Brain cholesterol turnover required for geranylgeraniol production and learning in mice

Tiina J. Kotti, Denise M O Ramirez, Brad E. Pfeiffer, Kimberly M. Huber, David W. Russell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

206 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mevalonate pathway produces cholesterol and nonsterol isoprenoids, such as geranylgeraniol. In the brain, a fraction of cholesterol is metabolized in neurons by the enzyme cholesterol 24-hydroxylase, and this depletion activates the mevalonate pathway. Brains from mice lacking 24-hydroxylase excrete cholesterol more slowly, and the tissue compensates by suppressing the mevalonate pathway. Here we report that this suppression causes a defect in learning. 24-Hydroxylase knockout mice exhibit severe deficiencies in spatial, associative, and motor learning, and in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Acute treatment of wild-type hippocampal slices with an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway (a statin) also impairs LTP. The effects of statin treatment and genetic elimination of 24-hydroxylase on LTP are reversed by a 20-min treatment with geranylgeraniol but not by cholesterol. We conclude that cholesterol turnover in brain activates the mevalonate pathway and that a constant production of geranylgeraniol in a small subset of neurons is required for LTP and learning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3869-3874
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume103
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 7 2006

Keywords

  • Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase
  • Cytochrome p450
  • Isoprenoids
  • Neurons
  • Synaptic plasticity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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