• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.125-130
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• 2013

Calponin 3 is an F-actin-binding protein and plays a key role in regulating spine plasticity and synaptic activity in neurons. Unlike the other subtypes, calponin 1 and 2, which are expressed in smooth and cardiac muscle cells, calponin 3 is highly expressed in the brain. The goal of this study was to elucidate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of calponin 3 following repeated administration of 3-nitropropionic acid in mice. The repeated administration of 3-nitropropionic acid generated necrotic neuronal cell death in the striatum. Calponin 3 was up-regulated in the neuroprotective penimbral region from 1.5 days after the last injection and thereafter. Double immunofluorescence study revealed that calponin 3 was induced in GFAP-positive astrocytes. These results suggest that calponin 3 induction in the neuroprotective penumbral area following 3-nitropropionic acid intoxication may play a key role in reactive astrogliosis in the striatum.