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Anshu K, Nair AK, Srinath S, Laxmi TR. Altered Developmental Trajectory in Male and Female Rats in a Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:4390-4411. [PMID: 35976506 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05684-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Early motor and sensory developmental delays precede Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis and may serve as early indicators of ASD. The literature on sensorimotor development in animal models is sparse, male centered, and has mixed findings. We characterized early development in a prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD and found sex-specific developmental delays in VPA rats. We created a developmental composite score combining 15 test readouts, yielding a reliable gestalt measure spanning physical, sensory, and motor development, that effectively discriminated between VPA and control groups. Considering the heterogeneity in ASD phenotype, the developmental composite offers a robust metric that can enable comparison across different animal models of ASD and can serve as an outcome measure for early intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari Anshu
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53705, WI, USA
| | - Ajay Kumar Nair
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53703, WI, USA
| | - Shoba Srinath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - T Rao Laxmi
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India.
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2
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Haratizadeh S, Ranjbar M, Darvishzadeh-Mahani F, Basiri M, Nozari M. The effects of postnatal erythropoietin and nano-erythropoietin on behavioral alterations by mediating K-Cl co-transporter 2 in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22353. [PMID: 36567653 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this study, based on the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance theory of autism, the time window of GABA switch, the role of K-Cl co-transporter 2 (KCC2) in adjustment GABA switch, and brain permeability to erythropoietin (EPO), the effects of postnatal -EPO and- nano- erythropoietin (NEPO) have been evaluated in the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. The VPA was administered for animal modeling of autism at gestational day (GD) 12.5 (600 mg/kg). Male offsprings were injected with EPO and NEPO in a clinically proper postnatal dosing regimen on postnatal days (PND) 1-5, and autistic-like behaviors were tested at the end of the first month. Then animals were sacrificed, and neuron morphology and KCC2 expression were examined by Nissl staining and Western blot. According to our findings, high-dose NEPO improved autism-associated phenotypes. Neuroprotective effects of EPO and NEPO have been shown in the hippocampus. Postnatal NEPO treatment reversed KCC2 expression abnormalities induced by prenatal VPA. Our results might support the role of KCC2 in ASD and the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance hypothesis. We suggested Nano- erythropoietin and other KCC2 interventions as a new approach to the early treatment and prevention of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Haratizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Sciences, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ranjbar
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Darvishzadeh-Mahani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohsen Basiri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Sciences, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Nozari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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3
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Miles KD, Doll CA. Chloride imbalance in Fragile X syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1008393. [PMID: 36312023 PMCID: PMC9596984 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1008393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental changes in ionic balance are associated with crucial hallmarks in neural circuit formation, including changes in excitation and inhibition, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Neuronal excitability is largely mediated by ionic concentrations inside and outside of the cell, and chloride (Cl-) ions are highly influential in early neurodevelopmental events. For example, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system (CNS). However, during early development GABA can depolarize target neurons, and GABAergic depolarization is implicated in crucial neurodevelopmental processes. This developmental shift of GABAergic neurotransmission from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing output is induced by changes in Cl- gradients, which are generated by the relative expression of Cl- transporters Nkcc1 and Kcc2. Interestingly, the GABA polarity shift is delayed in Fragile X syndrome (FXS) models; FXS is one of the most common heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. The RNA binding protein FMRP, encoded by the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 (Fmr1) and absent in FXS, appears to regulate chloride transporter expression. This could dramatically influence FXS phenotypes, as the syndrome is hypothesized to be rooted in defects in neural circuit development and imbalanced excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission. In this perspective, we summarize canonical Cl- transporter expression and investigate altered gene and protein expression of Nkcc1 and Kcc2 in FXS models. We then discuss interactions between Cl- transporters and neurotransmission complexes, and how these links could cause imbalances in inhibitory neurotransmission that may alter mature circuits. Finally, we highlight current therapeutic strategies and promising new directions in targeting Cl- transporter expression in FXS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caleb Andrew Doll
