Fetal growth restriction mice are more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors due to stress-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe perinatal complication that can increase risk for mental illness. To investigate the mechanism by which FGR mice develop mental illness in adulthood, we established the FGR mouse model and the FGR mice did not display obvious depression-like behaviors, but after environmental stress exposure, FGR mice were more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors than control mice. Moreover, FGR mice had significantly fewer dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area but no difference in serotoninergic neurons in the dorsal raphe. RNA-seq analysis showed that the downregulated genes in the midbrain of FGR mice were associated with many mental diseases and were especially involved in the regulation of NMDA-selective glutamate receptor (NMDAR) activity. Furthermore, the NMDAR antagonist memantine can relieve the stress-induced depression-like behaviors of FGR mice. In summary, our findings provide a theoretical basis for future research and treatment of FGR-related depression.

Acquisition of the Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuronal Identity.

The mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) group of neurons comprises molecularly distinct subgroups, of which the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are the best known, due to the selective degeneration of the SN during Parkinson's disease. However, although significant research has been conducted on the molecular build-up of these subsets, much is still unknown about how these subsets develop and which factors are involved in this process. In this review, we aim to describe the life of an mdDA neuron, from specification in the floor plate to differentiation into the different subsets. All mdDA neurons are born in the mesodiencephalic floor plate under the influence of both SHH-signaling, important for floor plate patterning, and WNT-signaling, involved in establishing the progenitor pool and the start of the specification of mdDA neurons. Furthermore, transcription factors, like Ngn2, Ascl1, Lmx1a, and En1, and epigenetic factors, like Ezh2, are important in the correct specification of dopamine (DA) progenitors. Later during development, mdDA neurons are further subdivided into different molecular subsets by, amongst others, Otx2, involved in the specification of subsets in the VTA, and En1, Pitx3, Lmx1a, and WNT-signaling, involved in the specification of subsets in the SN. Interestingly, factors involved in early specification in the floor plate can serve a dual function and can also be involved in subset specification. Besides the mdDA group of neurons, other systems in the embryo contain different subsets, like the immune system. Interestingly, many factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons are similarly involved in immune system development and vice versa. This indicates that similar mechanisms are used in the development of these systems, and that knowledge about the development of the immune system may hold clues for the factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons, which may be used in culture protocols for cell replacement therapies.

Comparison between dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons in the VTA following chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy.

Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy through maternal smoking or nicotine replacement therapy is associated with adverse birth outcomes as well as several cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Several studies have shown that nicotine produces long-lasting effects on gene expression within many brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is the origin of dopaminergic neurons and the dopamine reward pathway. Using a well-established rat model for perinatal nicotine exposure, we sought to investigate altered biological pathways using mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of dopaminergic (DA) and non-dopaminergic (non-DA) neurons in this highly-valuable area. Putative miRNA-gene target interactions were assessed as well as miRNA-pathway interactions. Our results indicate that extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions were significantly altered in DA and non-DA neurons due to chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy. They also show that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was enriched in DA neurons with multiple significant miRNA-gene targets, but the same changes were not seen in non-DA neurons. We speculate that nicotine exposure during pregnancy could differentially affect the gene expression of DA and non-DA neurons in the VTA.

Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Firing Model Reveals Prenatal Nicotine Induced Alterations.

The dopamine (DA) neurons found in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are widely involved in the addiction and natural reward circuitry of the brain. Their firing patterns were shown to be important modulators of dopamine release and repetitive burst-like firing activity was highlighted as a major firing pattern of DA neurons in the VTA. In the present study we use a state space model to characterize the DA neurons firing patterns, and trace transitions of neural activity through bursting and non-bursting states. The hidden semi-Markov model (HSMM) framework, which we use, offers a statistically principled inference of bursting states and considers VTA DA firing patterns to be generated according to a Gamma process. Additionally, the explicit Gamma-based modeling of state durations allows efficient decoding of underlying neural information. Consequently, we decode and segment our single unit recordings from DA neurons in VTA according to the sequence of statistically discriminated HSMM states. The segmentation is used to study bursting state characteristics in data recorded from rats prenatally exposed to nicotine (6 mg/kg/day starting with gestational day 3) and rats from saline treated dams. Our results indicate that prenatal nicotine exposure significantly alters burst firing patterns of a subset of DA neurons in adolescent rats, suggesting nicotine exposure during gestation may induce severe effects on the neural networks involved in addiction and reward.

