Arcadlin induction reduces dendritic spine density in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Arcadlin, a non-clustered protocadherin δ2, is induced in a neuronal activity and leads to reduction in the dendritic spine density. Cerebral ischemia induces the neuronal activity and the change of dendritic spine morphology. However, the expression of Arcadlin and its role in the ischemia remains unclear. We analyzed Arcadlin expression pattern and dendritic spine changes after cerebral ischemia using a reliable mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found that Arcadlin mRNA was dramatically upregulated in the dentate gyrus (DG) at 4 hours after MCAO. In the ipsilateral DG, we observed a reduction in the dendritic spine density compared to sham mice. However, the MCAO-induced reduction of dendritic spine density was partly mitigated. These findings imply that Arcadlin plays important role in the process of dendritic spine reduction in the DG following cerebral ischemia.