Long-lasting induction of Notch2 in the hippocampus of kainate-treated adult mice.
Notch proteins are involved in cell fate specification during development in tissues including brain. Little is known about their function in adulthood. Recently, Notch receptors have been hypothesized to play a role in neurodegeneration and in particular in Alzheimer's disease (Notch1) and CADASIL (Notch3). Here we show that another family member (Notch2) is constitutively expressed in adult mouse hippocampus in DG and not in CA1 and CA3 neurons. Treatment with kainic acid resulted in marked Notch2 induction in pyramidal neurons of CA1 and in a subpopulation of CA3 neurons surviving the lesion and protein expression was still detectable 6 weeks after drug treatment. These results suggest Notch2 involvement in the response of postmitotic neurons to excitotoxic stimuli.
Ferrari Toninelli
Giulia
G
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Brescia, Italy.
Bernardi
Cosima
C
Quarto
Micaela
M
Lozza
Gianluca
G
Memo
Maurizio
M
Grilli
Mariagrazia
M
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors
C497765:Notch2 protein, mouse; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D007608:Kainic Acid