Wnts acting through canonical and noncanonical signaling pathways exert opposite effects on hippocampal synapse formation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wnt proteins comprise a large class of signaling molecules that regulate a variety of developmental processes, including synapse formation. Previous studies have shown Wnts to be involved in both the induction and prevention of synapses in a number of different organisms. However, it is not clear whether the influence of Wnts on synapses is a result of Wnts' behavior in different organisms or differences in the activity of different Wnt ligands.

Results

We used in situ hybridization to show that several Wnt ligands (Wnt3, Wnt5a, Wnt7a, and Wnt7b) and their receptors, Frizzled, are expressed in the developing hippocampus during the period of synapse formation in rodents. We used recombinant Wnt protein or Wnt conditioned media to explore the effects of Wnts on syna

SUBMITTER: Davis EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2596118 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature