UCP2 induced by natural birth regulates neuronal differentiation of the hippocampus and related adult behavior.
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is induced by cellular stress and is involved in regulation of fuel utilization, mitochondrial bioenergetics, cell proliferation, neuroprotection and synaptogenesis in the adult brain. Here we show that natural birth in mice triggers UCP2 expression in hippocampal neurons. Chemical inhibition or genetic ablation of UCP2 lead to diminished neuronal number and size, dendritic growth and synaptogenezis in vitro and impaired complex behaviors in the adult. These data reveal a critical role for Ucp2 expression in the development of hippocampal neurons and circuits and hippocampus-related adult behaviors.
Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Julia
J
Simon-Areces
Marcelo O
MO
Dietrich
Gretchen
G
Hermes
Luis Miguel
LM
Garcia-Segura
Maria-Angeles
MA
Arevalo
Tamas L
TL
Horvath
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604390:Ucp2 protein, mouse; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2