Regional and cell-type specific distribution of HDAC2 in the adult mouse brain

The effects of epigenetics on brain functions are not completely understood, but histone deacetylases (HDACs) are known to affect brain function and dysfunction by mediating the acetylation status of target proteins, thereby affecting gene expression. The current study used immunochemistry to illuminate the regional distribution of one member of the HDAC family, HDAC2, in the C57BL/6J mouse brain. Our data show that HDAC2 is ubiquitously expressed throughout the mouse brain and is localized primarily within the cell nucleus. Using double-immunofluorescence, we demonstrated HDAC2 expression in neuronal cells, including cholinergic, serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons, as well as postsynaptic glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. HDAC2 was also observed in oligodendrocytes, but not in astrocytes or microglia. These detailed immunological studies illuminate the distribution of HDAC2 throughout the mouse brain and will facilitate investigation of the roles of HDAC2 in brain function and neurological disorders.