Behavioral Evidence for Cognitive Dysfunctions in the (BALB/cByJ-Kv1.1mceph/mceph) Mouse Model for Epilepsy

Sarah Holst, Elin Åberg, Therese M Eriksson, Catharina Lavebratt, Sven Ove Ögren

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DOI: 10.4236/jbbs.2011.14028                

Abstract

The epileptic mouse model BALB/cByJ-Kv1.1mceph/mceph (mceph/mceph) is homozygous for a spontaneous mutation truncating the Shaker-like voltage gated potassium channel, Kv1.1 (Kcna1). The mceph/mceph mice are asymptomatic at birth, but develop from 3 weeks of age epileptic seizures, overgrowth and neuronal hyperplasia of the hippocampus. Hippocampal cognitive function of the mice was examined by investigating emotional memory using the aversive Passive Avoidance (PA) task combined with studies of explorative behavior using the non-aversive Novel Cage test (NCT). The behavioural results were examined by multivariate analysis. Compared to wild type and heterozygous mice, the mceph/mceph mice displayed lower exploratory and safety assessment behavior in the NCT and impairment in PA retention 24 hours after training, indicating an impairment in cognitive functions. In conclusion, the epileptic mouse model BALB/cByJ-Kv1.1mceph/mceph, with chronic epilepsy related to potassium-channelopathy, display a behavioural phenotype characterized by impairments in emotional memory and defensive motivational responses probably related to hippocampal dysfunctions.

Keywords

Epilepsy, Potassium Ion-Channelopathy, Hippocampus, Passive Avoidance, Novel Cage Test, Principal Component Analysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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