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Kv1.1‐dependent control of hippocampal neuron number as revealed by mosaic analysis with double markers
Author(s) -
Yang ShiBing,
Mclemore Kellan D.,
Tasic Bosiljka,
Luo Liqun,
Jan Yuh Nung,
Jan Lily Yeh
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.228486
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , biology , entorhinal cortex , hippocampus , neuroscience , mutation , wild type , cortex (anatomy) , neuron , phenotype , genetics , mutant , gene
Key points• The classical function of potassium channels in electrical signaling is to regulate nerve conduction, muscle contraction and hormone secretion. • Certain types of potassium channels are also involved in regulating cell proliferation, as in the case of Kv1.1 mutant mice, which exhibit overgrowth of neurons and astrocytes thus leading to the phenotype of megencephaly, or enlarged brain, particularly in the hippocampus. • We used a novel mouse genetic tool, Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM), to test whether Kv1.1 function is required cell‐autonomously for megencephaly. We found that in the adult hippocampus, neurons but not astrocytes lacking Kv1.1 are more numerous than their counterparts with two functional alleles of Kv1.1. • Our study reveals that loss of Kv1.1 function causes an overproduction of hippocampal neurons in a cell‐autonomous manner. • This study raises the prospect that targeting Kv1.1 potassium channel may help to induce neuron production.