Quantification without pontification: choosing a method for counting objects in sectioned tissues.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
K Herrup
Publications and source records attributed to K Herrup.
Social interaction and sensorimotor gating abnormalities in mice lacking Dvl1.
Mice completely deficient for Dvl1, one of three mouse homologs of the Drosophila segment polarity gene Dishevelled, were created by gene targeting. Dvl1-deficient mice are viable, fertile, and structurally normal. Surprisingly, these mice exhibited reduced social interaction, including differences in whisker trimming, deficits in nest-building, less huddling contact during home cage sleeping, and subordinate responses in a social dominance test. Sensorimotor gating was abnormal, as measured by deficits in prepulse inhibition of acoustic and tactile startle. Thus, Dvl1 mutants may provide a model for aspects of several human psychiatric disorders. These results are consistent with an interpretation that common genetic mechanisms underlie abnormal social behavior and sensorimotor gating deficits and implicate Dvl1 in processes underlying complex behaviors.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
Failed cell migration and death of purkinje cells and deep nuclear neurons in the weaver cerebellum.
The mouse neurological mutant weaver has an atrophic cerebellar cortex with deficits in both Purkinje and granule cell number. Although granule cells are known to die postnatally shortly after their final cell division, the cause of the Purkinje cell deficit (cell death vs lack of production) is unknown. We report here a quantitative analysis of large cerebellar neurons of the weaver mutant during postnatal development. We explored the hypothesis that the cells of the entire cerebellar anlage were affected by the mutation by including in our study the neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). Our analysis reveals that in homozygous weaver mutants (1) the DCN are displaced laterally, display an abnormal anatomy, and suffer a 20-25% decrease in neuron number; (2) this numerical deficit is located in medial regions, similar to the localization of cortical deficits in both Purkinje and granule cells; (3) pyknotic figures are present in the juvenile DCN and in the Purkinje cell layer; and (4) the majority of cell death in these populations occurs not in medial regions where the numerical deficits are observed, but rather laterally where adult cell number is nearly normal. These results lead us to propose that the complete weaver phenotype includes a failure of the cell movements that lead to the fusion of the bilateral cerebellar anlage, and that this failure to migrate properly leaves some of the Purkinje cells and DCN neurons in a position where they are unable to make appropriate connections, leading to their death. In addition to implications for normal development, these observations suggest that weaver effects on the cerebellum can be unified into one consolidated model in which failure of cell movement affects all major cerebellar neurons.
Animals↗
Cortical development: layers of complexity.
Studies of spontaneous mutant mice with neurological phenotypes, particularly the cloning and analysis of the genes responsible, are shedding light on the complex processes that lead to formation of the deceptively simple layered structure of the cerebral cortex.
Animals↗
Purkinje cell loss in heterozygous staggerer mutant mice during aging.
The cerebellum on the heterozygous (+/sg) staggerer mutant mouse has recently been proposed as a model system in which to study the genetic contribution to the normal process of central nervous system aging since there is significant loss of neurons from 3 to 12 months of age (Shojaeian-Zanjani, H., Mariani, J., Delhaye-Bouchaud, N., and Herrup, K. (1992) Dev. Brain Res., 67, 153-160). In the current study we extend our analysis of the changes in Purkinje cell numbers up to 24 months of age in +/sg and C57BL/6J wild-type mice. At 13 and 18 months, while wild-type Purkinje cell numbers remain unchanged, there is a 22-26% loss in the number of Purkinje cells in +/sg after which no further cell loss is observed. Between 18 and 24 months, however, a 22% loss of Purkinje cell occurs in +/+ animals, with the result that by 2 years of age, the size of the Purkinje cell population is again similar in both genotypes. Analysis of the cell loss in both the mediolateral and the anteroposterior dimensions, as well as the immunostaining of Purkinje cells in frontal sections, reveal no obvious regional variation in the Purkinje cell loss. These results suggest that in +/sg, a precocious process of aging affects the size of the Purkinje cell population.
Age Distribution↗
The compartmentalization of the cerebellum.
