Behavioral deficits and progressive neuropathology in progranulin-deficient mice: A mouse model of frontotemporal dementia

Progranulin haploinsufficiency causes frontotemporal dementia with tau-negative, ubiquitin-positive neuronal inclusion pathology. In this study, we showed that progranulin-deficient mice displayed increased depression- and disinhibition-like behavior, as well as deficits in social recognition from a relatively young age. These mice did not have any deficit in locomotion or exploration. Eighteen-month-old progranulin-deficient mice demonstrated impaired spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze. In addition to behavioral deficits, progranulin-deficient mice showed a progressive development of neuropathology from 12 mo of age, including enhanced activation of microglia and astrocytes and ubiquitination and cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated TDP-43. Thus, progranulin deficiency induced FTD-like behavioral and neuropathological deficits. These mice may serve as an important tool for deciphering underlying mechanisms in frontotemporal dementia.