Sex specific behavioural alterations in Mas-deficient mice

Male mice lacking the Mas protooncogene have been shown to exhibit an incre ased anxiety in the Elevated Plus Maze Task and sustained long-term potenti ation in the hippocampus without effect on spatial learning in the Morris W ater Maze Task. Here, we report behavioural studies in female mice lacking the Mas protooncogene. As for the males, we analysed the learning and anxie ty behaviour using both behavioural tasks. With the exception of a trend to a better performance in the Morris Water Maze no differences were found in both tests between control and Mas-deficient females. This implicates that the lack of Mas protein influences spatial learning and anxiety in a sex-s pecific manner. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.