Dodecyl creatine ester therapy: from promise to reality.

Pathogenic variants in SLC6A8, the gene which encodes creatine transporter SLC6A8, prevent creatine uptake in the brain and result in a variable degree of intellectual disability, behavioral disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder), epilepsy, and severe speech and language delay. There are no treatments to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for creatine transporter deficiency (CTD). In this spotlight, we summarize recent advances in innovative molecules to treat CTD, with a focus on dodecyl creatine ester, the most promising drug candidate.

Clinical Characteristics, Developmental Trajectory, and Caregiver Burden of Patients With Creatine Transporter Deficiency (SLC6A8).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability (ID). We evaluated the clinical characteristics and trajectory of patients with CTD and the impact of the disease on caregivers to identify relevant endpoints for future therapeutic trials. METHODS: As part of a French National Research Program, patients with CTD were included based on (1) a pathogenic SLC6A8 variant and (2) ID and/or autism spectrum disorder. Families and patients were referred by the physician who ordered the genetic analysis through Reference Centers of ID from rare causes and inherited metabolic diseases. After we informed the patients and their parents/guardians about the study, all of them gave written consent and were included. A control group of age-matched and sex-matched patients with Fragile X syndrome was also included. Physical examination, neuropsychological assessments, and caregiver impact were assessed. All data were analyzed using R software. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (27 male, 4 female) were included (25/31 aged 18 years or younger). Most of the patients (71%) had symptoms at <24 months of age. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.5 years. Epilepsy occurred in 45% (mean age at onset: 8 years). Early-onset behavioral disorder occurred in 82%. Developmental trajectory was consistently delayed (fine and gross motor skills, language, and communication/sociability). Half of the patients with CTD had axial hypotonia during the first year of life. All patients were able to walk without help, but 7/31 had ataxia and only 14/31 could walk tandem gait. Most of them had abnormal fine motor skills (27/31), and most of them had language impairment (30/31), but 12/23 male patients (52.2%) completed the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Approximately half (14/31) had slender build. Most of them needed nursing care (20/31), generally 1-4 h/d. Adaptive assessment (Vineland) confirmed that male patients with CTD had moderate-to-severe ID. Most caregivers (79%) were at risk of burnout, as shown by Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) > 36 (significantly higher than for patients with Fragile X syndrome) with a high burden of time dependence. DISCUSSION: In addition to clinical endpoints, such as the assessment of epilepsy and the developmental trajectory of the patient, the Vineland scale, PPVT5, and CBI are of particular interest as outcome measures for future trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ANSM Registration Number 2010-A00327-32.

Experimental and Computational Analysis of Newly Identified Pathogenic Mutations in the Creatine Transporter SLC6A8.

Creatine is an essential metabolite for the storage and rapid supply of energy in muscle and nerve cells. In humans, impaired metabolism, transport, and distribution of creatine throughout tissues can cause varying forms of mental disability, also known as creatine deficiency syndrome (CDS). So far, 80 mutations in the creatine transporter (SLC6A8) have been associated to CDS. To better understand the effect of human genetic variants on the physiology of SLC6A8 and their possible impact on CDS, we studied 30 missense variants including 15 variants of unknown significance, two of which are reported here for the first time. We expressed these variants in HEK293 cells and explored their subcellular localization and transport activity. We also applied computational methods to predict variant effect and estimate site-specific changes in thermodynamic stability. To explore variants that might have a differential effect on the transporter's conformers along the transport cycle, we constructed homology models of the inward facing, and outward facing conformations. In addition, we used mass-spectrometry to study proteins that interact with wild type SLC6A8 and five selected variants in HEK293 cells. In silico models of the protein complexes revealed how two variants impact the interaction interface of SLC6A8 with other proteins and how pathogenic variants lead to an enrichment of ER protein partners. Overall, our integrated analysis disambiguates the pathogenicity of 15 variants of unknown significance revealing diverse mechanisms of pathogenicity, including two previously unreported variants obtained from patients suffering from the creatine deficiency syndrome.

