Impairment of motor coordination, Purkinje cell synapse formation, and cerebellar long-term depression in gluRdelta2 mutant mice

The delta 2 subunit of the glutamate receptor (GLuR) channel is localized selectively in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Analysis by gene targeting has shown that it is important for motor coordination, as well as the formation of synapses between parallel fibers and Purkinje cells and between climbing fibers and Purkinje cells. Loss of the delta 2 subunit results in changes in the long-term depression of synaptic transmission between parallel fiber and Purkinje cells. Result suggests that synaptic plasticity is closely related to synapse formation in the cerebellum.