Premium
Expression of protocadherin‐γC4 protein in the rat brain
Author(s) -
Miralles Celia P.,
Taylor Michael J.,
Bear John,
Fekete Christopher D.,
George Shanu,
Li Yanfang,
Bonhomme Bevan,
Chiou TzuTing,
De Blas Angel L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.24783
Subject(s) - protocadherin , biology , neuroscience , cerebellum , dentate gyrus , synaptogenesis , synapse , dendrite (mathematics) , glutamatergic , gabaergic , in situ hybridization , calretinin , microbiology and biotechnology , cadherin , hippocampus , gene expression , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , immunology , immunohistochemistry , glutamate receptor , gene , genetics , receptor , cell , geometry , mathematics
Abstract It has been proposed that the combinatorial expression of γ‐protocadherins (Pcdh‐γs) and other clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs) provides a code of molecular identity and individuality to neurons, which plays a major role in the establishment of specific synaptic connectivity and formation of neuronal circuits. Particular attention has been directed to the Pcdh‐γ family, for which experimental evidence derived from Pcdh‐γ‐deficient mice shows that they are involved in dendrite self‐avoidance, synapse development, dendritic arborization, spine maturation, and prevention of apoptosis of some neurons. Moreover, a triple‐mutant mouse deficient in the three C‐type members of the Pcdh‐γ family (Pcdh‐γC3, Pcdh‐γC4, and Pcdh‐γC5) shows a phenotype similar to the mouse deficient in whole Pcdh‐γ family, indicating that the latter is largely due to the absence of C‐type Pcdh‐γs. The role of each individual C‐type Pcdh‐γ is not known. We have developed a specific antibody to Pcdh‐γC4 to reveal the expression of this protein in the rat brain. The results show that although Pcdh‐γC4 is expressed at higher levels in the embryo and earlier postnatal weeks, it is also expressed in the adult rat brain. Pcdh‐γC4 is expressed in both neurons and astrocytes. In the adult brain, the regional distribution of Pcdh‐γC4 immunoreactivity is similar to that of Pcdh‐γC4 mRNA, being highest in the olfactory bulb, dentate gyrus, and cerebellum. Pcdh‐γC4 forms puncta that are frequently apposed to glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. They are also frequently associated with neuron‐astrocyte contacts. The results provide new insights into the cell recognition function of Pcdh‐γC4 in neurons and astrocytes.