Abnormalities of synapses and neurons in the hippocampus of neuropsin-deficient mice

Citation
A. Hirata et al., Abnormalities of synapses and neurons in the hippocampus of neuropsin-deficient mice, MOL CELL NE, 17(3), 2001, pp. 600-610
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
ISSN journal
10447431 → ACNP
Volume
17
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
600 - 610
Database
ISI
SICI code
1044-7431(200103)17:3<600:AOSANI>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
In the present study,we produced null-mutant mice of neuropsin, an extracel lular matrix serine protease, to examine the neural functions of this prote in particularly in the hippocampus. Golgi-Cox impregnation and NissI-staini ng revealed morphological change of cell soma in the mutant mice compared t o wild-type mice. However, Golgi-Cox impregnation revealed no apparent chan ge in the dendritic arborization and spine density. Quantitative electronmi croscopic analysis revealed that number of asymmetrical synapses were signi ficantly decreased in the stratum radiatum, the major terminal field of Sch affer-collaterals, whereas free boutons still holding synaptic vesicles but with no synaptic specialization were increased in number in the same micro scopic fields. An increased number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells (kno wn as fast spiking cells) in mutant was also observed. These results strong ly suggest that neuropsin is involved in connectivity of a group of CA1 syn apses and consequently in the hippocampal networking.