Normal adult climbing fiber monoinnervation of cerebellar Purkinje cells in mice lacking MHC class I molecules
Devel Neurobio. 2008-01-01; 68(8): 997-1006
DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20639
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Some immune system proteins have recently been implicated in the development and
plasticity of neuronal connections. Notably, proteins of the major
histocompatibility complex 1 (MHC class 1) have been shown to be involved in
synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and the development of projection patterns
in the visual system. We examined the possible role for the MHC class 1 proteins
in one well-characterized example of synaptic exuberance and subsequent
refinement, the climbing fiber (CF) to Purkinje cell (PC) synapse. Cerebella from
adult mice deficient for two MHC genes, H2-D1 and H2-K1, and for
beta2-microglobulin gene were examined for evidence of deficient elimination of
supernumerary CF synapses on their PCs. Electrophysiological and morphological
evidence showed that, despite the absence of these MHC class 1 molecules, adult
PCs in these transgenic mice are monoinnervated as in wild-type animals. These
findings indicate that, at the level of restriction of afferent number at this
synapse, functional MHC class 1 proteins are not required.
2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.