Survival of a Novel Subset of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Projecting to the Lateral Septum Is Dependent on NeuroD Proteins.

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons are highly heterogeneous. They differ in their connectivity and firing patterns and, therefore, in their functional properties. The molecular underpinnings of this heterogeneity are largely unknown, and there is a paucity of markers that distinguish these functional subsets. In this paper, we report the identification and characterization of a novel subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area that expresses the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Neurogenic Differentiation Factor-6 (NEUROD6). Retrograde fluorogold tracing experiments demonstrate that Neurod6+ midbrain dopaminergic neurons neurons project to two distinct septal regions: the dorsal and intermediate region of the lateral septum. Loss-of-function studies in mice demonstrate that Neurod6 and the closely related family member Neurod1 are both specifically required for the survival of this lateral-septum projecting neuronal subset during development. Our findings underscore the complex organization of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and provide an entry point for future studies of the functions of the Neurod6+ subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Midbrain dopaminergic neurons regulate diverse brain functions, including voluntary movement and cognitive and emotive behaviors. These neurons are heterogeneous, and distinct subsets are thought to regulate different behaviors. However, we currently lack the means to identify and modify gene function in specific subsets of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. In this study, we identify the transcription factor NEUROD6 as a specific marker for a novel subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain that project to the lateral septum, and we reveal essential roles for Neurod1 and Neurod6 in the survival of these neurons during development. Our findings highlight the molecular and anatomical heterogeneity of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and contribute to a better understanding of this functionally complex group of neurons.

Sex differences and effects of prenatal exposure to excess testosterone on ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in adult sheep.

Prenatal testosterone (T) excess in sheep results in a wide array of reproductive neuroendocrine deficits and alterations in motivated behavior. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a critical role in reward and motivated behaviors and is hypothesised to be targeted by prenatal T. Here we report a sex difference in the number VTA dopamine cells in the adult sheep, with higher numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in males than females. Moreover, prenatal exposure to excess T during either gestational days 30-90 or 60-90 resulted in increased numbers of VTA TH-ir cells in adult ewes compared to control females. Stereological analysis confirmed significantly greater numbers of neurons in the VTA of males and prenatal T-treated ewes, which was primarily accounted for by greater numbers of TH-ir cells. In addition, immunoreactivity for TH in the cells was denser in males and prenatal T-treated females, suggesting that sex differences and prenatal exposure to excess T affects both numbers of cells expressing TH and the protein levels within dopamine cells. Sex differences were also noted in numbers of TH-ir cells in the substantia nigra, with more cells in males than females. However, prenatal exposure to excess T did not affect numbers of TH-ir cells in the substantia nigra, suggesting that this sex difference is organised independently of prenatal actions of T. Together, these results demonstrate sex differences in the sheep VTA dopamine system which are mimicked by prenatal treatment with excess T.

Sox6 and Otx2 control the specification of substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons.

Distinct midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuron subtypes are found in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), but it is mainly SNc neurons that degenerate in Parkinson's disease. Interest in how mDA neurons develop has been stimulated by the potential use of stem cells in therapy or disease modeling. However, very little is known about how specific dopaminergic subtypes are generated. Here, we show that the expression profiles of the transcription factors Sox6, Otx2, and Nolz1 define subpopulations of mDA neurons already at the neural progenitor cell stage. After cell-cycle exit, Sox6 selectively localizes to SNc neurons, while Otx2 and Nolz1 are expressed in a subset of VTA neurons. Importantly, Sox6 ablation leads to decreased expression of SNc markers and a corresponding increase in VTA markers, while Otx2 ablation has the opposite effect. Moreover, deletion of Sox6 affects striatal innervation and dopamine levels. We also find reduced Sox6 levels in Parkinson's disease patients. These findings identify Sox6 as a determinant of SNc neuron development and should facilitate the engineering of relevant mDA neurons for cell therapy and disease modeling.

