First Author | McConnell MJ | Year | 2009 |
Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 106 |
Issue | 16 | Pages | 6784-9 |
PubMed ID | 19346486 | Mgi Jnum | J:148342 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3844384 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.0902018106 |
Citation | McConnell MJ, et al. (2009) H2-K(b) and H2-D(b) regulate cerebellar long-term depression and limit motor learning. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(16):6784-9 |
abstractText | There are more than 50 class I MHC (MHCI) molecules in the mouse genome, some of which are now known to be expressed in neurons; however, the role of classical MHCI molecules in synaptic plasticity is unknown. We report that the classical MHCI molecules, H2-K(b) and H2-D(b), are co-expressed by Purkinje cells (PCs). In the cerebellum of mice deficient for both H2-K(b) and H2-D(b) (K(b)D(b-/-)), there is a lower threshold for induction of long-term depression (LTD) at parallel fiber to PC synapses. This change may be a result of additional glutamate release observed at K(b)D(b-/-) CF to PC synapses, which are thought to 'train' the cerebellar circuit. A behavioral correlate of cerebellar LTD is motor learning; acquisition and retention of a Rotarod behavioral task is significantly better in K(b)D(b-/-) mice than in WT cohorts. These physiological and behavioral phenotypes in K(b)D(b-/-) mice reveal a surprising role for classical MHCI molecules in synaptic plasticity and motor learning. |