Similar target, different effects: late-onset ataxia and spatial learning in prion protein-deficient mouse lines

Several lines of mice with targeted deletion of the prion protein gene (Prnp) have been produced, some of them appearing phenotypically normal, others developing late-onset ataxia. This has been tentatively attributed to the size of the targeted deletion in the Prnp gene, but a masking role of genetic background could not be excluded. Thus, we have crossed an ataxic mutant line with large deletion of Prnp (Ngsk Prnp(0/0)) with a knockout line showing only partial deletion of Prnp and no neurological deficits (Zrch1 Prnp(0/0)). A F2 generation was then studied for up to 70 weeks for co-segregation of lesion size and behavioral phenotype, including cognitive and neurological anomalies. These mice were later crossed with a recently generated PrP-deficient line also having a large deletion and late-onset ataxia (Zrch2 Prnp(0/0)). They underwent similar testing for up to 90 weeks. The ataxic phenotype always co-segregates. with large homozygous deletions involving either the Ngsk or the Zrch2 allele, independent of genetic background or sex. Compound heterozygous. Zrch1/Ngsk mice or Zrch1/Zrch2 mice showed intermediate neurological phenotypes, suggesting a gene-dosage effect of large deletions. At 12 weeks of age, large deletions were also associated with minor non-cognitive impairments in water maze learning, and hyperactivity in open field and elevated zero maze. These impairments were not predictive for the development of ataxia. Thus, the neurological deficits are closely associated with large deletions, which entail an upregulation of the recently discovered prion Doppel protein (Dpl), while genetic background factors seem to be responsible for shifting the onset of neurological symptoms.