Shelton, Micah
(2015)
Loss of Microtubule Associated Protein 2 Immunoreactivity Linked to Dendritic Spine Loss in Schizophrenia.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is a neuronal protein that plays a role in maintaining dendritic structure through its interaction with microtubules. In schizophrenia (Sz), a number of studies have revealed that MAP2’s typically robust immunoreactivity (IR) is significantly reduced across several cortical regions. Previous studies have not explored the relationship between MAP2-IR reduction and lower dendritic spine density, which is frequently reported in schizophrenia nor has MAP2-IR loss been investigated in the primary auditory cortex (Brodmann Area 41), a site of conserved pathology in Sz. Last, the impact of chronic antipsychotic exposure is little understood. Using quantitative spinning disk confocal microscopy in two cohorts of Sz subjects and matched control subjects (Sz, n=20; C, n=20), we measured MAP2-IR as well as dendritic spine density and spine number in deep layer 3 of BA41. Sz subjects exhibited a significant reduction in MAP2-IR. The reductions in MAP2-IR were not associated with neuron loss, loss of MAP2 protein, clinical confounds, or technical factors; nor were MAP2-IR reductions linked with chronic haloperidol exposure in a macaque model. Dendritic spine density and number were also reduced in Sz and correlated with MAP2-IR. Twelve (60%) Sz subjects exhibited MAP2-IR values lower than the lowest controls; only in this group were spine density and number significantly reduced. These findings demonstrate that MAP2-IR loss is closely linked to dendritic spine pathology in Sz. Because MAP2 shares substantial sequence, regulatory, and functional homology with MAP tau, the wealth of knowledge regarding tau biology and the rapidly expanding field of tau therapeutics provide resources for identifying how MAP2 is altered in Sz and possible leads to novel therapeutics.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
16 December 2015 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
17 August 2015 |
| Approval Date: |
16 December 2015 |
| Submission Date: |
15 December 2015 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
55 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Medicine > Psychiatry |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
schizophrenia, auditory cortex, MAP2, spine density, confocal microscopy, postmortem human tissue |
| Date Deposited: |
16 Dec 2015 12:47 |
| Last Modified: |
19 Dec 2016 14:43 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26683 |
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