Cerebral creatine deficiency disorders - A clinical, genetic and follow up study from India.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral creatine deficiency syndromes (CCDS) are a group of potentially treatable neurometabolic disorders. The clinical, genetic profile and follow up outcome of Indian CCDS patients is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort of CCDS patients seen over six-years. Diagnosis was based either on low creatine peak on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and/or genetic evaluation. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were eligible [8 creatine transporter deficiency (CTD), 4 guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency and 1 could not be classified]. The mean (±SD) age at diagnosis was 7.2(±5.0) years. Clinical manifestations included intellectual disability (ID) with significant expressive speech delay in all. Most had significant behavior issues (8/13) and/or autism (8/13). All had history of convulsive seizures (11/13 had epilepsy; 2 patients only had febrile seizures) and 2/13 had movement disorder. Constipation was the commonest non-neurological manifestation (5/13 patients). Cranial MRI was normal in all CTD patients but showed globus pallidus hyperintensity in all four with GAMT deficiency. MRS performed in 11/13 patients, revealed abnormally low creatine peak. A causative genetic variant (novel mutation in nine) was identified in 12 patients. Three GAMT deficiency and one CTD patient reported neurodevelopmental improvement and good seizure control after creatine supplementation. CONCLUSION: Intellectual disability, disproportionate speech delay, autism, and epilepsy, were common in our CCDS patients. A normal structural neuroimaging with easily controlled febrile and/or afebrile seizures differentiated CTD from GAMT deficiency patients who had abnormal neuroimaging and often difficult to control epilepsy and movement disorder.

The Role of Preclinical Models in Creatine Transporter Deficiency: Neurobiological Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Development.

Creatine (Cr) Transporter Deficiency (CTD) is an X-linked metabolic disorder, mostly caused by missense mutations in the SLC6A8 gene and presenting with intellectual disability, autistic behavior, and epilepsy. There is no effective treatment for CTD and patients need lifelong assistance. Thus, the research of novel intervention strategies is a major scientific challenge. Animal models are an excellent tool to dissect the disease pathogenetic mechanisms and drive the preclinical development of therapeutics. This review illustrates the current knowledge about Cr metabolism and CTD clinical aspects, with a focus on mainstay diagnostic and therapeutic options. Then, we discuss the rodent models of CTD characterized in the last decade, comparing the phenotypes expressed within clinically relevant domains and the timeline of symptom development. This analysis highlights that animals with the ubiquitous deletion/mutation of SLC6A8 genes well recapitulate the early onset and the complex pathological phenotype of the human condition. Thus, they should represent the preferred model for preclinical efficacy studies. On the other hand, brain- and cell-specific conditional mutants are ideal for understanding the basis of CTD at a cellular and molecular level. Finally, we explain how CTD models might provide novel insight about the pathogenesis of other disorders, including cancer.

Creatine transporter deficiency impairs stress adaptation and brain energetics homeostasis.

The creatine transporter (CrT) maintains brain creatine (Cr) levels, but the effects of its deficiency on energetics adaptation under stress remain unclear. There are also no effective treatments for CrT deficiency, the second most common cause of X-linked intellectual disabilities. Herein, we examined the consequences of CrT deficiency in brain energetics and stress-adaptation responses plus the effects of intranasal Cr supplementation. We found that CrT-deficient (CrT-/y) mice harbored dendritic spine and synaptic dysgenesis. Nurtured newborn CrT-/y mice maintained baseline brain ATP levels, with a trend toward signaling imbalance between the p-AMPK/autophagy and mTOR pathways. Starvation elevated the signaling imbalance and reduced brain ATP levels in P3 CrT-/y mice. Similarly, CrT-/y neurons and P10 CrT-/y mice showed an imbalance between autophagy and mTOR signaling pathways and greater susceptibility to cerebral hypoxia-ischemia and ischemic insults. Notably, intranasal administration of Cr after cerebral ischemia increased the brain Cr/N-acetylaspartate ratio, partially averted the signaling imbalance, and reduced infarct size more potently than intraperitoneal Cr injection. These findings suggest important functions for CrT and Cr in preserving the homeostasis of brain energetics in stress conditions. Moreover, intranasal Cr supplementation may be an effective treatment for congenital CrT deficiency and acute brain injury.

