Impaired cerebellar Purkinje cell potentiation generates unstable spatial map orientation and inaccurate navigation

Nat Commun. 2019 May 21;10(1):2251. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09958-5.

Abstract

Cerebellar activity supported by PKC-dependent long-term depression in Purkinje cells (PCs) is involved in the stabilization of self-motion based hippocampal representation, but the existence of cerebellar processes underlying integration of allocentric cues remains unclear. Using mutant-mice lacking PP2B in PCs (L7-PP2B mice) we here assess the role of PP2B-dependent PC potentiation in hippocampal representation and spatial navigation. L7-PP2B mice display higher susceptibility to spatial map instability relative to the allocentric cue and impaired allocentric as well as self-motion goal-directed navigation. These results indicate that PP2B-dependent potentiation in PCs contributes to maintain a stable hippocampal representation of a familiar environment in an allocentric reference frame as well as to support optimal trajectory toward a goal during navigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcineurin / genetics
  • Calcineurin / metabolism
  • Cues
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Animal
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Orientation, Spatial / physiology*
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*
  • Space Perception / physiology
  • Spatial Navigation / physiology*

Substances

  • Calcineurin