Impaired Long-Term Memory and NR2A-Type NMDA Receptor-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in Mice Lacking c-Fos in the CNS

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.23-27-09116.2003
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:30:28Z
• Authors: Alexander Fleisch...; Oivind Hvalby; Vidar Jensen; Tatyana Strekalova; Christiane Zacher; Liliana E. Layer; Ane Kvello; Markus Reschke; Rainer Spanagel; Rolf Sprengel; Erwin F. Wagner; Peter Gass
• Keywords: LTP induction; Immediate early gene; Associative learning

The immediate early gene c-fos is part of the activator protein-1 transcription factor and has been postulated to participate in molecular mechanisms learning memory. To test this hypothesis vivo, we generated mice with a nervous system-specific knock-out using Cre-loxP system. Adult lacking c-Fos CNS (c-fosDeltaCNS) showed normal general emotional behavior but were specifically impaired hippocampus-dependent spatial associative tasks. These deficits correlated reduction long-term potentiation (LTP) hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. magnitude LTP was restored by repeated tetanization procedure, suggesting induction c-fosDeltaCNS mice. This rescue blocked selective inhibitor NR2B-type NMDA receptors. blockade compensated wild-type NR2A-type receptor-activated signaling pathways, thus indicating that these pathways are compromised In summary, our data suggest role for memory as well receptor-dependent formation.