The ability of the brain to change structurally and functionally with experience is called brain plasticity. High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines impair normal memory formation and consolidation. To better understand the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in learning, the contribution of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) to a motor skill learning task investigated. The Fmr1 Knockout (KO) mouse, an animal model of Fragile X Syndrome, has demonstrated impaired neural plasticity and learning. Fmr1 KO and control wild-type (WT) mice were trained on the dowel and flat beam runways to study motor skill learning and motor activity respectively. The cerebellum from the animals was examined for IL-6 protein using ELISA. No significant differences in the levels of IL-6 in the cerebellum of the Fmr1 KO and WT normal mice were found. The expression of IL-6 was not altered by the behavioural training. These results suggest lack of association between IL-6, and FMRP and motor skill learning. / October 2016
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MANITOBA/oai:mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca:1993/31638 |
| Date | 06 September 2016 |
| Creators | Tabatabaei, Dina |
| Contributors | Ivanco, Tammy (Psychology), Montgomery, Janine (Psychology) Marzban, Hassan (Human Anatomy and Cell Science) |
| Source Sets | University of Manitoba Canada |
| Detected Language | English |
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