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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White AM, An X, Debiec J. Intact maternal buffering of stress response in infant rats despite altered responsivity towards maternal olfactory cues in the valproic acid model of autism-like behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:959485. [PMID: 36072089 PMCID: PMC9441625 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.959485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted processing of social cues and altered social behaviors are among the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and they emerge as early as the first year of life. These differences in sensory abilities may affect the ability of children with ASDs to securely attach to a caregiver and experience caregiver buffering of stress. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) has been used to model some aspects of ASDs in rodents. Here, we asked whether prenatal VPA exposure altered infant rats’ behavioral responsivity to maternal olfactory cues in an Odor Preference Test (OPT) and affected maternal buffering of infants’ stress responsivity to shock. In the odor preference test, 1-week old rats treated with VPA during pregnancy appeared to have impaired social recognition and/or may be less motivated to approach social odors in early infancy. These effects were particularly prominent in female pups. In 2-week old rats, VPA-exposed pups and saline-exposed pups showed similar preferences for home cage bedding. Although VPA-exposed pups may initially have a deficit in this attachment-related behavior they do recover typical responses to home cage bedding in later infancy. Both control and VPA-exposed pups showed robust stress hormone responses to repeated shocks, an effect which was blocked when a calm mother was present during shock exposure. No sex differences in the effect of maternal presence on the stress response to shock and no interactions between sex and prenatal drug exposure were observed. Although VPA-exposed pups may show impaired responsivity to maternal cues in early infancy, maternal presence is still capable of regulating the stress response in VPA-exposed pups. In this study we demonstrate the importance of utilizing multiple batteries of tests in assessing behavior, dissecting the behavior on one test into different components. Our results inform about the underlying behavioral characteristics of some of the ASD phenotypes, including sex differences reported by clinical studies, and could shed light on potential opportunities for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. White
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Amanda M. White
| | - Xianli An
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychology, School of Educational Science, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jacek Debiec
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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5
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Molecular Mechanisms of Epilepsy: The Role of the Chloride Transporter KCC2. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1500-1515. [PMID: 35819636 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by abnormal or synchronous brain activity causing seizures, which may produce convulsions, minor physical signs, or a combination of symptoms. These disorders affect approximately 65 million people worldwide, from all ages and genders. Seizures apart, epileptic patients present a high risk to develop neuropsychological comorbidities such as cognitive deficits, emotional disturbance, and psychiatric disorders, which severely impair quality of life. Currently, the treatment for epilepsy includes the administration of drugs or surgery, but about 30% of the patients treated with antiepileptic drugs develop time-dependent pharmacoresistence. Therefore, further investigation about epilepsy and its causes is needed to find new pharmacological targets and innovative therapeutic strategies. Pharmacoresistance is associated to changes in neuronal plasticity and alterations of GABAA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. The downregulation of GABA inhibitory activity may arise from a positive shift in GABAA receptor reversal potential, due to an alteration in chloride homeostasis. In this paper, we review the contribution of K+-Cl--cotransporter (KCC2) to the alterations in the Cl- gradient observed in epileptic condition, and how these alterations are coupled to the increase in the excitability.
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Savardi A, Borgogno M, De Vivo M, Cancedda L. Pharmacological tools to target NKCC1 in brain disorders. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:1009-1034. [PMID: 34620512 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The chloride importer NKCC1 and the chloride exporter KCC2 are key regulators of neuronal chloride concentration. A defective NKCC1/KCC2 expression ratio is associated with several brain disorders. Preclinical/clinical studies have shown that NKCC1 inhibition by the United States FDA-approved diuretic bumetanide is a potential therapeutic strategy in preclinical/clinical studies of multiple neurological conditions. However, bumetanide has poor brain penetration and causes unwanted diuresis by inhibiting NKCC2 in the kidney. To overcome these issues, a growing number of studies have reported more brain-penetrating and/or selective bumetanide prodrugs, analogs, and new molecular entities. Here, we review the evidence for NKCC1 pharmacological inhibition as an effective strategy to manage neurological disorders. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of bumetanide repurposing and the benefits and risks of new NKCC1 inhibitors as therapeutic agents for brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Savardi
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, 00185 Rome, Italy; Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Borgogno
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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7
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The role of GABAergic signalling in neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:290-307. [PMID: 33772226 PMCID: PMC9001156 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00443-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
GABAergic inhibition shapes the connectivity, activity and plasticity of the brain. A series of exciting new discoveries provides compelling evidence that disruptions in a number of key facets of GABAergic inhibition have critical roles in the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). These facets include the generation, migration and survival of GABAergic neurons, the formation of GABAergic synapses and circuit connectivity, and the dynamic regulation of the efficacy of GABAergic signalling through neuronal chloride transporters. In this Review, we discuss recent work that elucidates the functions and dysfunctions of GABAergic signalling in health and disease, that uncovers the contribution of GABAergic neural circuit dysfunction to NDD aetiology and that leverages such mechanistic insights to advance precision medicine for the treatment of NDDs.
