Conditional forebrain deletion of the L-type calcium channel Ca V 1.2 disrupts remote spatial memories in mice

Learn Mem. 2008 Jan 3;15(1):1-5. doi: 10.1101/lm.773208. Print 2008 Jan.

Abstract

To determine whether L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (L-VGCCs) are required for remote memory consolidation, we generated conditional knockout mice in which the L-VGCC isoform Ca(V)1.2 was postnatally deleted in the hippocampus and cortex. In the Morris water maze, both Ca(V)1.2 conditional knockout mice (Ca(V)1.2(cKO)) and control littermates displayed a marked decrease in escape latencies and performed equally well on probe trials administered during training. In distinct contrast to their performance during training, Ca(V)1.2(cKO) mice exhibited significant impairments in spatial memory when examined 30 d after training, suggesting that Ca(V)1.2 plays a critical role in consolidation of remote spatial memories.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / deficiency*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / genetics*
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • DNA Primers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Memory Disorders / genetics*
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prosencephalon / physiology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Space Perception*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • CACNA1C protein, mouse
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • DNA Primers