Viability of Wasf1 KO homozygotes is reduced; approximately 20% die within the first week of life. These animals are small in size, have impaired neurite outgrowth, impaired spinogenesis, elevated long-term potentiation (LTP), decreased long-term depression (LTD), and behavioral abnormalities including reduced sensorimotor function, reduced anxiety and impaired learning and memory (both spatial and non-spatial). Some symptoms are similar to those of patients with 3p-syndrome mental retardation. Protein derived from the targeted locus is absent from brain samples as assessed by immunoblot in mice homozygous for this allele.
Of note, other Wasf1 KO mutations have been used to study the brain's response during addiction to cocaine. These mice exhibit a significant decrease in the preference for cocaine.
