EAAT4 mRNA expression is preserved in the cerebellum of prion protein-deficient mice.
To study the mechanism underlying the selective degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of the Nagasaki (Ngsk) prion protein-deficient (PrP(-/-)) mice, the mRNA levels of glutamate transporter EAAT4, the marker highly specific for Purkinje cell synapses, were analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. EAAT4 mRNA was expressed in the cerebellum of PrP(-/-) mice presenting with cerebellar ataxia, at the levels identical to those in the cerebellum of non-ataxic PrP(+/-) mice. Furthermore, EAAT4 mRNA was identified in the cerebrum of both PrP(-/-) and PrP(+/-) mice, although its levels were much lower than those in the cerebellum. These results indicate that Purkinje cell degeneration found in the cerebellum of PrP(-/-) mice is not primarily caused by glutamate neurotoxicity, although it remains to be investigated whether preserved expression of EAAT4 might represent a compensatory mechanism for protecting against Purkinje cell degeneration in the PrP(-/-) mice cerebellum.
Yukitake
Motohiro
M
Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, 849-8501, Saga, Japan. yukitake@post.saga-med.ac.jp
Satoh
Jun-ichi
J
Katamine
Shigeru
S
Kuroda
Yasuo
Y
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050581:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D027981:Symporters
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D050581:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D011328:Prions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; C493390:Slc1a6 protein, mouse; D027981:Symporters