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Enhanced fear expression in Spir-1 actin organizer mutant mice
Sandra Pleiser1, Mumna Al Banchaabouchi2, Annette Samol-Wolf1
1University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Neurology, Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
European Journal of Cell Biology
|December 19, 2013
Summary
Spir-1 protein is crucial for fear memory in male mice, despite normal development and fertility. This actin organizer plays a specific role in neuronal circuits influencing fear behavior.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Spir proteins are actin nucleators involved in intracellular transport.
- Mammalian genomes encode Spir-1 and Spir-2, with Spir-1 predominantly expressed in the nervous system, oocytes, and testis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Spir-1 during mouse development and in adult tissues.
- To analyze the impact of Spir-1 disruption on viability, reproduction, and the nervous system.
Main Methods:
- Generation of Spir-1 mutant mice using a gene trap method.
- Assessment of viability, Mendelian ratio, and fertility.
- Analysis of brain anatomy, neuronal structure (dendritic spines), and behavior (fear conditioning).
Main Results:
- Spir-1 mutant mice are viable, fertile, and show normal overall brain anatomy and basic motor/visual functions.
- A slight reduction in dendritic spines on cortical neurons was observed.
- Male Spir-1 mutant mice exhibited enhanced fear memory in contextual and cued fear conditioning tests.
Conclusions:
- Spir-1 has a redundant role with Spir-2 in oocyte maturation, allowing for normal fertility.
- Spir-1 plays a specific role in the neuronal circuits that regulate fear behavior, particularly in males.
- Vesicle-associated Spir-1 acts as an actin organizer influencing fear memory.
