Figure 8.

Downregulation of α1-chimerin increases spine density. A, Cotransfection of hippocampal neurons (10 DIV) with eCFP and α1-chimerin siRNA expression plasmid. Cells were immunostained at 14 DIV against α-chimerin. Note the decreased α-chimerin signal in the transfected neuron (arrow). B, Hippocampal neurons cotransfected with eYFP and random siRNA (left) or eYFP and α1-chimerin siRNA (right). Neurons expressing the α-chimerin-specific siRNA show increased spine density (8.31 ± 1.23 spines per 10 μm; p < 0.01) when compared with those expressing a random siRNA construct (5.56 ± 0.54 spines per 10 μm). Scale bar, 5 μm.