The role of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the healthy brain: a characterization of G-CSF-deficient mice.

Full Abstract

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that controls proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. Although recent studies have begun to explore G-CSF-related mechanisms of action in various disease models, little is known about its function in the healthy brain. In the present study, the effect of G-CSF deficiency on memory formation and motor skills was investigated. The impact of G-CSF deficiency on the structural integrity of the hippocampus was evaluated by analyzing the generation of doublecortin-expressing cells, the amount of bromodeoxyurine-labeled cells, the dendritic complexity in hippocampal neurons, the binding densities of NMDA and GABA(A) receptors and the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). G-CSF deficiency caused a disruption in memory formation and in the development of motor skills. These impairments were associated with reduced ligand binding densities of NMDA receptors in hippocampal subfields CA3 and the dentate gyrus. The reduced excitation was potentiated by increased ligand binding densities of GABA(A) receptors resulting in a relative shift in favor of inhibition and impaired behavioral performance. These alterations were accompanied by impaired induction of LTP in the CA1 region. Moreover, G-CSF deficiency led to decreased dendritic complexity in hippocampal neurons in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 region. G-CSF deficiency also caused a reduction of neuronal precursor cells in the dentate gyrus. These findings confirm G-CSF as an essential neurotrophic factor, and point to a role in the proliferation, differentiation and functional integration of neural cells necessary for the structural and functional integrity of the hippocampal formation.

Author information

Author/s: Diederich, Kai (K); Sevimli, Sevgi (S); Dörr, Henrike (H); Kösters, Evelin (E); Hoppen, Maike (M); Lewejohann, Lars (L); Klocke, Rainer (R); Minnerup, Jens (J); Knecht, Stefan (S); Nikol, Sigrid (S); Sachser, Norbert (N); Schneider, Armin (A); Gorji, Ali (A); Sommer, Clemens (C); Schäbitz, Wolf-Rüdiger (WR);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany. kai.diederich(-atsign-)uni-muenster.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (J Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 29 (issue 37) : pp 11572-81

Dates: Created 2009/09/17; Completed 2009/10/02;

PMID: 19759304, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Autoradiography - methods
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Biophysics
Bromodeoxyuridine - metabolism
Cell Count - methods
Dizocilpine Maleate - metabolism
Electric Stimulation - methods
Exploratory Behavior - physiology
Gene Expression Regulation - genetics
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - deficiency; physiology
Hippocampus - cytology; enzymology; physiology
Long-Term Potentiation - drug effects; genetics; physiology
Male

Maze Learning - physiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism
Muscimol - metabolism
Neurons - metabolism; ultrastructure
Neuropeptides - metabolism
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase - metabolism
Protein Binding - drug effects; genetics
Receptors, GABA - metabolism
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - metabolism
Recognition (Psychology) - physiology
Silver Staining - methods
Tritium - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Microtubule-Associated Proteins (0) ; Neuropeptides (0) ; Receptors, GABA (0) ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (0) ; doublecortin protein (0) ; Tritium (10028-17-8) ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (143011-72-7) ; Muscimol (2763-96-4) ; Bromodeoxyuridine (59-14-3) ; Dizocilpine Maleate (77086-22-7) ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase (EC 4.2.1.11)

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