Ucp4 Knockdown of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Induces Bradykinesia.

Although uncoupling protein 4 (UCP4) is the most abundant protein reported in the brain, the biological function of UCP4 in cerebellum and pathological outcome of UCP4 deficiency in cerebellum remain obscure. To evaluate the role of Ucp4 in the cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), we generated the conditional knockdown of Ucp4 in PCs (Pcp2;Ucp4 mice) by breeding Ucp4 mice with Pcp2 mice. Series results by Western blot, immunofluorescent staining, and triple RNAscope in situ hybridization confirmed the specific ablation of Ucp4 in PCs in Pcp2;Ucp4 mice, but did not affect the expression of Ucp2, the analog of Ucp4.