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8
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Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Lazarewicz JW, Zieminska E. Altered expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic genes in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism: A screening test. Toxicology 2020; 440:152500. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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9
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Anacker AMJ, Moran JT, Santarelli S, Forsberg CG, Rogers TD, Stanwood GD, Hall BJ, Delpire E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Saxe MD. Enhanced Social Dominance and Altered Neuronal Excitability in the Prefrontal Cortex of Male KCC2b Mutant Mice. Autism Res 2019; 12:732-743. [PMID: 30977597 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The K-Cl cotransporter KCC2 is essential in the development of the "GABA switch" that produces a change in neuronal responses to GABA signaling from excitatory to inhibitory early in brain development, and alterations in this progression have previously been hypothesized to play a causal role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated the KCC2b (Slc12a5) heterozygous knockout mouse using a battery of rodent behavioral tests relevant to core and comorbid ASD symptoms. Compared to wild-type littermates, KCC2+/- mice were normal in standard measures of locomotor activity, grooming and digging behaviors, and social, vocalization, and anxiety-like behaviors. However, KCC2+/- mice exhibited increased social dominance behaviors and increased amplitude of spontaneous postsynaptic currents in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) that were previously implicated in governing social hierarchy and dominance behaviors. Treatment of wild-type mouse brain slices with the KCC2 inhibitor VU0240511 increased the amplitude and frequency of excitatory postsynaptic currents, partially recapitulating the phenotype of KCC2+/- mice. These findings indicate that the activity of KCC2 plays a role in social dominance, in parallel with effects on PFC signaling, further suggesting that KCC2 function has some relevance to social behavior but without the breadth of impact on autism-like behavior suggested by previous studies. Further testing could assess whether KCC2 alters other circuits and whether additional factors such as environmental insults may precipitate autism-related behavioral phenotypes. Autism Research 2019, 12: 732-743. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: A mouse model of altered chloride transporter expression was used to look for a role in behaviors and brain function relevant to autism. There was an imbalance in signaling in the prefrontal cortex, and increased social dominance behavior, although other autism-related behaviors were not changed. These findings indicate that altered chloride transporter function affects prefrontal cortex function and social dominance without a broader impact on autism-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M J Anacker
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Jacqueline T Moran
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.,Tulane University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and the Neuroscience Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Sara Santarelli
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - C Gunnar Forsberg
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Tiffany D Rogers
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Gregg D Stanwood
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Benjamin J Hall
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.,Tulane University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and the Neuroscience Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Eric Delpire
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York.,Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Michael D Saxe
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
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Mele M, Costa RO, Duarte CB. Alterations in GABA A-Receptor Trafficking and Synaptic Dysfunction in Brain Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:77. [PMID: 30899215 PMCID: PMC6416223 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors (GABAAR) are the major players in fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Regulation of GABAAR trafficking and the control of their surface expression play important roles in the modulation of the strength of synaptic inhibition. Different pieces of evidence show that alterations in the surface distribution of GABAAR and dysregulation of their turnover impair the activity of inhibitory synapses. A diminished efficacy of inhibitory neurotransmission affects the excitatory/inhibitory balance and is a common feature of various disorders of the CNS characterized by an increased excitability of neuronal networks. The synaptic pool of GABAAR is mainly controlled through regulation of internalization, recycling and lateral diffusion of the receptors. Under physiological condition these mechanisms are finely coordinated to define the strength of GABAergic synapses. In this review article, we focus on the alteration in GABAAR trafficking with an impact on the function of inhibitory synapses in various disorders of the CNS. In particular we discuss how similar molecular mechanisms affecting the synaptic distribution of GABAAR and consequently the excitatory/inhibitory balance may be associated with a wide diversity of pathologies of the CNS, from psychiatric disorders to acute alterations leading to neuronal death. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the impairment of GABAergic neurotransmission in these disorders, in particular the alterations in GABAAR trafficking and surface distribution, may lead to the identification of new pharmacological targets and to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Mele
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui O Costa
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos B Duarte
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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11
