Cerebellar output neurons impair non-motor behaviors by altering development of extracerebellar connectivity.

ABSTRACT: The capacity of the brain to compensate for insults during development depends on the type of cell loss, whereas the consequences of genetic mutations in the same neurons are difficult to predict. We reveal powerful compensation from outside the cerebellum when the excitatory cerebellar output neurons are ablated embryonically and demonstrate that the minimum requirement for these neurons is for motor coordination and not learning and social behaviors. In contrast, loss of the homeobox transcription factors Engrailed1/2 (EN1/2) in the cerebellar excitatory lineage leads to additional deficits in adult learning and spatial working memory, despite half of the excitatory output neurons being intact. Diffusion MRI indicates increased thalamo-cortico-striatal connectivity in En1/2 mutant

SUBMITTER: Lee AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11257463 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature