Prion Protein Is Involved in Olfaction

Research in mice suggests that prion disease might involve a subtle loss of function.

The physiologic function of cellular (normal) prion protein (PrP^C) is not fully understood. Behavioral phenotypes observed in knockout mice suggest that loss of PrP^C might alter circadian rhythms, modify sleep patterns, impair spatial learning, or increase seizure sensitivity. Despite the central importance of olfaction in animals, the role of PrP^C in olfaction has not been previously investigated. The observation that PrP^C expression is widespread throughout the olfactory system in animals and humans prompted the current study of olfactory-mediated behavior in dual-knockout mice (Prnp^–/–). Researchers tested the behavior of several strains of Prnp^–/– mice and of their wild-type counterparts in two cookie-finding experiments. They also meas…

Reviewing Author

Christopher H. Hawkes, MD