Molecular marker differences relate to developmental position and subsets of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neurons.

The development of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons located in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) follow a number of stages marked by distinct events. After preparation of the region by signals that provide induction and patterning, several transcription factors have been identified, which are involved in specifying the neuronal fate of these cells. The specific vulnerability of SNc neurons is thought to root in these specific developmental programs. The present study examines the positions of young postmitotic mdDA neurons to relate developmental position to mdDA subset specific markers. MdDA neurons were mapped relative to the neuromeric domains (prosomeres 1-3 (P1-3), midbrain, and hindbrain) as well as the longitudinal subdivisions (floor plate, basal plate, alar plate), as proposed by the prosomeric model. We found that postmitotic mdDA neurons are located mainly in the floorplate domain and very few in slightly more lateral domains. Moreover, mdDA neurons are present along a large proportion of the anterior/posterior axis extending from the midbrain to P3 in the diencephalon. The specific positions relate to some extent to the presence of specific subset markers as Ahd2. In the adult stage more of such subsets specific expressed genes are present and may represent a molecular map defining molecularly distinct groups of mdDA neurons.

Otx2 selectively controls the neurogenesis of specific neuronal subtypes of the ventral tegmental area and compensates En1-dependent neuronal loss and MPTP vulnerability.

Understanding the molecular basis underlying the neurogenesis of mesencephalic-diencephalic Dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons is a major task fueled by their relevance in controlling locomotor activity and emotion and their involvement in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that mdDA neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) represent two main distinct neuronal populations, which, in turn, include specific neuronal subsets. Relevant studies provided important results on mdDA neurogenesis, but, nevertheless, have not yet clarified how the identity of mdDA neuronal subtypes is established and, in particular, whether neurogenic factors may direct progenitors towards the differentiation of specific mdDA neuronal subclasses. The transcription factor Otx2 is required for the neurogenesis of mesencephalic DA (mesDA) neurons and to control neuron subtype identity and sensitivity to the MPTP neurotoxin in the adult VTA. Here we studied whether Otx2 is required in mdDA progenitors for the generation of specific mdDA neuronal subtypes. We found that although expressed in virtually all mdDA progenitors, Otx2 is required selectively for the differentiation of VTA neuronal subtypes expressing Ahd2 and/or Calb but not for those co-expressing Girk2 and glyco-Dat. Moreover, mild over-expression of Otx2 in SNpc progenitors and neurons is sufficient to rescue En1 haploinsufficiency-dependent defects, such as progressive loss and increased MPTP sensitivity of SNpc neurons. Collectively, these data suggest that mdDA progenitors exhibit differential sensitivity to Otx2, which selectively influences the generation of a large and specific subset of VTA neurons. In addition, these data suggest that Otx2 and En1 may share similar properties and control survival and vulnerability to MPTP neurotoxin respectively in VTA and SNpc.

Duration of Shh signaling contributes to mDA neuron diversity.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is critical for various developmental processes including specification of the midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons in the ventral mesencephalon (vMes). While the timing of Shh and its response gene Gli1 segregates mDA neurons, their overall lineage contribution to mDA neurons heavily overlaps. Here, we demonstrate that the same set of mDA neuron progenitors sequentially respond to Shh signaling (Gli1 expression), induce Shh expression, and then turn off Shh responsiveness. Thus, at any given developmental stage, cells rarely co-express Shh and Gli1. Using Shh(Cre:GFP) mice to delete the Smoothened receptor in the Shh pathway, we demonstrate that the loss of Shh signaling in Shh expressing cells results in a transient increase in proliferation and subsequent depletion of mDA neuron progenitors in the posterior vMes due to the facilitated cell cycle exit. Moreover, the change in duration of Shh signaling in vMes progenitors altered the timing of the contribution to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) mDA neurons. Taken together, our investigation on the relationship between the Shh-secreting and -responding cells revealed an intricate regulation of induction and cessation of Shh signaling that influences the distribution of mDA neurons in the VTA and SNc.

