INTRODUCTION

Mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 gene (), which cause Rett syndrome (RTT), disrupt neuronal activity; however, the impact of the loss-of-function on the cytoarchitecture of medial entorhinal cortex layer II (MECII) neurons-crucial for spatial memory and learning-remains poorly understood.

METHODS

In this study, we utilized Golgi staining and neuron tracing in the 2 mouse model of RTT to investigate the pyramidal and stellate cell alterations in MECII.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Our findings revealed that pyramidal cells displayed a significant reduction in apical dendritic length, soma size, and spine density, while basal dendrites showed increased dendritic complexity and branching. On the other hand, stellate cells exhibited dendritic hypertrophy along with increased soma size, primary dendrites, and localized increase in dendritic intersections, despite an overall reduction in total dendritic length and spine density. These findings underscore the notion that loss-of-function can disrupt MECII pyramidal and stellate cell cytoarchitecture in a cell-type-specific manner, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining proper dendritic morphology in circuits, which is crucial for learning and memory.