The concept of developmental compartments originated in studies of Drosophila embryogenesis. This review examines the hypothesis that the modular structure of the vertebrate cerebellum is strongly analogous to this earlier scheme. The pattern of cerebellar development, the adult circuitry, a variety of molecular markers expressed in specific subdivisions, and the phenotypes of several neurological mutations all provide abundant evidence that the vertebrate cerebellum is organized into modules. We present the case that, as a group, these markers reveal distinct boundaries that partition the cerebellum into true developmental compartments. Although this reductionist viewpoint advances our understanding of cerebellar organization, the relationship between these compartments and the functional behavior of the cerebellum remains a mystery.
Animals↗
Elements between the protein-coding regions of the adjacent beta 4 and alpha 3 acetylcholine receptor genes direct neuron-specific expression in the central nervous system.
The expression patterns of three clustered neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) subunit genes ordered beta 4, alpha 3, and alpha 5 overlap extensively in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) but only partially in the central nervous system (CNS). We have begun to investigate cell type-specific cis elements regulating these genes by analyzing in both cell culture and transgenic mice, a 2.8-kb fragment (-2732/+47) containing the alpha 3 promoter region, the beta 4/alpha 3 intergenic region, and a portion of the beta 4 3'-untranslated exon. The -2732/+47 fragment is preferentially active in PC12 cells relative to nonneural cell lines. Deletion analysis revealed a cell type-specific positive transcriptional element positioned in the beta 4 3'-untranslated exon. The positive element is likely to be an enhancer and not a second alpha 3 promoter, because no alpha 3 exons are present in this region. Having shown in cell culture that cell-type specific cis elements are positioned between the beta 4 and alpha 3 coding regions, we investigated the activity of -2732/+47 in vivo. Transgenic mice were generated, which carry the lacZ gene fused downstream of -2732/+47. Expression of the lacZ transgene is restricted to neurons of the CNS; no expression was detected in the PNS or in nonneural tissues. LacZ-positive cells were detected virtually exclusively in a subset of CNS nuclei that transcribe the endogenous alpha 3 gene. Some overlap was seen with the beta 4 gene, but nearly none with the alpha 5 gene. Our results demonstrate that cis elements positioned between the alpha 3 and beta 4 coding regions are important for establishing part of the restricted CNS patterns of beta 4, alpha 3, and alpha 5 gene transcription.
Animals↗
The numerical matching of source and target populations in the CNS: the inferior olive to Purkinje cell projection.
During a defined critical period of development, if the target of a neuronal population is removed, there is a massive decrease in the number of neurons that survive into adulthood. Previous studies have found that source neuron number is a strictly linear function of target size. The current work extends these observations to the inferior olive-->Purkinje cell projection. Three distinct model systems have been used: (i) lurcher<-->wild-type aggregation chimeras, (ii) staggerer<-->wild-type chimeras and (iii) naturally occurring polymorphisms in Purkinje cell number found in different inbred mouse strains. Total neuron numbers were counted in the inferior olive and plotted as a function of the number of Purkinje cells in the contralateral cerebellar cortex. In lurcher mutants and chimeras, the relationship between these values is well described by a straight line. This suggests that, like the granule-->Purkinje cell circuit, the olive-->Purkinje cell circuit uses a linear algorithm to achieve a numerical balance. The results from the two other model systems were not as clear cut. In the staggerer chimeras, we found only a rough correlation between neuron and target numbers and in the inbred strains there was no discernible relationship at all. These findings indicate that in the final analysis, there are multiple factors involved in the determination of the number of olive cells surviving into adulthood. The potential contribution of sustaining collaterals and afferent inputs is discussed as well as the possible existence of different subcircuits of olivocerebellar connections, each with its own numerical matching function.
Animals↗
The weaver mouse: a most cantankerous rodent.
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Animals↗
Abnormal Purkinje cell dendrites in lurcher chimeric mice result from a deafferentation-induced atrophy.
