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Lack of MeCP2 leads to region-specific increase of doublecortin in the olfactory system.
- Source :
-
Brain structure & function [Brain Struct Funct] 2019 May; Vol. 224 (4), pp. 1647-1658. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Mar 28. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- The protein doublecortin is mainly expressed in migrating neuroblasts and immature neurons. The X-linked gene MECP2, associated to several neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome, encodes the protein methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a regulatory protein that has been implicated in neuronal maturation and refinement of olfactory circuits. Here, we explored doublecortin immunoreactivity in the brain of young adult female Mecp2-heterozygous and male Mecp2-null mice and their wild-type littermates. The distribution of doublecortin-immunoreactive somata in neurogenic brain regions was consistent with previous reports in rodents, and no qualitative differences were found between genotypes or sexes. Quantitatively, we found a significant increase in doublecortin cell density in the piriform cortex of Mecp2-null males as compared to WT littermates. A similar increase was seen in a newly identified population of doublecortin cells in the olfactory tubercle. In these olfactory structures, however, the percentage of doublecortin immature neurons that also expressed NeuN was not different between genotypes. By contrast, we found no significant differences between genotypes in doublecortin immunoreactivity in the olfactory bulbs. Nonetheless, in the periglomerular layer of Mecp2-null males, we observed a specific decrease of immature neurons co-expressing doublecortin and NeuN. Overall, no differences were evident between Mecp2-heterozygous and WT females. In addition, no differences could be detected between genotypes in the density of doublecortin-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus or striatum of either males or females. Our results suggest that MeCP2 is involved in neuronal maturation in a region-dependent manner.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cell Count
Doublecortin Domain Proteins
Female
Male
Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 genetics
Mice, Knockout
Microtubule-Associated Proteins metabolism
Neurons cytology
Neurons metabolism
Neuropeptides metabolism
Olfactory Pathways cytology
Olfactory Pathways growth & development
Olfactory Pathways metabolism
Olfactory Tubercle cytology
Piriform Cortex cytology
Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 physiology
Microtubule-Associated Proteins physiology
Neurons physiology
Neuropeptides physiology
Olfactory Tubercle growth & development
Olfactory Tubercle metabolism
Piriform Cortex growth & development
Piriform Cortex metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1863-2661
- Volume :
- 224
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Brain structure & function
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30923887
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-019-01860-6