The AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 regulates dendritic architecture of motor neurons.
The morphology of the mature motor neuron dendritic arbor is determined by activity-dependent processes occurring during a critical period in early postnatal life. The abundance of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 in motor neurons is very high during this period and subsequently falls to a negligible level. To test the role of GluR1 in dendrite morphogenesis, we reintroduced GluR1 into rat motor neurons at the end of the critical period and quantitatively studied the effects on dendrite architecture. Two versions of GluR1 were studied that differed by the amino acid in the "Q/R" editing site. The amino acid occupying this site determines single-channel conductance, ionic permeability, and other essential electrophysiologic properties of the resulting receptor channels. We found large-scale remodeling of dendritic architectures in a manner depending on the amino acid occupying the Q/R editing site. Alterations in the distribution of dendritic arbor were not prevented by blocking NMDA receptors. These observations suggest that the expression of GluR1 in motor neurons modulates a component of the molecular substrate of activity-dependent dendrite morphogenesis. The control of these events relies on subunit-specific properties of AMPA receptors.
Inglis
Fiona M
FM
Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8018, USA.
Crockett
Richard
R
Korada
Sailaja
S
Abraham
Wickliffe C
WC
Hollmann
Michael
M
Kalb
Robert G
RG
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D019580:Perforant Pathway / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D019076:Transgenes; D014981:Xenopus
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018091:Receptors, AMPA