CONSPECIFIC EXPLORATION IN THE T-MAZE - ABNORMALITIES IN S100-BETA TRANSGENIC MICE

S100 beta, a calcium binding brain protein expressed by astrocytes, ha s been shown to be involved in higher neural processes, including hipp ocampal-dependent behavioral traits and hippocampal neuronal long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), neurophysiological phenomena that may be involved in exploring, learning and remembering novel sti muli. In the present study, the exploratory behavior of previously gen erated transgenic mice overexpressing the protein are compared to that of normal control mice of identical genetic background and age in a T -maze. The test mice encountered a normal control and an S100 beta tra nsgenic mouse (the choice mice) in the goal arms of the T-maze. We sho w that no test mice exhibited any preference for either genotype of ch oice mouse. However, there was a significant difference in the spatial and temporal exploratory pattern between control and S100 beta test m ice, demonstrating that S100 beta overexpression significantly altered the behavior of the transgenic mice. We suggest that one probable fac tor underlying the abnormalities observed is impaired short-term memor y.