Dendritic degeneration in SCA1 is associated with reduced expression of K⁺ channels found in Purkinje neuron dendrites.

<p><b>(A)</b> Measurement of the capacitance of the distal dendritic arbor (C₂) reveals dendritic degeneration starting at five weeks of age in ATXN1[82Q] Purkinje neurons. <b>(B)</b> Measurement of the capacitance of the soma and proximal dendrite (C₁) reveals no change in ATXN1[82Q] Purkinje neurons. <b>(C and D)</b> Evaluation of published RNA sequencing data [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198040#pone.0198040.ref024" target="_blank">24</a>] for all voltage-gated ion channel genes reveals altered expression of several subfamilies of ion channel genes in ATXN1[82Q] mice at five weeks of age <b>(C)</b> and twelve weeks of age <b>(D)</b>. Only ion channel genes where a statistically significant change in expression at these ages is shown here. The entire list of all known 145 ion channel genes with official IUPHAR classification [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198040#pone.0198040.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>] whose expression was assessed is provided in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198040#pone.0198040.s001" target="_blank">S1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198040#pone.0198040.s002" target="_blank">S2</a> Tables. K⁺ channel genes make up a significant proportion of dysregulated genes at both ages. Those genes where expression is dysregulated at both five and twelve weeks of age are underlined. In <b>(A-B)</b> N = 3–6 mice were utilized per group. Where error bars are present, data are mean ± SEM. * = <i>P<0</i>.<i>05</i>. Statistical significance derived by two-way ANOVA <b>(A</b>, <b>B)</b>.