira, Tomi, Castrén, Eero
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Anxiety - genetics; Anxiety - metabolism; Avoidance Learning - physiology; Brain Chemistry - genetics; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Cerebral Cortex - cytology; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Exploratory Behavior - physiology; Female; Hippocampus - cytology; Hippocampus - metabolism; Learning - physiology; Long-Term Potentiation - genetics; Male; Maze Learning - physiology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Phospholipase C gamma; Phosphorylation; Receptor, trkB - biosynthesis; Receptor, trkB - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - physiology; Synaptic Transmission - genetics; Type C Phospholipases - metabolism; Up-Regulation - genetics
• ISSN: 1044-7431

We have investigated the biochemical, physiological, and behavioral properties of transgenic mice overexpressing the full-length neurotrophin receptor trkB (trkB.TK+). The highest trkB.TK+ mRNA overexpression was achieved in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal subfields, both areas also showing strongly increased trkB.TK+ receptor protein expression and phosphorylation. Furthermore, as a result of trkB.TK+ overexpression, partial activation of trkB downstream signaling was observed. Phosphorylation of phospholipaseCgamma-1 was increased but unexpectedly, the expression and phosphorylation levels of signaling molecules Shc and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were unaltered. Behavioral studies revealed improved learning and memory in the water maze, contextual fear conditioning, and conditioned taste aversion tests, and reduced anxiety in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark exploration tests in trkB.TK+ transgenic mice. Electrophysiological studies revealed a reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse in trkB.TK+ mice. Altogether, overexpression of the trkB.TK+ receptor postnatally leads to selective activation of trkB signaling pathways and enhanced learning and memory.