Previous studies of Purkinje cell dendrites in lurcher<-->wild-type mouse chimeras (lurcher chimeras) have documented the surprising occurrence of unusual atrophic dendritic morphologies among the wild-type cells of the mosaic cerebella. We have hypothesized that these aberrant morphologies arise from a process of developmental deafferentation that is due to the unique loss of mutant Purkinje cells in these chimeras. These earlier studies left unanswered the question of whether the abnormal dendrites were the result of a blocked developmental process (agenesis) or regressive events that deform a previously well-developed dendritic arbor (atrophy). Using a set of simple morphometric measures, we now examine wild-type Purkinje cells in young lurcher chimeras. At postnatal day 20, normal Purkinje cell development is nearly but not fully complete. In lurcher chimeras, the morphologies of the wild-type Purkinje cell dendrites are similar to those in wild-type controls of the same age. This means that they are larger in height, width, and cross-section than their counterparts in adult lurcher chimeras. The younger cells exhibit almost none of the atrophic morphologies described in mature animals. We conclude that the aberrant morphologies found in adult lurcher chimeras arise from atrophy rather than through a failure in development. Furthermore, consideration of the details of the wild-type dendrites in the lurcher chimeras leads to the proposal that the height and width of the Purkinje cell dendritic tree are controlled by two independent mechanisms.
Animals↗
Impaired motor learning performance in cerebellar En-2 mutant mice.
Mice homozygous for a null mutation in their En-2 gene exhibit cerebellar neuroanatomical alterations including absence and misplacements of specific fissures and size reduction. The present study investigated cerebellar function by comparing the behavior of age-matched homozygous and heterozygous En-2 mutant and wild-type mice. Motor function of the mutants was found normal in several situations. Habituation to novelty in the open field was not significantly different in mutants. However, in a motor learning paradigm, the rotating rod, the performance of homozygous mutant mice improved significantly less than that of the heterozygous mice which were also significantly impaired compared to wild-type mice. Unlike other cerebellar mutants in which severe motor or sensory defects are obvious, the En-2 mouse model offers a unique tool to study the role of cerebellum in complex behavioral phenomena, including motor learning, without confounding effects.
Animals↗
Targeted disruption of mouse EGF receptor: effect of genetic background on mutant phenotype.
Gene targeting was used to create a null allele at the epidermal growth factor receptor locus (Egfr). The phenotype was dependent on genetic background. EGFR deficiency on a CF-1 background resulted in peri-implantation death due to degeneration of the inner cell mass. On a 129/Sv background, homozygous mutants died at mid-gestation due to placental defects; on a CD-1 background, the mutants lived for up to 3 weeks and showed abnormalities in skin, kidney, brain, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. The multiple abnormalities associated with EGFR deficiency indicate that the receptor is involved in a wide range of cellular activities.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Stunted morphologies of cerebellar Purkinje cells in lurcher and staggerer mice are cell-intrinsic effects of the mutant genes.
Purkinje cells in the neurological mutants lurcher and staggerer exhibit a number of abnormal properties; mutant<==>wild-type chimeras have shown that these properties are direct effects of the mutant gene. What has remained unexplored are the numerous dendritic abnormalities that the two mutant Purkinje cells exhibit. In staggerer, Purkinje cells have rudimentary, unbranched dendrites that lack tertiary branchlet spines. In lurcher, before the Purkinje cells die, their dendrites remain short and underdeveloped. To determine whether or not a system of healthy afferents (or other environmental factors) would alter either of these phenotypes, we examined young lurcher and adult staggerer mouse chimeras using Golgi impregnation. In postnatal day 20 (P20) lurcher chimeras, we found two distinct morphological classes of Purkinje cells. One, inferred to be wild type, had a dendritic structure similar to normal Purkinje cells in age-matched controls. The other consisted of cells with small somata, reduced dendritic arbors, and multiple dendritic processes, making them indistinguishable from Purkinje cells in P20 lurcher mutants. We also examined mature staggerer chimeras. We found no evidence that the stunted morphology of staggerer Purkinje cells is rescued in mosaic animals but observed numerous examples of medium to large neurons resembling atrophic Purkinje cells of staggerer mutants. These results suggest that the dendritic abnormalities described in both mutants reflect cell autonomous, developmental genetic blocks in the cytological maturation of the cerebellar Purkinje cell. The implication is that the action of the wild-type alleles at these two loci are required to execute a normal program of dendritic development.
Animals↗
Aldolase C/zebrin II and the regionalization of the cerebellum.
The cerebellum is comprised of multiple bands of cells, each with characteristic afferent and efferent projections, and patterns of gene expression. The most studied example of a striped pattern of expression is the antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody antizebrin II. Zebrin II is expressed by subsets of Purkinje cells that form an array of parasagittal bands that extend rostrocaudally throughout the cerebellar cortex, separated by similar bands of Purkinje cells that do not express zebrin II. Recent cloning studies have revealed that the zebrin II antigen is the respiratory isoenzyme aldolase C. This article reviews the cellular and molecular compartmentation of the cerebellum together with the molecular biology of the aldolase C gene, and speculates on possible reasons for a striped pattern of expression.
