The role of tenascin C in the biomolecular and cellular composition of adult subgranular zone

Background: Adult stem cell niches are specialized forms of extracellular matrix suitable for maintaining the development of newborn neurons. The process is regulated by internal and external factors, such as enriched environment (EE). The subgranular zone (SGZ) in the hippocampus is enriched with molecules such as tenascin C (TnC). It is a regulatory glycoprotein involved in the proliferation and migration of different cell types. The aim of this study was to examine how TnC affects the distribution of different biomolecules and the number of developing cells in the adult SGZ.Methods: To directly characterize the molecular environment of the subgranular zone, synchrotron based FTIR spectroscopy was used. We analyzed the differences in the distribution of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates among four animal groups - TnC+/+ mice housed in standard conditions, TnC+/+ mice housed in EE, TnC-/- mice housed in standard conditions, TnC-/- mice housed in EE. Additionally, immunohistochemistry was used to estimate the number of proliferative cells and immature neurons in the same experimental groups.Results: The statistical analysis of IR spectra showed that TnC deficiency leads to changes in the lipid composition and decreased phosphate metabolism in the adult SGZ. On the other hand, the absence of TnC did not affect the number of proliferative cells and immature neurons in the adult SGZ.Conclusion: This study reports TnC-dependent effect of EE on the biomolecular composition of the adult SGZ, while no genotype effect was detected on the cellular composition.