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    The integrity of cholinergic basal forebrain neurons depends on expression of Nkx2-1 (2011)

    Art
    Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag
    Autoren
    Magno, Lorenza
    Kretz, Oliver
    Bert, Bettina
    Ersözlü, Sara
    Vogt, Johannes
    Fink, Heidrun
    Kimura, Shioko
    Vogt, Angelika
    Monyer, Hannah
    Nitsch, Robert
    Naumann, Thomas
    Quelle
    The European journal of neuroscience
    Bandzählung: 34
    Heftzählung: 11
    Seiten: 1767 – 1782
    ISSN: 0953-816x
    Sprache
    Englisch
    Verweise
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07890.x
    Pubmed: 22098391
    Kontakt
    Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie

    Koserstr. 20
    14195 Berlin
    +49 30 838 53221
    pharmakologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

    Abstract / Zusammenfassung

    The transcription factor Nkx2-1 belongs to the homeobox-encoding family of proteins that have essential functions in prenatal brain development. Nkx2-1 is required for the specification of cortical interneurons and several neuronal subtypes of the ventral forebrain. Moreover, this transcription factor is involved in migratory processes by regulating the expression of guidance molecules. Interestingly, Nkx2-1 expression was recently detected in the mouse brain at postnatal stages. Using two transgenic mouse lines that allow prenatal or postnatal cell type-specific deletion of Nkx2-1, we show that continuous expression of the transcription factor is essential for the maturation and maintenance of cholinergic basal forebrain neurons in mice. Notably, prenatal deletion of Nkx2-1 in GAD67-expressing neurons leads to a nearly complete loss of cholinergic neurons and parvalbumin-containing GABAergic neurons in the basal forebrain. We also show that postnatal mutation of Nkx2-1 in choline acetyltransferase-expressing cells causes a striking reduction in their number. These degenerative changes are accompanied by partial denervation of their target structures and results in a discrete impairment of spatial memory.