Turhan Kandemir, Fulya Buge Ergen, Didem T Cosan and T Erhan Cosan
EskiÃ?Â?ehir Osmangazi University, Turkey
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Objective: Microtubules� functions are important in neuronal development, plasticity and polarization. Disturbing changes in microtubule organization and dynamics may cause loss of neuronal integrity and functions. Tau and other microtubuleassociated proteins (MAPs) promote the assembly and stabilization of neuronal microtubules. MAP2/Tau family proteins are originally characterized by their ability to bind microtubules. MAP2 is found mostly in dendrites and tau is found mainly in axons. Their bindings stabilize microtubules. Here, we discuss hippocampal MAP2/tau tissue levels in rats housed either in enriched, standard and isolated environment. Material & Method: The rats were kept in different environmental conditions (standard, rich and isolated). After one and two weeks of the procedure, hippocampal microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: MAP2 levels in hippocampal region were periodically elevated during two weeks in the rats housed in enriched environment. Tau protein levels were not apparently changed at first week in all groups, but were reduced at second week in the rats housed in enriched environment. Conclusion: In experimental studies on the investigation of MAP2/tau family, MAP2 and tau should be evaluated and interpreted separately. Dendritic MAP2 may be elevated continuously in the enriched environment, but not axonal tau.
Turhan Kandemir is currently working as a Professor in the department of neurosurgery at Eskisehir Osmangazi University (Eskisehir, Turkey). He has published several original research papers in reputed journals and also participated in several scientific meetings.
Email: turan-kandemir87@hotmail.com
