Impact of Reduced Cerebellar EAAT Expression on Purkinje Cell Firing Pattern of NPC1-deficient Mice

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 20;8(1):3318. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21805-z.

Abstract

Niemann-Pick disease Type C1 (NPC1) is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disease. NPC1-patients suffer, amongst others, from ataxia, based on a loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). Impaired expression/function of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are suspected of contributing to PC-degeneration in hereditary spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Thus, we studied EAAT-expression and its impact to PC-activity in NPC1-/-mice. Western blot revealed reduced EAAT1, EAAT2, EAAT4, and βIII-spectrin levels in NPC1-/-mice. EAATs play a crucial role in synaptic transmission, thus we were interested in the impact of the reduced EAAT-expression on the function of PCs. Patch-clamp recordings of PCs showed no differences in the firing patterns of NPC1+/+and NPC1-/-mice using a low internal chloride concentration. Because EAAT4 also comprises a chloride permeable ion pore, we perturbed the chloride homeostasis using a high internal chloride concentration. We observed differences in the firing patterns of NPC1+/+and NPC1-/-mice, suggesting an impact of the altered EAAT4-expression. Additionally, the EAAT-antagonist DL-TBOA acts differently in NPC1+/+and NPC1-/-mice. Our data support the line of evidence that an altered EAAT-expression/function is involved in neurodegeneration of PCs observed in SCAs. Thus, we suggest that similar pathogenic mechanisms contribute the loss of PCs in NPC1.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / genetics
  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Chlorides / metabolism
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / genetics
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3 / genetics
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3 / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4 / genetics
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4 / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Niemann-Pick C1 Protein
  • Proteins / physiology*
  • Purkinje Cells / cytology
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
  • Chlorides
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Niemann-Pick C1 Protein
  • Npc1 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Slc1a1 protein, mouse
  • Slc1a2 protein, mouse
  • Slc1a6 protein, mouse