Nerve growth factor promoter driven neurotrophin-3 overexpression in the mouse and the protective effect of transgene on age-related behavioral deficits

To clarify the biological function of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) at the postnata l stage, we created a line of transgenic mice overexpressing NT-3 under the control of the mouse nerve growth factor gene promoter, Transgenic mice sh owed high-level NT-3 expression in the hippocampus and several tissues. We performed behavioral tests in young-adult (7-month-sold) and aged (25-month s-old) mice. Although aged non-transgenic mice exhibited spatial learning i mpairments in the Morris water maze, overexpression of NT-3 protected again st these age-dependent spatial learning impairments in mice. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.