• Hiroshi Ueno, Shunsuke Suemitsu, Motoi Okamoto, Yosuke Matsumoto, and Takeshi Ishihara.
• Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki College of Allied Health Professions, Okayama 701-0194, Japan; Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: dhe422007@s.okayama-u.ac.jp.
• Neuroscience. 2016 Dec 3.

AbstractThe prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a key role in cognitive functions, memory, and attention. Alterations in parvalbumin interneurons (PV neurons) and perineuronal nets (PNNs) within the PFC have been implicated in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder pathology. However, it remains unclear why PV neurons and PNNs in the PFC are selectively impaired. Here we aimed to clarify if PV neurons and PNNs in the PFC have region-specific features. We found that PV neurons and PNNs were increased in a region-specific manner in the PFC during postnatal development. In the mature PFC, the expression of PV protein is lower than in other parts of the cortex. Furthermore, PNNs in the mature PFC are not typical lattice-like structures and do not have the major components of PNNs and tenascin-R. The present study indicates that PV neurons and PNNs have region-specific features, and our results suggest that PV neurons and PNNs have structural vulnerability within the PFC.Copyright © 2016 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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