Motor learning in Ts65Dn mice, a model for Down syndrome

Ts65Dn mice are a genetic model for Down syndrome. Both individuals with Do wn syndrome and Ts65Dn mice have reduced cerebellar volumes and the cerebel lum is involved in motor learning. Conflicting results have been reported o n the motor learning abilities of Ts65Dn mice, which may be related to proc edural differences between the motor learning tasks used in different labor atories and/or variability in phenotype because of the segregating backgrou nd on which the mice are maintained. In this study, we examined learning in three types of motor tasks (peg running, accelerating rotorod, and rotatin g rod) which were initially easy for mice and gradually increased in diffic ulty Ts65Dn mice learned the peg running task as well as controls, and lear ned the accelerating rotorod and rotating rod tasks as well as, and even be tter than, controls. These data indicate that Ts65Dn mice are not impaired in motor learning. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.