RhoGEF Trio Regulates Radial Migration of Projection Neurons via Its Distinct Domains / 神经科学通报·英文版

The radial migration of cortical pyramidal neurons (PNs) during corticogenesis is necessary for establishing a multilayered cerebral cortex. Neuronal migration defects are considered a critical etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), schizophrenia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability (ID). TRIO is a high-risk candidate gene for ASDs and ID. However, its role in embryonic radial migration and the etiology of ASDs and ID are not fully understood. In this study, we found that the in vivo conditional knockout or in utero knockout of Trio in excitatory precursors in the neocortex caused aberrant polarity and halted the migration of late-born PNs. Further investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that the interaction of the Trio N-terminal SH3 domain with Myosin X mediated the adherence of migrating neurons to radial glial fibers through regulating the membrane location of neuronal cadherin (N-cadherin). Also, independent or synergistic overexpression of RAC1 and RHOA showed different phenotypic recoveries of the abnormal neuronal migration by affecting the morphological transition and/or the glial fiber-dependent locomotion. Taken together, our findings clarify a novel mechanism of Trio in regulating N-cadherin cell surface expression via the interaction of Myosin X with its N-terminal SH3 domain. These results suggest the vital roles of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (GEF1) and GEF2 domains in regulating radial migration by activating their Rho GTPase effectors in both distinct and cooperative manners, which might be associated with the abnormal phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Cortical 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (Htr3a) positive inhibitory neurons: diversity in type and function / 生理学报

Cortical GABAergic inhibitory neurons are composed of three major classes, each expressing parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SOM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (Htr3a), respectively. Htr3a

Reduced Firing of Nucleus Accumbens Parvalbumin Interneurons Impairs Risk Avoidance in DISC1 Transgenic Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

A strong animal survival instinct is to approach objects and situations that are of benefit and to avoid risk. In humans, a large proportion of mental disorders are accompanied by impairments in risk avoidance. One of the most important genes involved in mental disorders is disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), and animal models in which this gene has some level of dysfunction show emotion-related impairments. However, it is not known whether DISC1 mouse models have an impairment in avoiding potential risks. In the present study, we used DISC1-N terminal truncation (DISC1-N

Confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunohistochemistry of cerebellar Lugaro cells

The present paper shows by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy the immunoreactivity of rat cerebellar Lugaro cells for calbindin, synapsin-I, PSD-95, GluR1, CaMKII alpha, and N-cadherin. Lugaro cells were easily characterized by their location beneath Purkinje cells. Calbindin revealed immunoreactivity in the cell body, and the axonal and dendritic processes. Synapsin-I labelled the presynaptic endings on Lugaro cells. Synapsin-I and PSD-95 immunoreactivity demonstrated the localization of presynaptic and postsynaptic endings surrounding cell soma, corresponding to afferent extrinsic and intrinsic cerebellar fibers. GluR1 immunoreactivity of the soma and cell processes indicates that Lugaro cells have functional ionotropic glutamate receptors that regulate calcium levels. CaMKII alpha immunoreactivity of L ugaro cell soma and processes suggest its participation as a molecular switch for long-term information storage, and serving as a molecular basis of long-term synaptic memory. N-cadherin immunoreactivity was correlated with somato-somatic and somato-dendritic junctions between Lugaro cells and their synaptic connections.

Immunolocalization of estrogen receptor alpha in adult female rat hippocampus / Inmunolocalización del receptor de estrógeno alfa en el hipocampo de rata hembra adulta

The present study was planned to demonstrate the detailed immunoreactive (IR) distribution pattern of estrogen receptors (ER) in hippocampus of 15 female rats, adult, female Wistar rats in estrous phase. 30 µm thick setions of hippocampal region fixed (4 percent buffered paraformaldehyde) were obtained with cryostat. The sections were processed free- floating for immunolocalization of ER using, mouse monoclonal anti-ER-a antibody with PAP technique. The results showed presence of ER immunoreactive neurons in all the subfields of hippocampus with some variations. In cornua ammonis (CA) maximum ER positive (+ve) neurons were localized in CA3 region. Layer analysis showed maximum localization in the stratum oriens (SO) region. In other subfields and layers of CA the IR neurons were comparatively less in number. The morphological characters of all ER +ve neurons showed them to be interneurons both in CA as well as in Dentate gyrus (DG).

El estudio fue diseñado para demostrar el patrón de distribución inmunorreactivo (IR) detallado de los receptores estrogénicos (RE) en el hipocampo de 15 ratas Wistar, hembras, adultas, en fase de estro. Fueron obtenidas secciones 30 µm de grosor con un crióstato, de la región del hipocampo fijadas por perfusión (4 por ciento de paraformaldehído tamponado). Las secciones fueron procesadas, por libre flotación, para la inmunolocalización de RE utilizando anticuerpo monoclonal de ratón anti-ER-a con la técnica de PAP. Los resultados mostraron la presencia de neuronas inmunorreactivas ER en todos los subcampos del hipocampo con algunas variaciones. En el cuerno ventral (CA) la mayor zona RE positiva (+ ve) de las neuronas se localizaron en la región CA3. El análisis de las capas mostró la localización máxima en la región del estrato oriens (SO). En otros subcampos y capas de la CA las neuronas IR fueron comparativamente menores en número. Las características morfológicas de todas las neuronas RE + ve resultaron ser interneuronas tanto en el CA como en el giro dentado (DG).