Cerebellar protein expression in three different mouse strains and their relevance for motor performance

Neurochem Int. 2005 Jan;46(1):19-29. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2004.07.003.

Abstract

The present study uses a proteomic approach to link motor function to cerebellar protein expression in 129X1/SvJ, C57BL/6J and nNOS WT mice. Poor performance on the Rota rod, the standard test for motor coordination, was detected in 129X1/SvJ mice. No gross impairments of neurological, cognitive and behavioural functions were observed. Identification and quantification of 48 proteins revealed reduced expression of calbindin, septin 5 and syntaxin binding protein 1 in 129X1/SvJ. In nNos WT glucose-6-phosphate 1 dehydrogenase X was decreased whereas dihydropyrimidinase-related protein-4 was increased. In C57BL/6J stress-70 protein, alpha enolase, NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 2, septin 2, dihydropyrimidinase-related protein-2 and brain derived neurotrophic factor showed elevated levels. Neurological examination, Rota rod test, Morris Water Maze, Multiple-T-Maze, Open field and Elevated plus-maze were employed to study motor, cognitive and behavioural function. Mice were sacrificed and cerebellar tissue was homogenized. Proteins were extracted and separated on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with subsequent in-gel digestion followed by mass spectrometrical analysis of peptides (MALDI-TOF/TOF-TOF). Quantification of spots was carried out by specific software. A strong association of impaired motor function with altered cerebellar protein expression of calbindin, septin 5 and syntaxin binding protein 1in 129X1/SvJ was observed and is in agreement with previous observations of motor deficiencies in a calbindin knock-out mouse. These results have to be taken into account when using 129X1/SvJ for biochemical, toxicological or gene targeting experiments as well as when studying the above-mentioned proteins or corresponding pathways and cascades in this mouse strain.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / physiopathology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiology
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Postural Balance
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Sensation / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Nos1 protein, mouse