Highly expressed genes within hippocampal sector CA1: implications for the physiology of memory

Abstract

As the CA1 sector has been implicated to play a key role in memory formation, a dedicated search for highly expressed genes within this region was made from an on-line atlas of gene expression within the mouse brain (GENSAT). From a data base of 1013 genes, 16 were identified that had selective localization of gene expression within the CA1 region, and included <em>Angpt2, ARHGEF6, CCK, Cntnap1, DRD3, EMP1, Epha2, Itm2b, Lrrtm2, Mdk, PNMT, Ppm1e, Ppp2r2d, RASGRP1, Slitrk5,</em> and <em>Sstr4</em>. Of the 16 identified, the most selective and intense localization for both adult and post-natal day 7 was noted for <em>ARHGEF6</em>, which is known to be linked to non-syndromic mental retardation, and has also been localized to dendritic spines. Further research on the role played by <em>ARHGEF6</em> in memory formation is strongly advocated.