The involvement of Type II Neuregulin-1 in rat visuospatial learning and memory

The cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia are considered a core feature of the disease. Neuregulin-1 is a risk gene for schizophrenia that is involved in many neurodevelopmental and synaptic plasticity-related processes relevant to schizophrenia. Here, we have utilized a rat model (Nrg1Tn), which is hypomorphic for the neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) gene, to test whether reduced Type II NRG1 in the rat brain leads to cognitive deficits relevant to schizophrenia. Wild-type and homozygous Nrg1Tn male rats were tested in memory tasks that evaluated spatial memory (Morris water maze) and visuospatial working and reference memory (Can Test). Nrg1Tn rats were not impaired on the Morris water maze, but did show a deficit in the appetitive visuospatial discrimination test. Nrg1Tn rats committed more reference and working memory errors in this test. These results indicate that decreased Type II NRG1 in the brain may lead to deficits in visuospatial learning and memory.

► Type II Neuregulin 1 is involved in visuospatial working and reference memory.
► Nrg1Tn rats were impaired in a visuospatial discrimination task.
► Nrg1Tn rats were not impaired on the Morris water maze.