title: Protein kinase C: its role in activity-dependent Purkinje cell dendritic development and plasticity.
abstract: The cerebellum is a central organ in the control of motor learning and performance. In this respect, the cellular plasticity model systems of multiple climbing fiber elimination and long-term depression have been intensively studied. The signalling pathways involved in these plastic changes are now well understood on a molecular level and protein kinase C (PKC) activity appears to be crucially involved in both processes. Furthermore, as shown in recent studies, Purkinje cell dendritic development also critically depends on the activity of PKC. Thereby, the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC subtypes, activated by synaptic inputs through metabotropic glutamate receptors, trigger functional changes as well as long-term anatomical maturation of the Purkinje cell dendritic tree during cerebellar development at different time levels. This review summarizes these findings and forwards the hypothesis of a link between the functional mechanisms underlying LTD and the differentiation of Purkinje cell dendrites.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003712:Dendrites / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D011493:Protein Kinase C