Pea3 transcription factors, Etv4 and Etv5, are required for proper hippocampal dendrite development and plasticity

FONTANET PA; PARATCHAG; RIOS AS; LEDDA F; ALSINA FC

CEREBRAL CORTEX

OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2016 p. 1 - 14

1047-3211

The proper formation and morphogenesis of dendrites is essential to the establishment of neuronal connectivity. We reportthat 2 members of the Pea3 family of transcription factors, Etv4 and Etv5, are expressed in hippocampal neurons during themain period of dendritogenesis, suggesting that they have a function in dendrite development. Here, we show that thesetranscription factors are physiological regulators of growth and arborization of pyramidal cell dendrites in the developinghippocampus. Gain and loss of function assays indicate that Etv4 and Etv5 are required for proper development ofhippocampal dendritic arbors and spines. We have found that in vivo deletion of either Etv4 or Etv5 in hippocampal neuronscauses deficits in dendrite size and complexity, which are associated with impaired cognitive function. Additionally, ourdata support the idea that Etv4 and Etv5 are part of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor?mediated transcriptional programrequired for proper hippocampal dendrite connectivity and plasticity.Key words: BDNF, dendrite architecture, dendritic spine development, functional plasticity, hippocampal development