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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
Sustained downregulation of YY1-associated protein-related protein gene expression in rat hippocampus induced by
Takayuki Ohtomo1, Tomoyuki Kanamatsu, Mariko Fujita
1Department of Pharmacotherapeutics, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432–1 Horinouchi, Hachioji,Tokyo 192–0392, Japan. tohtomo@toyaku.ac.jp
Insights
YY1AP-related protein (YARP) expression decreases in the hippocampus after repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS). This suggests YARP gene regulation differs between embryonic and adult neurogenesis stages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- YY1AP-related protein (YARP) is structurally similar to YY1AP and possesses a YY1-binding domain.
- YARP mRNA expression increases during late-stage embryonic neurogenesis.
- Regulation of YARP during adult neurogenesis remains uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of YARP mRNA expression during adult neurogenesis.
- To assess the effect of electroconvulsive shock (ECS), a model for depression treatment, on YARP expression in the adult brain.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot analysis to quantify YARP mRNA levels.
- In situ hybridization to localize YARP mRNA expression in hippocampal subfields.
- Comparison of ECS effects with kainic acid-induced seizures.
Main Results:
- Repeated ECS significantly decreased YARP mRNA expression, while single ECS had no significant effect.
- In situ hybridization confirmed reduced YARP mRNA in hippocampal CA subfields (CA1, CA2, CA3).
- YARP mRNA regulation by ECS differed from that induced by kainic acid.
Conclusions:
- YARP expression is downregulated in the adult hippocampus following repeated ECS.
- These findings indicate distinct regulatory mechanisms for YARP during embryonic versus adult neurogenesis.
Abstract:
YY1AP-related protein (YARP) is a structural homolog of YY1-associated protein (YY1AP), which has a YY1-binding domain. During perinatal development, YARP mRNA expression is increased at a late stage of embryonic neurogenesis. It is not known whether YARP expression is regulated during adult neurogenesis. Electroconvulsive shock (ECS), a model for a highly effective depression treatment, is known to induce hippocampal neurogenesis after repeated treatment, so we employed ECS to measure the expression of YARP mRNA. Northern blots revealed significantly decreased expression of the YARP gene after repeated ECS but not single ECS. In situ hybridization clearly demonstrated a reduction of YARP mRNA expression in the CA (CA1, CA2, and CA3) subfields. Although clonic-tonic seizure was induced not only by ECS but also by injection of kainic acid to the striatum, the regulation of YARP mRNA expression was different between ECS and kainic acid. YARP mRNA was decreased only by the ECS method, suggesting that YARP expression is different at embryonic and adult neurogenic stage.
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