X-linked creatine transporter deficiency results in prolonged QTc and increased sudden death risk in humans and disease model.

PURPOSE: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a rare X-linked disorder of creatine transport caused by pathogenic variants in SLC6A8 (Xq28). CTD features include developmental delay, seizures, and autism spectrum disorder. This study was designed to investigate CTD cardiac phenotype and sudden death risk. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of CTD males between 2017 and 2020. Subjects underwent evaluation with electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, and ambulatory ECG with comparable analysis in creatine transporter deficient mice (Slc6a8-/y) using ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, and indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects with CTD (18 males, age 7.4 [3.8] years) were evaluated: seven subjects (39%) had QTc ≥ 470 milliseconds: 510.3 ± 29.0 vs. 448.3 ± 15.9, P < 0.0001. The QTc ≥ 470 milliseconds cohort had increased left ventricular internal dimension (diastole) ([LVIDd] Z-score: 0.22 ± 0.74, n = 7 vs. -0.93 ± 1.0, n = 11, P = 0.0059), and diminished left ventricular posterior wall dimension (diastole) ([LVPWDd, in mm]: 5.0 ± 0.6, n = 7 vs. 5.7 ± 0.8, n = 11, P = 0.0183), when compared to subjects with normal or borderline QTc prolongation. Similar ECG and echocardiographic abnormalities were seen in Slc6a8-/y mice. Additionally, Slc6a8-/y mice had diminished survival (65%). CONCLUSION: Prolonged QTc and abnormal echocardiographic parameters consistent with developing cardiomyopathy are seen in some male subjects with CTD. Slc6a8-/y mice recapitulated these cardiac abnormalities. Male CTD subjects may be at increased risk for cardiac dysfunction and sudden death.

Use of an animal model of disease for toxicology enables identification of a juvenile no observed adverse effect level for cyclocreatine in creatine transporter deficiency.

In standard general toxicology studies in two species to support clinical development, cyclocreatine, a creatine analog for the treatment of creatine transporter deficiency, caused deaths, convulsions, and/or multi-organ pathology. The potential translatability of these findings to patients was evaluated by comparing toxicity of cyclocreatine in wild-type mice to creatine transporter-deficient mice, a model of the human disease. A biodistribution study indicated greater accumulation of cyclocreatine in the brains of wild-type mice, consistent with its ability to be transported by the creatine transporter. Subsequent toxicology studies confirmed greater sensitivity of wild-type mice to cyclocreatine-induced toxicity. Exposure at the no observed adverse effect level in creatine transporter-deficient (554 µg*hr/ml) mice exceeded exposure at the maximum tolerated dose in wild-type (248 µg*hr/ml) mice. When dosed at 300 mg/kg/day for 3 months, cyclocreatine-related mortality, convulsions, and multi-organ pathology were observed in wild-type mice whereas there were no adverse findings in creatine transporter-deficient mice. Brain vacuolation was common to both strains. Although transporter-deficient mice appeared to be more sensitive, the finding had no functional correlates in this strain. The results highlight the importance of considering models of disease for toxicology in cases where they may be relevant to assessing safety in the intended patient population.

Treatment efficacy of high-dose creatine supplementation in a child with creatine transporter (SLC6A8) deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Creatine transporter deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in the creatine transporter protein encoded by the SLC6A8 gene. Previous treatment with creatine supplementation, either alone or in combination with creatine precursors (arginine or glycine), has been attempted; the efficacy of therapy, however, remains controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: To analyze the treatment efficacy of high-dose creatine supplementation on creatine transporter deficiency, we reported a child diagnosed with creatine transporter deficiency, who was treated with a conventional dose of creatine (400 mg/kg/d) for 1 month, then twice the dose (800 mg/kg/d) for 2 months, and finally 3 times the dose (1200 mg/kg/d) for 3 months. The patient tolerated the treatment well and showed improvements in muscle mass and strength when the creatine dose was gradually increased to 1200 mg/kg/d. However, when assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS), the brain creatine concentration did not increase, and there was no improvement in speech and neurodevelopmental symptoms. CONCLUSION: We conclude that high-dose creatine supplementation (1200 mg/kg/d) alone improved muscular symptoms, but did not improve cognitive symptoms and brain creatine concentration assessed using H-MRS. Therefore, new treatment strategies are required for the management of creatine transporter deficiency.

