Reduced expression of PSA-NCAM in the hippocampus and piriform cortex of the R6/1 and R6/2 mouse models of Huntington's disease

Cognitive deficits and impaired olfactory function are observed in early stages of Huntington's disease (HD). The polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is strongly associated with plastic events in the brain. During adulthood, it is most abundantly expressed in the hippocampus and the piriform cortex, which are involved in cognition and olfaction, respectively. We show that the numbers of PSA-NCAM-positive cells in the hippocampus and piriform cortex are dramatically reduced in the R6/1 and the R6/2 mouse models of HD. We hypothesize that the decrease in NCAM polysialylation reflects an impaired plasticity and might underlie some of the early symptoms in HD.