Does the mutant mouse lurcher have deficits in spatially oriented behaviours?

Lurcher mutant mice, in comparison to normal mice, had directional deficits in the Morris milk tank test and in a water-maze spatial alternation task. The lurcher mutants also showed an initial lack of spontaneous alternation and did not alternate in one behavioral condition when the inter-trial interval was lengthened. Lurcher mice were slower to learn a simple left/right position response to escape a T-maze by swimming although their motor coordination was good. Paradoxically, no deficit was observed in learning to select a left or right position for food in the same T-maze although the goal-directed locomotion was very ataxic. Overall, the lurcher mutants have difficulty in guiding themselves in the water toward a visible goal.