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Hou Q, Wang Y, Li Y, Chen D, Yang F, Wang S. A Developmental Study of Abnormal Behaviors and Altered GABAergic Signaling in the VPA-Treated Rat Model of Autism. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:182. [PMID: 30186123 PMCID: PMC6110947 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although studies have investigated the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic signaling in rodent neural development and behaviors relevant to autism, behavioral ontogeny, as underlain by the changes in GABAergic system, is poorly characterized in different brain regions. Here, we employed a valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism to investigate the autism-like behaviors and GABAergic glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) expression underlying these altered behaviors in multiple brain areas at different developmental stages from birth to adulthood. We found that VPA-treated rats exhibited behavioral abnormalities relevant to autism, including delayed nervous reflex development, altered motor coordination, delayed sensory development, autistic-like and anxiety behaviors and impaired spatial learning and memory. We also found that VPA rats had the decreased expression of GAD67 in the hippocampus (HC) and cerebellum from childhood to adulthood, while decreased GAD67 expression of the temporal cortex (TC) was only observed in adulthood. Conversely, GAD67 expression was increased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) from adolescence to adulthood. The dysregulated GAD67 expression could alter the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the cerebral cortex, HC and cerebellum. Our findings indicate an impaired GABAergic system could be a major etiological factor occurring in the cerebral cortex, HC and cerebellum of human cases of autism, which suggests enhancement of GABA signaling would be a promising therapeutic target for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianling Hou
- Cerebrovascular Disease Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Cerebrovascular Disease Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingbo Li
- Cerebrovascular Disease Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Di Chen
- Cerebrovascular Disease Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shali Wang
- Cerebrovascular Disease Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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12
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Roux S, Lohof A, Ben-Ari Y, Poulain B, Bossu JL. Maturation of GABAergic Transmission in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Is Sex Dependent and Altered in the Valproate Model of Autism. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:232. [PMID: 30104962 PMCID: PMC6077203 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain development is accompanied by a shift in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) response from depolarizing-excitatory to hyperpolarizing-inhibitory, due to a reduction of intracellular chloride concentration. This sequence is delayed in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We now report a similar alteration of this shift in the cerebellum, a structure implicated in ASD. Using single GABAA receptor channel recordings in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), we found two conductance levels (18 and 10 pS), the former being dominant in newborns and the latter in young-adults. This conductance shift and the depolarizing/excitatory to hyperpolarizing/inhibitory GABA shift occurred 4 days later in females than males. Our data support a sex-dependent developmental shift of GABA conductance and chloride gradient, leading to different developmental timing in males and females. Because these developmental sequences are altered in ASD, this study further stresses the importance of developmental timing in pathological neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Roux
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI)-CNRS, UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ann Lohof
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8256, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Paris, France
| | - Yehezkel Ben-Ari
- Neurochlore, Ben-Ari Institute of Neuroarcheology, Campus Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Poulain
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI)-CNRS, UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean-Louis Bossu
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI)-CNRS, UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
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13
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Ali Rodriguez R, Joya C, Hines RM. Common Ribs of Inhibitory Synaptic Dysfunction in the Umbrella of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:132. [PMID: 29740280 PMCID: PMC5928253 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The term neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is an umbrella term used to group together a heterogeneous class of disorders characterized by disruption in cognition, emotion, and behavior, early in the developmental timescale. These disorders are heterogeneous, yet they share common behavioral symptomatology as well as overlapping genetic contributors, including proteins involved in the formation, specialization, and function of synaptic connections. Advances may arise from bridging the current knowledge on synapse related factors indicated from both human studies in NDD populations, and in animal models. Mounting evidence has shown a link to inhibitory synapse formation, specialization, and function among Autism, Angelman, Rett and Dravet syndromes. Inhibitory signaling is diverse, with numerous subtypes of inhibitory interneurons, phasic and tonic modes of inhibition, and the molecular and subcellular diversity of GABAA receptors. We discuss common ribs of inhibitory synapse dysfunction in the umbrella of NDD, highlighting alterations in the developmental switch to inhibitory GABA, dysregulation of neuronal activity patterns by parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and impaired tonic inhibition. Increasing our basic understanding of inhibitory synapses, and their role in NDDs is likely to produce significant therapeutic advances in behavioral symptom alleviation for interrelated NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ali Rodriguez
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Christina Joya
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Rochelle M Hines
- Neuroscience Emphasis, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
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