Experienced-induced immediate early gene expression in hippocampus after granule cell loss
Date
2012
Authors
Cardiff, James W
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, c2012
Abstract
Adrenalectomy
(ADX)
has
been
shown
to
cause
selective
degeneration
of
granule
cells
in
the
dentate
gyrus
(DG).
This
occurs
due
to
the
reduction
of
corticosterone
(CORT)
and
behavioural
deficits
are
associated
with
the
loss
of
these
neurons.
Dentate
lesions
and
cell
loss
associated
with
ADX
have
been
shown
to
effect
behaviour
in
a
number
of
spatial
tasks.
In
contras,
it
has
been
shown
granule
cell
loss
does
not
affect
the
specificity
of
place
cells
in
CA3
and
CA1.
We
used
the
ADX
model
to
examine
the
role
of
DG
granule
cells
plays
in
representing
space
using
immediate
early
gene
(IEG)
activation
in
the
principal
hippocampal
subfields
after
exploration
of
novel
environments.
Rats
were
allowed
to
free
explore
multiple
novel
environments
and
then
the
mRNA
for
the
IEG
Homer
1a
(H1a)
was
used
as
a
marker
of
neural
activity.
After
degeneration
of
approximately
half
of
the
DG
granule
cells
we
found
a
significant
increase
in
number
of
active
cells
in
the
DG,
CA3
and
CA1
in
ADX
animals.
The
results
indicate
a
reduction
in
granule
cells
causes
a
dramatic
increase
in
the
proportion
of
remaining
DG
granule
cells
in
response
to
exploration.
The
change
in
DG
activation
disrupts
the
representations
in
CA3
and
CA1
and
thereby
affects
behaviour.
Description
vii, 60 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
Keywords
Dentate gyrus -- Research , Hippocampus (Brain) -- Research , Gene expression -- Research , Adrenalectomy , Neuroplasticity -- Research , Rats as laboratory animals , Dissertations, Academic