Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (Mar 2014)

Nogo-A-deficient transgenic rats show deficits in higher cognitive functions, decreased anxiety and altered circadian activity patterns

  • Tomas ePetrasek,
  • Tomas ePetrasek,
  • Iva eProkopova,
  • Martin eSladek,
  • Kamila eWeissova,
  • Iveta eVojtechova,
  • Stepan eBahnik,
  • Stepan eBahnik,
  • Anna eZemanova,
  • Kai eSchönig,
  • Stefan eBerger,
  • Björn eTews,
  • Björn eTews,
  • Björn eTews,
  • Dusan eBartsch,
  • Martin eSchwab,
  • Martin eSchwab,
  • Alena eSumova,
  • Ales eStuchlik

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00090
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Decreased levels of Nogo-A dependent signaling have been shown to affect behavior and cognitive functions. In Nogo-A knockout and knock-down laboratory rodents, behavioral alterations were observed, possibly corresponding with human neuropsychiatric diseases of neurodevelopmental origin, particularly schizophrenia. This study offers further insight into behavioral manifestations of Nogo-A knockdown in laboratory rats, focusing on spatial and non-spatial cognition, anxiety levels, circadian rhythmicity and activity patterns. Demonstrated is an impairment of cognitive functions and behavioral flexibility in a spatial active avoidance task, while non-spatial memory in a step-through avoidance task was spared. No signs of anhedonia, typical for schizophrenic patients, were observed in the animals. Some measures indicated lower anxiety levels in the Nogo-A deficient group. Circadian rhythmicity in locomotor activity was preserved in the Nogo-A-knockout rats and their circadian period (tau) did not differ from controls. However, daily activity patterns were slightly altered in the knockdown animals. We conclude that a reduction of Nogo-A levels induces changes in CNS development, manifested as subtle alterations in cognitive functions, emotionality and activity patterns.

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