Chronic electroconvulsive seizure up-regulates beta-catenin expression in rat hippocampus: role in adult neurogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Beta-catenin was discovered as a cytoskeletal protein, constituting a link between the cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton. Aside from this function, beta-catenin is a key effector molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway, serving as a downstream transcription factor.


METHODS
In this study, we examined the influence of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) on the expression of beta-catenin, as well as expression of Wnt-2, in rat hippocampus. Repeated administration of generalized seizures increased levels of beta-catenin immunoreactivity in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. To assess the relationship of beta-catenin to cell division in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat hippocampus, colocalization of beta-catenin with a marker of cell division was examined.


RESULTS
Beta-catenin immunoreactivity was consistently localized in newborn cells in this region, indicating a possible role in cell division and differentiation in adult hippocampus. We also found that ECS treatment significantly increased levels of Wnt-2, one of the ligands that activates beta-catenin signaling.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that ECS increases Wnt-beta-catenin signaling and suggest that this pathway could mediate in part the neuronal adaptations underlying the therapeutic action of this treatment paradigm.
Madsen
Torsten M
TM
Departments of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06508, USA.
Newton
Samuel S
SS
Eaton
Molly E
ME
Russell
David S
DS
Duman
Ronald S
RS
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004597:Electroshock / Q000379:methods*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin
C495268:Ctnnb1 protein, rat; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine