Developmental regulation of gene expression and astrocytic processes may explain selective hippocampal vulnerability

Lavenex, Pierre; Sugden, Steven G.; Davis, Ryan R.; Gregg, Jeffrey P.; Lavenex, Pamela Banta

doi:10.1002/hipo.20730

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Developmental regulation of gene expression and astrocytic processes may explain selective hippocampal vulnerability

Lavenex, Pierre Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - The M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - Department of Medicine, Unit of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Sugden, Steven G. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - The M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA
Davis, Ryan R. The M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - Department of Pathology, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA
Gregg, Jeffrey P. The M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - Department of Pathology, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA
Lavenex, Pamela Banta Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - The M.I.N.D. Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, USA - Department of Medicine, Unit of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

15.12.2009

Published in:

Hippocampus. - 2011, vol. 21, no. 2, p. 142-149

English The hippocampus plays a central role in the brain network that is essential for memory function. Paradoxically, the hippocampus is also the brain structure that is most sensitive to hypoxic-ischemic episodes. Here, we show that the expression of genes associated with glycolysis and glutamate metabolism in astrocytes and the coverage of excitatory synapses by astrocytic processes undergo significant decreases in the CA1 field of the monkey hippocampus during postnatal development. Given the established role of astrocytes in the regulation of glutamate concentration in the synaptic cleft, our findings suggest that a developmental decrease in astrocytic processes could underlie the selective vulnerability of CA1 during hypoxic-ischemic episodes in adulthood, its decreased susceptibility to febrile seizures with age, as well as contribute to the emergence of selective, adultlike memory function.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Médecine

Language