Artículos de revistas
Cellular prion protein modulates defensive attention and innate fear-induced behaviour evoked in transgenic mice submitted to an agonistic encounter with the tropical coral snake Oxyrhopus guibei
Fecha
2008Registro en:
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH, v.194, n.2, p.129-137, 2008
0166-4328
10.1016/j.bbr.2008.06.006
Autor
LOBAO-SOARES, Bruno
WALZ, Roger
PREDIGER, Rui Daniel Schroeder
FREITAS, Renato Leonardo
CALVO, Fabricio
BIANCHIN, Marino Muxfeldt
LEITE, Joao Pereira
LANDEMBERGER, Michele Christine
COIMBRA, Norberto Cysne
Institución
Resumen
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a neuronal anchored glycoprotein that has been associated with distinct functions in the CNS, such as cellular adhesion and differentiation, synaptic plasticity and cognition. Here we investigated the putative involvement of the PrPC in the innate fear-induced behavioural reactions in wild-type (WT), PrPC knockout (Prnp(0/0)) and the PrPC overexpressing Tg-20 mice evoked in a prey versus predator paradigm. The behavioural performance of these mouse strains in olfactory discrimination tasks was also investigated. When confronted with coral snakes, mice from both Prnp(0/0) and Tg-20 strains presented a significant decrease in frequency and duration of defensive attention and risk assessment, compared to WT mice. Tg-20 mice presented decreased frequency of escape responses, increased exploratory behaviour, and enhancement of interaction with the snake, suggesting a robust fearlessness caused by PrPC overexpression. Interestingly, there was also a discrete decrease in the attentional defensive response (decreased frequency of defensive alertness) in Prnp(0/0) mice in the presence of coral snakes. Moreover, Tg-20 mice presented an increased exploration of novel environment and odors. The present findings indicate that the PrPC overexpression causes hyperactivity, fearlessness, and increased preference for visual, tactile and olfactory stimuli-associated novelty, and that the PrPC deficiency might lead to attention deficits. These results suggest that PrPC exerts an important role in the modulation of innate fear and novelty-induced exploration. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.