@article {46040,
	title = {Depletion of polysialic acid from neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) increases CA3 dendritic arborization and increases vulnerability to excitotoxicity.},
	journal = {Experimental Neurology},
	volume = {241},
	year = {2013},
	month = {2013 Mar},
	pages = {5-12},
	abstract = {<p>Chronic immobilization stress (CIS) shortens apical dendritic trees of CA3 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus of the male rat, and dendritic length may be a determinant of vulnerability to stress. Expression of the polysialylated form of neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) in the hippocampal formation is increased by stress, while PSA removal by Endo-neuraminidase-N (endo-N) is known to cause the mossy fibers to defasciculate and synapse ectopically in their CA3 target area. We show here that enzymatic removal of PSA produced a remarkable expansion of dendritic arbors of CA3 pyramidal neurons, with a lesser effect in CA1. This expansion eclipsed the CIS-induced shortening of CA3 dendrites, with the expanded dendrites of both no-stress-endo-N and CIS-endo-N rats being longer than those in no-stress-control rats and much longer than those in CIS-control rats. As predicted by the hypothesis that endo-N-induced dendritic expansion might increase vulnerability to excitotoxic challenge, systemic injection with kainic acid, showed markedly increased neuronal degeneration, as assessed by fluorojade B histochemistry, in rats that had been treated with endo-N compared to vehicle-treated rats throughout the entire hippocampal formation. PSA removal also exacerbated the CIS-induced reduction in body weight and abolished effects of CIS on NPY and NR2B mRNA levels. These findings support the hypothesis that CA3 arbor plasticity plays a protective role during prolonged stress and clarify the role of PSA-NCAM in stress-induced dendritic plasticity.</p>
},
	keywords = {Analysis of Variance, Animals, Body Mass Index, CA3 Region, Hippocampal, Dendrites, Disease Models, Animal, Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists, Fluoresceins, Gene Expression Regulation, Kainic Acid, Male, Metalloendopeptidases, Nerve Degeneration, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules, Organic Chemicals, Pyramidal Cells, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Sialic Acids, Silver Staining, Stress, Psychological},
	issn = {1090-2430},
	doi = {10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.11.028},
	author = {McCall, Trudy and Weil, Zachary M and Nacher, Juan and Bloss, Erik B and El Maarouf, Abderrahman and Rutishauser, Urs and McEwen, Bruce S}
}
