Sialyltransferase Mutations Alter the Expression of Calcium-Binding Interneurons in Mice Neocortex, Hippocampus and Striatum

oleh: Senka Blažetić, Vinko Krajina, Irena Labak, Barbara Viljetić, Valentina Pavić, Vedrana Ivić, Marta Balog, Ronald L. Schnaar, Marija Heffer

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-12-01

Deskripsi

Gangliosides are major glycans on vertebrate nerve cells, and their metabolic disruption results in congenital disorders with marked cognitive and motor deficits. The sialyltransferase gene <i>St3gal2</i> is responsible for terminal sialylation of two prominent brain gangliosides in mammals, GD1a and GT1b. In this study, we analyzed the expression of calcium-binding interneurons in primary sensory (somatic, visual, and auditory) and motor areas of the neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum of <i>St3gal2</i>-null mice as well as <i>St3gal3</i>-null and <i>St3gal2/3</i>-double null. Immunohistochemistry with highly specific primary antibodies for GABA, parvalbumin, calretinin, and calbindin were used for interneuron detection. <i>St3gal2</i>-null mice had decreased expression of all three analyzed types of calcium-binding interneurons in all analyzed regions of the neocortex. These results implicate gangliosides GD1a and GT1b in the process of interneuron migration and maturation.