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Defective limbic system in mice lacking the tailless gene
1Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg.
Nature
|December 11, 1997
Summary
The tailless gene is crucial for forebrain development in mice. Its absence leads to smaller brain regions and altered behaviors like increased aggression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The tailless gene encodes a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor type.
- Tailless is expressed in the brain, specifically in the periventricular zone of the forebrain, a region crucial for neuron and glia development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the tailless gene in forebrain development and function.
- To generate and characterize mice lacking a functional tailless protein.
Main Methods:
- Homologous recombination was used to create tailless-deficient mice.
- Phenotypic analysis of adult mutant mice was performed.
Main Results:
- Tailless is not essential for prenatal survival, as mutant mice are viable at birth.
- Adult tailless mutant mice exhibit reduced size in forebrain structures, including olfactory and limbic regions.
- Mutant mice display increased aggression, and females show a lack of maternal instincts.
Conclusions:
- The tailless gene plays a significant role in the morphogenesis and size of specific forebrain structures.
- Tailless is involved in the regulation of complex behaviors, including aggression and maternal care.
- Tailless-deficient mice provide a valuable model for studying the genetic basis of forebrain development and behavior.