A new rat model of creatine transporter deficiency reveals behavioral disorder and altered brain metabolism.

Creatine is an organic compound used as fast phosphate energy buffer to recycle ATP, important in tissues with high energy demand such as muscle or brain. Creatine is taken from the diet or endogenously synthetized by the enzymes AGAT and GAMT, and specifically taken up by the transporter SLC6A8. Deficit in the endogenous synthesis or in the transport leads to Cerebral Creatine Deficiency Syndromes (CCDS). CCDS are characterized by brain creatine deficiency, intellectual disability with severe speech delay, behavioral troubles such as attention deficits and/or autistic features, and epilepsy. Among CCDS, the X-linked creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is the most prevalent with no efficient treatment so far. Different mouse models of CTD were generated by doing long deletions in the Slc6a8 gene showing reduced brain creatine and cognitive deficiencies or impaired motor function. We present a new knock-in (KI) rat model of CTD holding an identical point mutation found in patients with reported lack of transporter activity. KI males showed brain creatine deficiency, increased urinary creatine/creatinine ratio, cognitive deficits and autistic-like traits. The Slc6a8Y389C KI rat fairly enriches the spectrum of CTD models and provides new data about the pathology, being the first animal model of CTD carrying a point mutation.

Creatine transport and pathological changes in creatine transporter deficient mice.

The severe impact on brain function and lack of effective therapy for patients with creatine (Cr) transporter deficiency motivated the generation of three ubiquitous Slc6a8 deficient mice (-/y). While each mouse knock-out line has similar behavioral effects at 2 to 3 months of age, other features critical to the efficient use of these mice in drug discovery are unclear or lacking: the concentration of Cr in brain and heart differ widely between mouse lines, there are limited data on histopathologic changes, and no data on Cr uptake. Here, we determined survival, measured endogenous Cr and uptake of its deuterium-labeled analogue Cr-d3 using a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry assay, and performed comprehensive histopathologic examination on the Slc6a8-/y mouse developed by Skelton et al. Our results show that Slc6a8-/y mice have widely varying organ-specific uptake of Cr-d3, significantly diminished growth with the exception of brain, progressive vacuolar myopathy, and markedly shortened lifespan.

Locus heterogeneity in two siblings presenting with developmental delay, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder.

Correct diagnosis of children presenting with developmental delay and intellectual disability remains challenging due to the complex and heterogeneous etiology. High throughput sequencing technologies like exome sequencing have become more commonly available and are significantly improving genetic testing. We present two siblings - a 14-year old male and an 8-year old female patient - with a similar clinical phenotype that was characterized by combined developmental delay primarily affecting speech, mild to moderate intellectual disability, behavioral abnormalities, and autism spectrum disorder, but with no congenital anomalies. The sister showed additional muscular hypotonia and more pronounced dysmorphic features compared to her brother. Both parents had psychiatric disorders and mild to moderate intellectual disability. A common genetic etiology in the siblings was suspected. Metabolic, psychological and neuroradiological examinations were complemented by basic genetic testing including chromosome analysis and array comparative genomics hybridization analysis (CGH), followed by exome sequencing and combined data analysis of the family. Exome sequencing identified two different underlying genetic conditions: in the sister, a maternally inherited pathogenic variant c.1661C > T, p.Pro554Leu in SLC6A8 (NM_005629.4) was identified causing cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome 1 (MIM #300352) which was confirmed by MR spectroscopy and treated accordingly. In the brother, a paternally inherited 16p13.11 duplication was identified by exome sequencing and considered to be likely associated with his and possibly his father's phenotype. The 16p13.11 duplication had been previously identified in an array CGH but had not been prioritized due to the lack of segregation in the siblings. In conclusion, we report a case of intra-familial locus heterogeneity of developmental delay in two siblings. We advocate for the need of unbiased and comprehensive genetic testing to provide accurate diagnosis despite locus heterogeneity.

