Ablation of ErbB4 in parvalbumin‐positive interneurons inhibits adult hippocampal neurogenesis through down‐regulating BDNF/TrkB expression. Issue 15 (17th October 2018) - Zhang, Heng
Abstract : We investigated the role of ErbB4 in PV neurons during the adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Results of BrdU labeling, NeuN staining, DCX staining and POMC‐GFP labeling revealed that ErbB4 ablation in PV neurons might inhibit the adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice through down‐regulating the expression of BDNF and TrkB. Abstract: Parvalbumin (PV) positive interneurons in the subgranular zone (SGZ) can regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis. ErbB4 is mainly expressed in PV neurons in the hippocampus and is crucial for keeping normal function of PV neurons. However, whether ErbB4 in PV interneurons affects the adult hippocampal neurogenesis remains unknown. In the present study, we deleted ErbB4 specifically in PV neurons by crossing PV‐Cre mice with ErbB4 f/f mice. Results of BrdU labeling and NeuN staining revealed that the proliferation of neural progenitors was increased but the survival and maturation of newborn neurons were decreased in the hippocampus of mice after deleting ErbB4 in PV neurons, suggesting that ErbB4 in PV neurons is closely associated with the process of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Interestingly, the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, tropomyosin‐related kinase B (TrkB), was significantly decreased in the hippocampus of ErbB4‐deleted mice. Together, our data suggested that ErbB4 in PV neurons might modulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis by affecting BDNF–TrkB signaling pathway.