Reduced hippocampal neurogenesis and skill reaching performance in adult Emx1 mutant mice

摘要: Mammalian homeobox gene Emx family is involved in the development of rostral brain. Loss-of-function studies suggest that, despite agenesis corpus callosum, Emx1 mutants display relatively modest defects compared to Emx2 mutants. However, role neurogenesis and brain function has never been explored. We used unbiased stereology determine number proliferating progenitors immature neurons adult neurogenic zones. Although previous have established that formation dentate gyrus (DG) requires Emx2, we found also exhibited a smaller DG, reduced progenitor cells contrast indistinguishable level subventricular zone when wild type mice. In view involvement callosal projection mediating interhemispheric crosstalk spatial coupling between limbs, importance DG hippocampus-dependent learning memory, assessed motor cognitive functions. deletion impaired performance on forelimb skill reaching task attenuated training induced hippocampal neurogenesis, but it did not affect activity or basic as evaluated open field, wire hanging rotor rod tests. Unexpectedly, mutant mice exhibit impairment memory Barnes maze test. Our data reduces affects higher extensive learning.