Creatine transporter deficiency, an underdiagnosed cause of male intellectual disability.

X-linked creatine transporter deficiency is caused by the deficiency of the creatine transporter encoded by the SLC6A8 gene on Xq28. We here report a 3-year-old boy with global developmental delay, autism and epilepsy. He had a normal MRI of the brain. Brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) subsequently showed an abnormally small creatine peak. His high urine creatine/creatinine ratio further suggested the diagnosis, later confirmed by hemizygous mutation detected in the SLC6A8 gene. His mother was also heterozygous for the same mutation. Supplementation with creatine monohydrate, arginine, and glycine (precursors of creatine) and supportive therapies, resulted in modest clinical improvement after 12 months. This case highlights the importance of doing MRS for boys with global delay/intellectual disability, autism and epilepsy even with a normal MRI of the brain, to pick up a potentially treatable cause.

Person Ability Scores as an Alternative to Norm-Referenced Scores as Outcome Measures in Studies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Although norm-referenced scores are essential to the identification of disability, they possess several features which affect their sensitivity to change. Norm-referenced scores often decrease over time among people with neurodevelopmental disorders who exhibit slower-than-average increases in ability. Further, the reliability of norm-referenced scores is lower at the tails of the distribution, resulting in floor effects and increased measurement error for people with neurodevelopmental disorders. In contrast, the person ability scores generated during the process of constructing a standardized test with item response theory are designed to assess change. We illustrate these limitations of norm-referenced scores, and relative advantages of ability scores, using data from studies of autism spectrum disorder and creatine transporter deficiency.

Creatine Transporter Deficiency Presenting as Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most common disability-causing neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. Although inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are rare causes of ASD, they are significant for several reasons, including implications in genetic counseling and determination of prognosis. In this article, we present a 6-year-old boy who presented to us with ASD and was diagnosed with creatine transporter deficiency. Physical and neurologic examination of this patient had not previously raised suspicion of IEM, but twin pregnancy, prematurity, NICU stay due to necrotizing enterocolitis, transient infantile hypotonia, gross-motor delay, breath-holding spells, and a single febrile seizure complicated the history. MRI revealed mild T2-hyperintensity in posterior periventricular white matter. Further evaluation with magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which showed a decreased creatine peak, led to diagnostic investigations for disorders of creatine metabolism, revealing increased urinary creatine:creatinine ratio and a de novo, novel hemizygous frameshift variant in SLC6A8 Clinicians are advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for IEM and to evaluate patients with ASD for syndromic features. Although current guidelines from relevant organizations differ in their recommendations regarding the necessity and the extent of metabolic screening in ASD, there is a growing trend toward screening for treatable IEM. In this case report, we present challenges and pitfalls in the diagnostic journey for creatine transporter deficiency and underline the significance of a thorough history and physical examination in the evaluation of a child with ASD.

Cyclocreatine treatment ameliorates the cognitive, autistic and epileptic phenotype in a mouse model of Creatine Transporter Deficiency.

Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) is an inborn error of metabolism presenting with intellectual disability, behavioral disturbances and epilepsy. There is currently no cure for this disorder. Here, we employed novel biomarkers for monitoring brain function, together with well-established behavioral readouts for CTD mice, to longitudinally study the therapeutic efficacy of cyclocreatine (cCr) at the preclinical level. Our results show that cCr treatment is able to partially correct hemodynamic responses and EEG abnormalities, improve cognitive deficits, revert autistic-like behaviors and protect against seizures. This study provides encouraging data to support the potential therapeutic benefit of cyclocreatine or other chemically modified lipophilic analogs of Cr.

Classification of the Molecular Defects Associated with Pathogenic Variants of the SLC6A8 Creatine Transporter.

