EXPLORATION AND MOTOR COORDINATION IN DYSTONIA MUSCULORUM MUTANT MICE

Dystonia musculorum (dt) mutant mice, characterized by degeneration of spinocerebellar tracts, were impaired in terms of horizontal and vert ical motor activity, hole poking, exploration, and motor coordination. In tests of motor coordination, their deficits were more severe than those of previously tested mutant mice with degeneration of cerebellar cells. However, unlike other cerebellar mutants, dt mutants alternate d above chance levels in a two-trial spontaneous alternation test, whi ch is a test of inhibitory tendencies and spatial orientation, and so dt mutants may not be impaired in these functions.