Abstract
Background Developing cortical neurons express a tightly choreographed sequence of cytoskeletal and transmembrane proteins to form and strengthen specific synaptic connections during circuit formation. Nectin-3 is a cell-adhesion molecule with previously described roles in synapse formation and maintenance. This protein and its binding partner, Nectin-1, are selectively expressed in upper-layer neurons of mouse visual cortex, but their role in the development of cortical circuits is unknown.
Methods Here we block Nectin-3 expression (via shRNA) or overexpress Nectin-3 in developing layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons using in utero electroporation. We then assay dendritic spine densities at three developmental time points: eye opening (postnatal day (P)14), one week following eye opening after a period of heightened synaptogenesis (P21), and at the close of the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity (P35).
Results Knockdown of Nectin-3 beginning at E15.5 or ∼P19 increased dendritic spine densities at P21 or P35, respectively. Conversely, overexpressing full length Nectin-3 at E15.5 led to decreased dendritic spine densities when all ages were considered together. Interestingly, an even greater decrease in dendritic spine densities, particularly at P21, was observed when we overexpressed Nectin-3 lacking its Afadin binding domain, indicating Afadin may facilitate spine morphogenesis after eye opening.
Conclusion These data collectively suggest that the proper levels of Nectin-3, as well as the interaction of Nectin-3 with Afadin, facilitate normal synapse formation after eye opening in layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
List of abbreviations
- PAJ
- Puncta Adherentia Junction
- Nec3-shRNA
- Nectin-3 short hairpin RNA
- Nec3-OE
- Nectin-3 overexpression
- Nec3Δafadin
- Nectin-3 missing the Afadin binding site
- siRNA
- small interfering RNA
- V1
- Primary visual cortex
- L2/3
- Layer 2/3
- P14
- Postnatal day 14
- ODP
- Ocular dominance plasticity
- IHC
- immunohistochemistry.