Targeted transgene expression in neuronal precursors: watching young neurons in the old brain

Couillard-Despres, Sebastien and Winner, Beate and Karl, Claudia and Lindemann, Gudrun and Schmid, Peter and Aigner, Robert and Laemke, Joern and Bogdahn, Ulrich and Winkler, Juergen and Bischofberger, Josef and Aigner, Ludwig (2006) Targeted transgene expression in neuronal precursors: watching young neurons in the old brain. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 24 (6). pp. 1535-1545. ISSN 0953-816X,

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Abstract

Progress in the field of neurogenesis is limited by the lack of animal models allowing direct detection and analysis of living cells participating in neurogenesis. We engineered a transgenic mouse model that expresses the fluorescent reporter proteins enhanced green fluorescent protein or Discoma sp. reef coral red fluorescent protein under the control of the doublecortin (DCX) promoter, a gene specifically and transiently active in neuronal precursors and young neurons. The expression of the reporter proteins correlated with expression of the endogenous DCX protein, and with developmental and adult neurogenesis. Neurogenesis was unaffected by the presence of the fluorescent proteins. The transgenic mice allowed direct identification of the very few newly generated neurons present in the aged brain. We performed electrophysiological analysis and established that newly generated hippocampal granule cells in aged and young mice shared identical physiological properties. Hence, although the rate of neurogenesis tapers with ageing, a population of highly excitable young neurons indistinguishable to those found in younger animals is continuously generated. Therefore, maintenance of the fundamental properties of neuronal precursors even at advanced age suggests that stimulation of neurogenesis may constitute a valid strategy to counteract age-related neuronal loss and cognitive declines.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ADULT MAMMALIAN BRAIN; NEWLY GENERATED NEURONS; DENTATE GYRUS; OLFACTORY-BULB; GRANULE CELLS; HIPPOCAMPAL NEUROGENESIS; SUBVENTRICULAR ZONE; STEM-CELLS; DOUBLECORTIN; PROLIFERATION; adult neurogenesis; doublecortin; fluorescent reporter protein; neural stem cell; neuronal migration; transgenic mouse
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Neurologie
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2021 11:02
Last Modified: 01 Feb 2021 11:02
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/34076

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