Mesencephalic neuronal populations: new insights on the ventral differentiation programs.

The midbrain is a complex structure where different functions are located. This formation is mainly involved in the visual and auditory information process (tectum) and visual movements and motor coordination (tegmentum). Here we display a complete description of midbrain anatomy based on the prosomeric model and of the developmental events that take place to generate this structure. We also summarize the new data about the differentiation and specification of the basal populations of the midbrain. The neural tube suffers the influence of several secondary organizers. These signaling centers confer exact positional information to the neuroblasts. In the midbrain these centers are the Isthmic organizer for the antero-posterior axis and the floor and roof plates for the dorso-ventral axis. This segment of the brain contains, in the dorsal part, structures such as the collicula (superior and inferior), tectal grey and the preisthmic segment, and in the basal plate, neuronal populations such as the oculomotor complex, the dopaminergic substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area, the reticular formation and the periacueductal grey. Knowledge of the genetic cascades involved in the differentiation programs of the diverse populations will be extremely important to understand not only how the midbrain develops, but how degenerative pathologies, such as Parkinson's disease, occurs. These cascades are triggered by signaling molecules such as Shh, Fgf8 or Wnt1 and are integrated by receptor complexes and transcription factors. These are directly responsible for the induction or repression of the differentiation programs that will produce a specific neuronal phenotype.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 regulates dopaminergic neuron development in vivo.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) is a neurotrophic factor participating in regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and neuroprotection in the central nervous system. With regard to dopaminergic (DA) neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which degenerate in Parkinson's disease, FGF-2 improves survival of mature DA neurons in vivo and regulates expansion of DA progenitors in vitro. To address the physiological role of FGF-2 in SNpc development, embryonic (E14.5), newborn (P0) and juvenile (P28) FGF-2-deficient mice were investigated. Stereological quantification of DA neurons identified normal numbers in the ventral tegmental area, whereas the SNpc of FGF-2-deficient mice displayed a 35% increase of DA neurons at P0 and P28, but not at earlier stage E14.5. Examination of DA marker gene expression by quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization revealed a normal patterning of embryonic ventral mesencephalon. However, an increase of proliferating Lmx1a DA progenitors in the subventricular zone of the ventral mesencephalon of FGF-2-deficient embryos indicated altered cell cycle progression of neuronal progenitors. Increased levels of nuclear FgfR1 in E14.5 FGF-2-deficient mice suggest alterations of integrative nuclear FgfR1 signaling (INFS). In summary, FGF-2 restricts SNpc DA neurogenesis in vivo during late stages of embryonic development.

Otx2 expression is restricted to dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area in the adult brain.

Mesencephalic-diencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons control motor, sensorimotor and motivated behaviour and their degeneration or abnormal functioning is associated with important pathologies, such as Parkinsons disease and psychiatric disorders. Despite great efforts, the molecular basis and the genetic factors differentially controlling identity, survival and vulnerability to neurodegeneration of mdDA neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are poorly understood. We have previously shown that the transcription factor Otx2 is required for identity, fate and proliferation of mesencephalic DA (mesDA) progenitors. By using mouse models and immunohistochemistry, we have investigated whether Otx2 is expressed also in post-mitotic mdDA neurons. Our data reveal that Otx2 is expressed in post-mitotic mesDA neurons during mid-late gestation and in the adult brain. Remarkably, Otx2 expression is sharply excluded from mdDA neurons of the SN and is restricted to a relevant fraction of VTA neurons. Otx2+-TH+ neurons are concentrated to the ventral part of the VTA. Combined expression with other regionalized VTA markers shows that Otx2+-TH+ neurons are prevalently Girk2- and Calb+ and among these, those located in the medial and ventralmost portion of the VTA are also Ahd2+. These findings indicate that Otx2 represents the first transcription factor with a proven role in mdDA neurogenesis whose expression discriminates between SN and a relevant proportion of VTA neurons. This supports the possibility that Otx2 may act as a post-mitotic selector controlling functional features (e.g. identity and/or survival) of a relevant fraction of VTA neurons in the adult.

