Experience-dependent coincident expression of the effector immediate-early genes Arc and Homer 1a in hippocampal and neocortical neuronal networks

Almira Vazdarjanova, Bruce L. McNaughton, Carol A. Barnes, Paul F. Worley, John F. Guzowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

256 Scopus citations

Abstract

The transcription of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer 1a (H1a) is dynamically regulated in response to synaptic activity; their protein products function at the postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses. Previous studies demonstrate a role for Arc in the maintenance of long-term potentiation and in memory consolidation processes and indicate a role for H1a in modifying glutamatergic signaling pathways. Using doublelabel fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that Arc and H1a RNA expression is induced strongly in the same neurons of rat hippocampus and neocortex after exploration of a novel environment. These findings support the view that novel experience activates a cell-specific genomic program and that Arc and H1a may function in concert in the structural and functional modifications of dendrites that lead to long-term changes in synaptic efficacy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10067-10071
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume22
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arc
  • Cortex
  • Dendrite
  • Gene
  • Hippocampus
  • Homer 1
  • Immediate-early
  • Learning
  • Memory
  • Plasticity
  • Transcription

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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