AP-1 activity rises by stimulation-dependent c-Fos expression in auditory neurons.
Acoustical or intracochlear stimulation may induce expression of the immediate early gene product c-Fos in neurons throughout the auditory brainstem. Attempting to estimate its consequences, we sought to determine if c-Fos expression occurs in neurons that also contain c-Jun p39 with which it could form the heterodimeric transcription factor AP-1 to activate a large number of genes, among them several involved in neuroplastic remodeling. Following intracochlear stimulation, c-Fos and c-Jun were found to be colocalized in nuclei of many neurons at all levels of the subcortical auditory system. We conclude that stimulation triggers Fos-Jun dimerization, causing cascades of gene expression that potentially culminate in structural changes of neurons affected by the specific pattern of activity imposed on the neuronal system.
Rosskothen
Nicole
N
Neurobiological Research Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Hirschmüller-Ohmes
Ingeborg
I
Illing
Robert-Benjamin
RB
D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019281:Dimerization; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1