Neuregulin in the development of hippocampal neurons

我们研究了过表达神经调节蛋白在海马神经元中的亚细胞定位和作用。我们之前的研究表明，神经调节蛋白在海马神经元中以簇状存在。我们研究了这些神经调节蛋白簇是否与特定的亚细胞区域相关联，以及分布模式是否在神经元发育过程中受到调节。我们用表达神经调节蛋白的质粒转染神经元，用抗突触蛋白的抗体染色。我们没有发现神经调节蛋白与突触标记物的显著共定位。增强或降低神经元活动的治疗不影响神经调节蛋白的亚细胞定位。神经调节蛋白的过度表达改变了突触的形态发育。这一发现表明，神经调节蛋白调节突触的发育。因此，神经调节蛋白可能与精神分裂症背后的神经网络发育缺陷有关。

We have investigated the subcellular localization and effect of overexpressing neuregulin in hippocampal neurons. Our previous studies suggest that neuregulin exists in clusters in hippocampal neurons. We examined whether these neuregulin clusters associate with specific subcellular regions, and whether the pattern of distribution is regulated during neuronal development. We stained neuorns transfected with a plasmid expressing neuregulin with antibodies against synaptic proteins. We did not detect significant colocalization of neuregulin with synaptic markers. Treatments that enhance or decrease neuronal activities did not affect the subcellular localization of neuregulin. Overexpression of neuregulin altered the morphological development of synapses. This finding indicates that neuregulin regulates synapse development. Therefore neuregulin might contribute to developmental deficits of neural networks underlying schizophrenia.