More than 80 loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the SLC6A8 creatine transporter (hCRT1) are responsible for cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome (CCDS), which gives rise to a spectrum of neurological defects, including intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder. To gain insight into the nature of the molecular defects caused by these mutations, we quantitatively profiled the cellular processing, trafficking, expression, and function of eight pathogenic CCDS variants in relation to the wild type (WT) and one neutral isoform. All eight CCDS variants exhibit measurable proteostatic deficiencies that likely contribute to the observed LOF. However, the magnitudes of their specific effects on the expression and trafficking of hCRT1 vary considerably, and we find that the LOF associated with two of these variants primarily arises from the disruption of the substrate-binding pocket. In conjunction with an analysis of structural models of the transporter, we use these data to suggest mechanistic classifications for these variants. To evaluate potential avenues for therapeutic intervention, we assessed the sensitivity of these variants to temperature and measured their response to the proteostasis regulator 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA). Only one of the tested variants (G132V) is sensitive to temperature, though its response to 4-PBA is negligible. Nevertheless, 4-PBA significantly enhances the activity of WT hCRT1 in HEK293T cells, which suggests it may be worth evaluating as a therapeutic for female intellectual disability patients carrying a single CCDS mutation. Together, these findings reveal that pathogenic SLC6A8 mutations cause a spectrum of molecular defects that should be taken into consideration in future efforts to develop CCDS therapeutics.

Primary creatine deficiency syndrome as a potential missed diagnosis in children with psychomotor delay and seizure: case presentation with two novel variants and literature review.

Creatine is the main source of energy for the brain. Primary creatine deficiency syndromes (PCDSs) are inborn error of metabolism of creatine synthesis. Symptoms of central nervous system involvement are the most common clinical manifestations in these disorders. We reviewed medical records of all genetically confirmed patients diagnosed by whole exome sequencing who were referred to Myelin and Neurodegenerative Disorders Clinic, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, from May 2016 to Dec 2018. A literature review was conducted on clinical and genomic variability of PCDS to compare our patients with previously reported cases. We report two patients with creatine deficiency among a cohort of 550 registered cases out of which 200 patients had a genetically confirmed neurodegenerative disorder diagnosis. The main complain in the first patient with creatine transporter (CRTR) deficiency was seizure and genetic study in this patient identified a novel hemizygote variant of "c.92 > T; p.Pro31Leu" in the first exon of SLC6A8 gene. The second patient with guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency had an unknown motor and speech delay as the striking manifestation and molecular assay revealed a novel homozygote variant of "c.134G > A; p.Trp45*" in the first exon of GAMT gene. PCDSs usually are associated with nonspecific neurologic symptoms. The first presented case had a mean delayed diagnosis of 5 years. Therefore, in children with unexplained neurologic features including developmental delay and/or regression, mental disability and repeated seizures without any significant findings in metabolic studies, PCDSs can be considered as a differential diagnosis and molecular analysis can be helpful for the precise diagnosis and treatment.

Deletion of the Creatine Transporter (Slc6a8) in Dopaminergic Neurons Leads to Hyperactivity in Mice.

The lack of cerebral creatine (Cr) causes intellectual disability and epilepsy. In addition, a significant portion of individuals with Cr transporter (Crt) deficiency (CTD), the leading cause of cerebral Cr deficiency syndromes (CCDS), are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. While the neurological effects of CTD are clear, the mechanisms that underlie these deficits are unknown. Part of this is due to the heterogenous nature of the brain and the unique metabolic demands of specific neuronal systems. Of particular interest related to Cr physiology are dopaminergic neurons, as many CCDS patients have ADHD and Cr has been implicated in dopamine-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a loss of the Slc6a8 (Crt) gene in dopamine transporter (Slc6a3; DAT) expressing cells on locomotor activity and motor function as the mice age. Floxed Slc6a8 (Slc6a8flox) mice were mated to DATIREScre expressing mice to generate DAT-specific Slc6a8 knockouts (dCrt-/y). Locomotor activity, spontaneous activity, and performance in the challenging beam test were evaluated monthly in dCrt-/y and control (Slc6a8flox) mice from 3 to 12 months of age. dCrt-/y mice were hyperactive compared with controls throughout testing. In addition, dCrt-/y mice showed increased rearing and hindlimb steps in the spontaneous activity test. Latency to cross the narrow bridge was increased in dCrt-/y mice while foot slips were unchanged. Taken together, these data suggest that the lack of Cr in dopaminergic neurons causes hyperactivity while sparing motor function.