Granule cell survival is deficient in PAC1-/- mutant cerebellum.
PACAP exerts neuroprotective effects during development, especially in the cerebellum where PAC1 receptor and ligand are both expressed. However, while previous studies using PACAP injections in postnatal animals defined trophic effects of exogenous peptide, the role of endogenous PACAP remains unexplored. Here, we used PAC1(-/-) mice to investigate the role of PACAP receptor signaling in postnatal day 7 cerebellum. There was no difference in DNA synthesis in the cerebellar EGL of PAC1(-/-) compared to wild type animals, assessed using thymidine incorporation and BrdU immunohistochemistry. In contrast, we found that a significant proportion of newly generated neurons were eliminated before they successfully differentiated in the granule cell layer. In aggregate, these results suggest that endogenous PACAP plays an important role in cell survival during cerebellar development, through the activation of the PAC1 receptor.
Falluel-Morel
Anthony
A
Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Room RWJSPH 362, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Tascau
Liana I
LI
Sokolowski
Katie
K
Brabet
Philippe
P
DiCicco-Bloom
Emanuel
E
D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C495504:Adcyap1r1 protein, mouse; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D004247:DNA; D053148:Caspase 3