Inhibition of astrocytes promotes long-distance growing nerve fibers in ventral mesencephalic cultures.

Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nerve fiber formation occurs in two diverse morphological patterns in rat fetal ventral mesencephalic slice cultures; one is non-glial-associated and the other is glial-associated. The aim of this study was to characterize the non-glial-associated nerve fibers and its relation to migration of astrocytes. Organotypic slice cultures were prepared from embryonic days 12, 14, and 18 rat fetuses and maintained for 5, 7 or 14 days in vitro. Inhibition of cell proliferation using cytosine beta-D-arabinofuranoside was conducted in embryonic day 14 ventral mesencephalic cultures. The treatment impaired astrocytic migration at 7 and 14 days in vitro. The reduced migration of astrocytes exerted a negative effect on the glial-associated tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nerve fibers, reducing the outgrowth from the tissue slice. The non-glial-associated outgrowth was, however, positively affected by reduced astrocytic migration, reaching distances around 3mm in 2 weeks, and remained for longer time in culture. Co-cultures of fetal ventral mesencephalon and frontal cortex revealed the cortex as a target for the non-glial-associated tyrosine hydroxylase-positive outgrowth. The age of the fetal tissue at plating affected the astrocytes such that older tissue increased the length of astrocyte migration. Younger tissue at plating promoted the presence of non-glial-associated outgrowth and long radial-glia-like processes, while older tissue promoted migration of neurons instead of formation of nerve fiber network. In conclusion, inhibition of astrocytic proliferation promotes the persistence of long-distance growing tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nerve fibers in ventral mesencephalic slices cultures. Furthermore, the long-distance growing nerve fibers target the frontal cortex and are absent in cultures derived from older tissue.

A mouse model for tracking nigrostriatal dopamine neuron axon growth.

The midbrain dopaminergic system, which consists of neurons of the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area, is a subject of intense interest, since the loss of neurons from the substantia nigra results in motor disorders characteristic of Parkinson's disease. We have generated a knock-in reporter mouse line with the tau-lacZ fusion gene inserted into the Pitx3 locus via homologous recombination. This approach permitted the visualisation of midbrain specific dopaminergic axonal tracts from both the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area in phenotypically normal heterozygous Pitx3-taulacZ brain tissues, either in situ or following culture in vitro, by a simple and sensitive beta-galactosidase enzyme reaction. Thus the Pitx3-taulacZ mice could serve as a valuable tool for the identification of molecules regulating midbrain dopaminergic neuritogenesis, either in vivo in combination with genetic manipulation in mice, or in vitro using organ cultures.

Bdnf gene is a downstream target of Nurr1 transcription factor in rat midbrain neurons in vitro.

The transcription factor Nurr1 is essential for the generation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDA). Only a few Nurr1-regulated genes have so far been identified and it remains unclear how Nurr1 influences the development and function of dopaminergic neurons. To identify novel Nurr1 target genes we have used genome-wide expression profiling in rat midbrain primary cultures, enriched in dopaminergic neurons, following up-regulation of Nurr1 expression by depolarization. In this study we demonstrate that following depolarization the hyperexpression of Nurr1 and the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are phospholipase C- and protein kinase C-dependent. We show that Bdnf, which encodes a neurotrophin involved also in the phenotypic maturation of mDA neurons, is a novel Nurr1 target gene. By RNA interference experiments we show that a decreased Nurr1 expression is followed by tyrosine hydroxylase and BDNF mRNA and protein down-regulation. Reporter gene assay experiments performed on midbrain primary cultures using four Bdnf promoter constructs show that Bdnf is a direct target gene of Nurr1. Taken together, our findings suggest that Nurr1 might also influence the development and the function of midbrain dopaminergic neurons via direct regulation of Bdnf expression.

Neuroprotection with methylaminochroman and lazaroid of embryonic ventral mesencephalic tegmental dopaminergic neurons in cold storage.