Brain Chemistry↗
The induction of multiple cell cycle events precedes target-related neuronal death.
Unexpected nerve cell death has been reported in several experimental situations where neurons have been forced to re-enter the cell cycle after leaving the ventricular zone and entering the G0, non-mitotic stage. To determine whether an association between cell death and unscheduled cell cycling might be found in conjunction with any naturally occurring developmental events, we have examined target-related cell death in two neuronal populations, the granule cells of the cerebellar cortex and the neurons of the inferior olive. Both of these cell populations have a demonstrated developmental dependency on their synaptic target, the cerebellar Purkinje cell. Two mouse neurological mutants, staggerer (sg/sg) and lurcher (+/Lc), are characterized by intrinsic Purkinje cell deficiencies and, in both mutants, substantial numbers of cerebellar granule cells and inferior olive neurons die due to the absence of trophic support from their main postsynaptic target. We report here that the levels of three independent cell cycle markers--cyclin D, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation--are elevated in the granule cells before they die. Although lurcher Purkinje cells die during a similar developmental period, no compelling evidence for any cell cycle involvement in this instance of pre-programmed cell death could be found. While application of the TUNEL technique (in situ terminal transferase end-labeling of fragmented DNA) failed to label dying granule cells in either mutant, light and electron microscopic observations are consistent with the interpretation that the death of these cells is apoptotic in nature. Together, the data indicate that target-related cell death in the developing central nervous system is associated with a mechanism of cell death that involves an apparent loss of cell cycle control.
Animals↗
Reduced hippocampal long-term potentiation and context-specific deficit in associative learning in mGluR1 mutant mice.
We generated a novel strain of mutant mouse with a deletion in the gene encoding metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1). Gross anatomy of the hippocampus, excitatory synaptic transmission, long-term depression, and short-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region are all apparently normal in the mutant mice. In contrast, long-term potentiation (LTP) is substantially reduced, and a moderate level of impairment is observed in context-specific associative learning. We propose that mGluR1 is not "in line" in LTP production, but rather modulates the plasticity process, and hence affects context-specific associative learning.
Animals↗
Deficient cerebellar long-term depression and impaired motor learning in mGluR1 mutant mice.
mGluR1 mutant mice are viable but show characteristic cerebellar symptoms such as ataxic gait and intention tremor. The anatomy of the cerebellum is not overtly disturbed. Excitatory synaptic transmission from parallel fibers (PFs) to Purkinje cells and that from climbing fibers (CFs) to Purkinje cells appear to be functional, and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels of Purkinje cells are normal. Both PF and CF synapses display normal short-term synaptic plasticity to paired stimuli. By marked contrast, long-term depression (LTD) is clearly deficient and conditioned eyeblink response is impaired. We conclude that mGluR1 is required for the induction of LTD and that the ataxic behavior and impaired eyeblink conditioning of the mGluR1 mutant mice are primarily due to deficient LTD.
Animals↗
Developmental studies of the inferior olivary nucleus in staggerer mutant mice.
The neurological mutation, staggerer, causes a severe disruption in the integrity of the olivo-cerebellar circuitry. The primary site of action is the Purkinje cell population which is reduced in cell number, with cells that are atrophic in dendritic structure, small in size and ectopic in position. This primary defect has a cascade effect on the Purkinje cell-afferent populations, leading to the target-related cell death of virtually all of the cerebellar granule cells and the majority of the neurons in the inferior olive. As part of our ongoing study of the cell-cell interactions in the cerebellar circuitry, we have studied the inferior olive of the staggerer mutant from birth to adulthood. We find that the reduction in olive neuron number does not occur until after birth in the mutants. On the day of birth, the number of cells is indistinguishable in mutants and in wild type. Similarly, we find that the four principal subnuclei of the olive are well defined at birth, but regress to a state of poor resolution during the first 3 postnatal weeks. Finally, Golgi impregnations reveal that of the two morphological classes of inferior olive neurons, only one class--the Type II or complex dendritic type survive in the mutant. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the cell--cell interactions in the developing olivocerebellar circuit.
Aging↗