Topic: chondroitinase ABC

Microglia continuously remodel synapses, which are embedded in the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the mechanisms which govern this process remain elusive. To investigate the influence of the neural ECM in synaptic remodeling by microglia, we disrupted ECM integrity by injection of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) into the retrosplenial cortex of healthy adult mice. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy we found that ChABC treatment increased microglial branching and ECM phagocytic capacity and decreased spine elimination rate under basal conditions. Moreover, ECM attenuation largely prevented sy

Perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of the extracellular matrix, enwrap subtypes of neurons and have many proposed functions including regulating adult brain plasticity. Removal of PNNs in adult mice by the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABC restores brain plasticity levels to that of juveniles. However, chondroitinase ABC indiscriminately degrades all chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix, its effect is not restricted to PNNs. In contrast, several endogenous metalloproteinases specifically target PNN components. Some of these are selectively expressed in PNN-