Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McGowan, PO; Hope, TA; Meck, WH; Kelsoe, G; Williams, CL
Published in: Brain Res
April 6, 2011

The recombination activating genes (RAGs) encode two enzymes that play key roles in the adaptive immune system. RAG1 and RAG2 mediate VDJ recombination, a process necessary for the maturation of B- and T-cells. Interestingly, RAG1 is also expressed in the brain, particularly in areas of high neural density such as the hippocampus, although its function is unknown. We tested evidence that RAG1 plays a role in brain function using a social recognition memory task, an assessment of the acquisition and retention of conspecific identity. In a first experiment, we found that RAG1-deficient mice show impaired social recognition memory compared to mice wildtype for the RAG1 allele. In a second experiment, by breeding to homogenize background genotype, we found that RAG1-deficient mice show impaired social recognition memory relative to heterozygous or RAG2-deficient littermates. Because RAG1 and RAG2 null mice are both immunodeficient, the results suggest that the memory impairment is not an indirect effect of immunological dysfunction. RAG1-deficient mice show normal habituation to non-socially derived odors and habituation to an open-field, indicating that the observed effect is not likely a result of a general deficit in habituation to novelty. These data trace the origin of the impairment in social recognition memory in RAG1-deficient mice to the RAG1 gene locus and implicate RAG1 in memory formation.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Brain Res

DOI

EISSN

1872-6240

Publication Date

April 6, 2011

Volume

1383

Start / End Page

187 / 195

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Memory
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Genes, RAG-1
  • Brain
  • Animals
  • 5202 Biological psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
McGowan, P. O., Hope, T. A., Meck, W. H., Kelsoe, G., & Williams, C. L. (2011). Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice. Brain Res, 1383, 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2011.02.054
McGowan, Patrick O., Thomas A. Hope, Warren H. Meck, Garnett Kelsoe, and Christina L. Williams. “Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice.Brain Res 1383 (April 6, 2011): 187–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2011.02.054.
McGowan PO, Hope TA, Meck WH, Kelsoe G, Williams CL. Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice. Brain Res. 2011 Apr 6;1383:187–95.
McGowan, Patrick O., et al. “Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice.Brain Res, vol. 1383, Apr. 2011, pp. 187–95. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2011.02.054.
McGowan PO, Hope TA, Meck WH, Kelsoe G, Williams CL. Impaired social recognition memory in recombination activating gene 1-deficient mice. Brain Res. 2011 Apr 6;1383:187–195.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Res

DOI

EISSN

1872-6240

Publication Date

April 6, 2011

Volume

1383

Start / End Page

187 / 195

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Memory
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Genes, RAG-1
  • Brain
  • Animals
  • 5202 Biological psychology