Hippocampal-dependent learning of micedeficient in α1H T-type calcium channel

• Main Authors: Jhe-Wei Shen, 沈哲緯
• Other Authors: Ingrid Y.-C. Liu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/43232073159756092593

碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 人類遺傳研究所 === 95 === Voltage-dependent calcium channels trigger many intracellular biochemical events, including muscle contraction, gene expression and secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. Of all the voltage-gated calcium channels, the 1H T-type Ca2+ channel (Cav3.2) is highly expressed in the hippocampus, where is correlated with contextual learning and spatial memory. Therefore, we hypothesize that Cav3.2 plays a critical role in hippocampal-dependent learning. In order to investigate the functional role of the 1H channel in learning and memory, we performed hippocampal-dependent behavior tests including trace fear conditioning and passive avoidance task on 1H homozygous knock-out mice, 1H heterozygous knockout mice and wild type mice. Results showed that 1H-/- mice are impaired in contextual fear learning, step-down and step-through tasks. Subsequently, we infused T type Ca2+ channel blockers (mibefradil and ethosuximide) to locally knock down the function of 1H T-type Ca2+ channel. Results showed that mice received blockers displaying deficits in contextual fear learning. The data indicate that 1H influences hippocampal-dependent learning via the central nervous system directly.