| First Author | Kiehl TR | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | Exp Neurol | Volume | 211 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 107-14 |
| PubMed ID | 18313668 | Mgi Jnum | J:136568 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3796493 | Doi | 10.1016/j.expneurol.2008.01.014 |
| Citation | Kiehl TR, et al. (2008) Mice lacking the transcription factor Ikaros display behavioral alterations of an anti-depressive phenotype. Exp Neurol 211(1):107-14 |
| abstractText | The Ikaros (Ik) family of transcription factors has critical functions in immune regulation, lymphohematopoiesis and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Ik influences cell fate decisions through transcriptional activation of target genes and its interaction with chromatin remodeling complexes. While Ik is well-described in the lymphoid system and pituitary, its presence and function in the brain has received limited attention to date. This study describes the transient spatio-temporal expression of Ik in striatal medium spiny neurons of the developing murine CNS. To determine the impact of Ik deficiency, standardized behavioral tests were performed. In the elevated plus-maze and contextual fear conditioning tests, homozygous Ik-deficient mice performed similarly to wild-type or heterozygote mice. However, significant differences were observed in Ik-null mice in several behavioral tests. Pinch-induced catalepsy was markedly extended. In the Porsolt forced swim test, Ik-null mice showed reduced immobility, consistent with an anti-depressive effect. The acoustic startle response of Ik-null mice was also markedly diminished. Our findings extend the role of the Ikaros zinc-finger protein to the maturation and differentiation of striatal medium spiny neurons and indicate important actions for Ik in the development of neurocognitive functions and affecting depressive behaviors. |
