Neuroscience 2002 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 427.10 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | THE CYSTEINE-RICH DOMAIN OF THE NEUREGULIN –1 GENE (CRD-NRG-1) IS REQUIRED FOR SURVIVAL OF A SUBSET OF NEURONS IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS (SCN). |
| Authors: |
Johnson, M. A.*1
; Devay, P.1
; Role, L. W.1
1Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York,, NY |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Development - Trophic Factors and Developmental Cell Death -- Cytokines and other factors: expression and biological effects |
| Session: |
427. Trophic factors and developmental cell death: cytokines and other factors--expression and biological effects Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 5, 2002 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Hall A2-B3 B-49 |
| Keywords: | CIRCADIAN, PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS, VIP, BEHAVIOR |
Isoforms of the NRG-1 gene have been shown to be important in the expression of specific ion channels and receptors, as well as in the maintenance of synapses in the peripheral nervous system (Buonanno & Fischbach, 2001). One of the many splice variants, CRD-NRG (a.k.a. TYPE III NRG-1), appears to be prominently expressed in select regions of the CNS (see Ramirez et al, SFN abstracts 2002). We have used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques to assess the distribution of the CRD-NRG expression in the input and target neurons of the SCN. CRD-NRG is highly expressed in retinal ganglion cells and in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), as well as in the SCN per se. Immunohistochemical analysis with probes to the proposed external and cytoplasmic domains of the A forms of NRG-1 reveals punctate staining surrounding subsets of SCN neurons. In particular, these include cells in the retino-recipient area of the SCN, as defined by the presence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive neurons. In mice heterozygous for a disruption in CRD-NRG-1, the number of SCN neurons declines as a function of age relative to their wild-type littermates. We hypothesize that the population of SCN neurons that are progressively lost include the VIP-IR neurons, which receive input from the retina and project to the PVN, both areas of CRD-NRG expression. Preliminary studies suggest that hypomorphs of NRG-1 have abnormal activity patterns that may be a consequence of disruption of the circadian system.
Supported by NIH NS29071
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2002 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. Online.
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