mGluR1 in cerebellar Purkinje cells essential for long-term depression, synapse elimination, and motor coordination.
Targeted deletion of metabotropic glutamate receptor-subtype 1 (mGluR1) gene can cause defects in development and function in the cerebellum. We introduced the mGluR1alpha transgene into mGluR1-null mutant [mGluR1 (-/-)] mice with a Purkinje cell (PC)-specific promoter. mGluR1-rescue mice showed normal cerebellar long-term depression and regression of multiple climbing fiber innervation, events significantly impaired in mGluR1 (-/-) mice. The impaired motor coordination was rescued by this transgene, in a dose-dependent manner. We propose that mGluR1 in PCs is a key molecule for normal synapse formation, synaptic plasticity, and motor control in the cerebellum.
Ichise
T
T
Laboratory of DNA Biology and Embryo Engineering, Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Kano
M
M
Hashimoto
K
K
Yanagihara
D
D
Nakao
K
K
Shigemoto
R
R
Katsuki
M
M
Aiba
A
A
D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D018390:Gene Targeting; D008124:Locomotion; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes
D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; C104077:metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1