Embryonic ventral mesencephalic tegmental (EVMT) neurons die off over time in cold storage at 4 degrees C in hibernation buffers (HB). Manipulation of HB conditions may improve the survival of neurons in cold storage. We examined the effect of lipid peroxidation inhibitors, a methylaminochroman (U83836E) and a lazaroid (U74389G) on the viability and survival of embryonic dopaminergic neurons in the co-culture system of embryonic striatal target (EST) cells and EVMT neurons that had been stored for 3 days at 4 degrees C in HB with or without U83836E or U74389G. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for analysis of data. The density of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (THIR)-positive neurons was significantly higher in the groups stored in supplemented HB than in the control (HB alone; P < 0.001). The neuroprotective effect was concentration-dependent. We conclude that either U83836E or U74389G-conditioned HB exerted a concentration-dependent neuroprotective effect on embryonic dopaminergic neurons in cold storage for 3 days. Supplementation of U83836E and U74389G or other methylaminochromans and lazaroids in HB may be important for cold storage of donor neuronal cells.

Donor age affects differentiation of rat ventral mesencephalic stem cells.

This study examined the effect of gestational age of rat ventral mesencephalon (VM) on the characteristics of neurospheres generated from this region and on the yield of each cell type after differentiation of these neurospheres. Neurospheres generated from embryonic day (E) 12 and E13 VM had significantly larger diameters and volumes than those from E14 VM. Subsequent differentiation of these neurospheres resulted in decreasing yield of neurones (E12>E13>E14) and increasing yields of both astroglia and oligodendroglia (E12

Selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of Pitx3-deficient aphakia mice.

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral midbrain nuclei, substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc, A9) and ventral tegmental area (VTA, A10), play important roles in the control of movement, emotion, cognition, and reward related behavior. Although several transcription factors have been shown to be critical for midbrain DA neuron development, there has been no report of factor(s) that differentially regulate individual DA neuronal groups. Based on its highly restricted expression in the SNc and VTA in the brain, we hypothesize that the homeobox transcription factor Pitx3 may critically regulate the development of ventral midbrain DA neurons. In this study, we report that in Pitx3-deficient ak/ak mice, DA neurons in the SNc and the nigrostriatal pathway fail to develop properly, and DA levels are reduced to 10% of the wild type mice in the dorsal striatum. On the contrary, A10 neurons are intact in ak/ak mice and DA levels within their projection areas are not affected. This region-specific defect was already evident in newborn mice, suggesting that the defect had occurred during the early stages of mouse development. Taken together, our results indicate that Pitx3 is the first known transcription factor that may critically and selectively control proper development of A9 DA neurons and the nigrostriatal pathway. This observation is of great importance in understanding the mechanisms of DA neuron development and may also help us to understand the mechanism of selective degeneration of A9 DA neurons in Parkinson's disease and to devise novel therapeutic approaches for the disorder.

Developmental expression of the cellular prion protein in elongating axons.

PrPc, a sialoglycoprotein present in the normal adult hamster brain, is particularly abundant in plastic brain regions but little is known about the level of expression and the localization of the protein during development. Western blot analysis of whole brain homogenates with mab3F4 show very low levels of the three main molecular weight forms of the protein at birth, in contrast to the strong and wide expression of mRNA transcripts. The PrPc levels increase sharply through P14 and are diminished somewhat in the adult. Regional analysis showed that in structures with ongoing growth or plasticity such as the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, PrPc remains high in the adult, while in areas where structural and functional relationships stabilize during development, such as the cortex and the thalamus, PrPc levels decline after the third postnatal week. In the neonate brain PrPc was prominent along fiber tracts similar to markers of axon elongation and in vitro experiments showed that the protein was present on the surface of elongating axons. PrPc is then localized to the synaptic neuropil in close spatio-temporal association with synapse formation. The localization of PrPc on elongating axons suggests a role for the protein in axon growth. In addition, the relative abundance of the protein in developing axon pathways and during synaptogenesis may provide a basis for the age-dependent susceptibility to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.