NCAM-180 KNOCKOUT MICE DISPLAY INCREASED LATERAL VENTRICLE SIZE AND REDUCED PREPULSE INHIBITION OF STARTLE

NCAM-180 knockout mice, which have documented deficits in neural migra tion, were used to determine whether developmental abnormalities could lead to morphological changes and alterations in sensory motor gating mechanisms. Measurement of the lateral ventricle showed that NCAM-180 (-/-) mice had marked increases in both the left and right anterior ho rns of the lateral ventricle. Furthermore, these mice also displayed a reduction of prepulse inhibition that was differentially affected by the dopamine agonist apomorphine. These results are discussed in light of the known increase in lateral ventricle size and reduction in prep ulse inhibition that are seen in schizophrenia. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.