Astrocytes Prevent Abnormal Neuronal Development in the Fragile X Mouse

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2010 Mar 26

PMID 20335488

Citations 85

Authors

Shelley Jacobs

Laurie C Doering

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Astrocytes are now distinguished as major regulators of neuronal growth and synaptic development. Recently, they have been identified as key players in the progression of a number of developmental disorders; however, in fragile X syndrome (FXS), the role of astrocytes is not known. Using a coculture design, we found that hippocampal neurons exhibited abnormal dendritic morphology and a decreased number of presynaptic and postsynaptic protein aggregates when they were grown on astrocytes from a fragile X mouse. Moreover, we found that normal astrocytes could prevent the development of abnormal dendrite morphology and preclude the reduction of presynaptic and postsynaptic protein clusters in neurons from a fragile X mouse. These experiments are the first to establish a role for astrocytes in the altered neurobiology of FXS. Our results support the notion that astrocytes contribute to abnormal dendrite morphology and the dysregulated synapse development in FXS.

Citing Articles

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