Experience-dependent coincident expression of the effector immediate-early genes arc and Homer 1a in hippocampal and neocortical neuronal networks.
The transcription of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer 1a (H1a) is dynamically regulated in response to synaptic activity; their protein products function at the postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses. Previous studies demonstrate a role for Arc in the maintenance of long-term potentiation and in memory consolidation processes and indicate a role for H1a in modifying glutamatergic signaling pathways. Using double-label fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that Arc and H1a RNA expression is induced strongly in the same neurons of rat hippocampus and neocortex after exploration of a novel environment. These findings support the view that novel experience activates a cell-specific genomic program and that Arc and H1a may function in concert in the structural and functional modifications of dendrites that lead to long-term changes in synaptic efficacy.
Vazdarjanova
Almira
A
Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5115, USA.
McNaughton
Bruce L
BL
Barnes
Carol A
CA
Worley
Paul F
PF
Guzowski
John F
JF
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D004597:Electroshock; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein