Survival and synaptogenesis of hippocampal neurons without NMDA receptor function in culture. 1998

S Okabe, and C Vicario-Abejón, and M Segal, and R D McKay
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. sokabe@nibh.go.jp

Physiological and morphological properties of cultured hippocampal neurons were measured to investigate whether NMDA receptors play a role in survival and differentiation. Neurons dissociated from mouse embryos with different NMDAR1 genotypes were grown in culture. Electrophysiological analysis verified the absence of NMDA receptor-mediated currents in neurons taken from homozygous mutant (NR1-/-) embryos. The number of surviving hippocampal neurons was 2.5-fold higher in cultures from the NR1-/- embryos compared with wild type (NR1 +/+) and heterozygous (NR1+/-) controls. Despite the lack of NMDA receptor function, NR1-/- neurons formed synapsin I-positive presynaptic boutons associated with MAP2ab-positive dendrites in culture. Confocal microscopic analysis of Dil labelled neurons confirmed the presence of dendritic spines on NR1-/- neurons with 80% of the density found in NR1 +/+ neurons. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor has little effect on general features of neuronal differentiation. In contrast, there is clear effect on neuronal survival. This finding establishes neuron number in standard culture conditions as a measure of NMDA receptor activity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008815 Mice, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation. Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D008869 Microtubule-Associated Proteins High molecular weight proteins found in the MICROTUBULES of the cytoskeletal system. Under certain conditions they are required for TUBULIN assembly into the microtubules and stabilize the assembled microtubules. Ensconsin,Epithelial MAP, 115 kDa,Epithelial Microtubule-Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP4,Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 4,Microtubule Associated Protein 7,Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule-Associated Protein 7,E-MAP-115,MAP1 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Proteins,Microtubule-Associated Protein 1,Microtubule-Associated Protein 2,Microtubule-Associated Protein 3,7, Microtubule-Associated Protein,Associated Protein, Microtubule,E MAP 115,Epithelial Microtubule Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP1 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 1,Microtubule Associated Protein 2,Microtubule Associated Protein 3,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP1,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP2,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP3,Protein 7, Microtubule-Associated,Protein, Microtubule Associated,Protein, Microtubule-Associated
D009154 Mutation Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations. Mutations
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002470 Cell Survival The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability. Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003712 Dendrites Extensions of the nerve cell body. They are short and branched and receive stimuli from other NEURONS. Dendrite
D005260 Female Females
D005838 Genotype The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS. Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes

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