Fecal corticosterone levels in RCAN1 mutant mice

Comp Med. 2012 Apr;62(2):87-94.

Abstract

Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is related to the expression of human neurologic disorders such as Down syndrome, Alzheimer disease, and chromosome 21q deletion syndrome. We showed here that RCAN1-knockout mice exhibit reduced innate anxiety as indicated by the elevated-plus maze. To examine whether glucocorticoids contribute to this phenotype, we measured fecal corticosterone in male wildtype and RCAN1-knockout mice and in male and female transgenic mice with neuronal overexpression of RCAN1 (Tg-RCAN1(TG)). We found no difference in fecal corticosterone levels of RCAN1-knockout mice and their wildtype littermates. As expected, we found differences between sexes in fecal corticosterone levels. In addition, we found higher levels of excreted corticosterone in Tg-RCAN1(TG) female mice as compared with female wildtype mice. Our data indicate normal diurnal corticosterone production in RCAN1 mutant mice and do not suggest a causal role in either the cognitive or anxiety phenotypes exhibited by RCAN1-knockout mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / genetics
  • Anxiety / metabolism
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Corticosterone / metabolism*
  • Feces / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / deficiency
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Activity
  • Muscle Proteins / deficiency
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation*
  • Phenotype
  • Photoperiod
  • Sex Factors
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DSCR1 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Corticosterone