title: Depletion of perineuronal nets enhances recognition memory and long-term depression in the perirhinal cortex.
abstract: Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix structures surrounding cortical neuronal cell bodies and proximal dendrites and are involved in the control of brain plasticity and the closure of critical periods. Expression of the link protein Crtl1/Hapln1 in neurons has recently been identified as the key event triggering the formation of PNNs. Here we show that the genetic attenuation of PNNs in adult brain Crtl1 knock-out mice enhances long-term object recognition memory and facilitates long-term depression in the perirhinal cortex, a neural correlate of object recognition memory. Identical prolongation of memory follows localized digestion of PNNs with chondroitinase ABC, an enzyme that degrades the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan components of PNNs. The memory-enhancing effect of chondroitinase ABC treatment attenuated over time, suggesting that the regeneration of PNNs gradually restored control plasticity levels. Our findings indicate that PNNs regulate both memory and experience-driven synaptic plasticity in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany. carola.romberg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romberg
authors.forename: Sujeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melani
authors.forename: Melissa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Alexa E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Spillantini
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bussey
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pizzorusso
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Saksida
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D005838:Genotype; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000494:pharmacology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000172:deficiency; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000099249:Proteoglycan Link Protein
chemical_list: D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010405:Penicillinase; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099249:Proteoglycan Link Protein