Neurocan is dispensable for brain development.
Neurocan is a component of the extracellular matrix in brain. Due to its inhibition of neuronal adhesion and outgrowth in vitro and its expression pattern in vivo it was suggested to play an important role in axon guidance and neurite growth. To study the role of neurocan in brain development we generated neurocan-deficient mice by targeted disruption of the neurocan gene. These mice are viable and fertile and have no obvious deficits in reproduction and general performance. Brain anatomy, morphology, and ultrastructure are similar to those of wild-type mice. Perineuronal nets surrounding neurons appear largely normal. Mild deficits in synaptic plasticity may exist, as maintenance of late-phase hippocampal long-term potentiation is reduced. These data indicate that neurocan has either a redundant or a more subtle function in the development of the brain.
Zhou
X H
XH
Department of Experimental Pathology, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden.
Brakebusch
C
C
Matthies
H
H
Oohashi
T
T
Hirsch
E
E
Moser
M
M
Krug
M
M
Seidenbecher
C I
CI
Boeckers
T M
TM
Rauch
U
U
Buettner
R
R
Gundelfinger
E D
ED
Fässler
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D058581:Brevican; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D058580:Neurocan; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D019063:Tenascin / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation
C546938:BCAN protein, human; C553057:Bcan protein, mouse; D058581:Brevican; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D058580:Neurocan; D019063:Tenascin; C076817:NCAN protein, human