| First Author | Gerlai R | Year | 1996 |
| Journal | Behav Neurosci | Volume | 110 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 126-33 |
| PubMed ID | 8652061 | Mgi Jnum | J:31921 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:79425 | Doi | 10.1037//0735-7044.110.1.126 |
| Citation | Gerlai R, et al. (1996) Impaired motor learning performance in cerebellar En-2 mutant mice. Behav Neurosci 110(1):126-33 |
| abstractText | 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. |
