| First Author | Ryu T | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Exp Neurol | Volume | 318 |
| Pages | 22-31 | PubMed ID | 30981806 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:278113 | Mgi Id | MGI:6355843 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.04.006 | Citation | Ryu T, et al. (2019) Improved memory and reduced anxiety in delta-catenin transgenic mice. Exp Neurol 318:22-31 |
| abstractText | delta-Catenin is abundant in the brain and affects its synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, loss of delta-catenin is related to the deficits of learning and memory, mental retardation (cri-du-chat syndrome), and autism. A few studies about delta-catenin deficiency mice were performed. However, the effect of delta-catenin overexpression in the brain has not been investigated as yet. Therefore we generated a delta-catenin overexpressing mouse model. To generate a transgenic mouse model overexpressing delta-catenin in the brain, delta-catenin plasmid having a Thy-1 promotor was microinjected in C57BL/6 mice. Our results showed delta-catenin transgenic mice expressed higher levels of N-cadherin, beta-catenin, and p120-catenin than did wild type mice. Furthermore, delta-catenin transgenic mice exhibited better object recognition, better sociability, and lower anxiety than wild type mice. However, both mice groups showed a similar pattern in locomotion tests. Although delta-catenin transgenic mice show similar locomotion, they show improved sociability and reduced anxiety. These characteristics are opposite to the symptoms of autism or mental retardation, which are caused when delta-catenin is deficient. These results suggest that delta-catenin may alleviate symptoms of autism, Alzheimer's disease and mental retardation. |
