ALTERED BEHAVIOR AND LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN TYPE-I ADENYLYL-CYCLASE MUTANT MICE

The murine Ca2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (type I) (EC 4.6.1.1), which is expressed predominantly in brain, was inactivated by targeted mutagenesis. Ca2+ stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was reduced 40-60% in the hippocampus, neocortex, and cerebellum. Long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of the hippocampus from mutants was perturbed relative to controls. Both the initial slope and maximum extent of changes in synaptic response were reduced. Although mutant mice learned to find a hidden platform in the Morris water task normally, they did not display a preference for the region where the platform had been when it was removed. These results indicate that disruption of the gene for the type I adenylyl cyclase produces changes in behavior and that the cAMP signal transduction pathway may play an important role in synaptic plasticity.