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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Erickson MA, Binder D, Razak KA. Sex differences during development in cortical temporal processing and event related potentials in wild-type and fragile X syndrome model mice. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:24. [PMID: 38720271 PMCID: PMC11077726 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently diagnosed in approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States, based on a wide array of symptoms, including sensory dysfunction and abnormal language development. Boys are diagnosed ~ 3.8 times more frequently than girls. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech recognition and language development. Abnormal development of temporal processing may account for ASD language impairments. Sex differences in the development of temporal processing may underlie the differences in language outcomes in male and female children with ASD. To understand mechanisms of potential sex differences in temporal processing requires a preclinical model. However, there are no studies that have addressed sex differences in temporal processing across development in any animal model of ASD. METHODS To fill this major gap, we compared the development of auditory temporal processing in male and female wildtype (WT) and Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice, a model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of ASD-associated behaviors. Using epidural screw electrodes, we recorded auditory event related potentials (ERP) and auditory temporal processing with a gap-in-noise auditory steady state response (ASSR) paradigm at young (postnatal (p)21 and p30) and adult (p60) ages from both auditory and frontal cortices of awake, freely moving mice. RESULTS The results show that ERP amplitudes were enhanced in both sexes of Fmr1 KO mice across development compared to WT counterparts, with greater enhancement in adult female than adult male KO mice. Gap-ASSR deficits were seen in the frontal, but not auditory, cortex in early development (p21) in female KO mice. Unlike male KO mice, female KO mice show WT-like temporal processing at p30. There were no temporal processing deficits in the adult mice of both sexes. CONCLUSIONS These results show a sex difference in the developmental trajectories of temporal processing and hypersensitive responses in Fmr1 KO mice. Male KO mice show slower maturation of temporal processing than females. Female KO mice show stronger hypersensitive responses than males later in development. The differences in maturation rates of temporal processing and hypersensitive responses during various critical periods of development may lead to sex differences in language function, arousal and anxiety in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Michael A Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, USA
| | - Devin Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, USA.
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Schirmer J, Wolpert S, Dapper K, Rühle M, Wertz J, Wouters M, Eldh T, Bader K, Singer W, Gaudrain E, Başkent D, Verhulst S, Braun C, Rüttiger L, Munk MHJ, Dalhoff E, Knipper M. Neural Adaptation at Stimulus Onset and Speed of Neural Processing as Critical Contributors to Speech Comprehension Independent of Hearing Threshold or Age. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2725. [PMID: 38731254 PMCID: PMC11084258 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: It is assumed that speech comprehension deficits in background noise are caused by age-related or acquired hearing loss. Methods: We examined young, middle-aged, and older individuals with and without hearing threshold loss using pure-tone (PT) audiometry, short-pulsed distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (pDPOAEs), auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs), speech comprehension (OLSA), and syllable discrimination in quiet and noise. Results: A noticeable decline of hearing sensitivity in extended high-frequency regions and its influence on low-frequency-induced ABRs was striking. When testing for differences in OLSA thresholds normalized for PT thresholds (PTTs), marked differences in speech comprehension ability exist not only in noise, but also in quiet, and they exist throughout the whole age range investigated. Listeners with poor speech comprehension in quiet exhibited a relatively lower pDPOAE and, thus, cochlear amplifier performance independent of PTT, smaller and delayed ABRs, and lower performance in vowel-phoneme discrimination below phase-locking limits (/o/-/u/). When OLSA was tested in noise, listeners with poor speech comprehension independent of PTT had larger pDPOAEs and, thus, cochlear amplifier performance, larger ASSR amplitudes, and higher uncomfortable loudness levels, all linked with lower performance of vowel-phoneme discrimination above the phase-locking limit (/i/-/y/). Conslusions: This study indicates that listening in noise in humans has a sizable disadvantage in envelope coding when basilar-membrane compression is compromised. Clearly, and in contrast to previous assumptions, both good and poor speech comprehension can exist independently of differences in PTTs and age, a phenomenon that urgently requires improved techniques to diagnose sound processing at stimulus onset in the clinical routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Schirmer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Stephan Wolpert
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Konrad Dapper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Moritz Rühle
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Jakob Wertz
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Marjoleen Wouters
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; (M.W.); (S.V.)
| | - Therese Eldh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Katharina Bader
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Etienne Gaudrain
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier-Bâtiment 462–Neurocampus, 95 Boulevard Pinel, 69675 Bron CEDEX, France;
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, BB21, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Deniz Başkent
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, BB21, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Sarah Verhulst
- Department of Information Technology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; (M.W.); (S.V.)
| | - Christoph Braun
- Magnetoencephalography-Centre and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- Center for Mind and Brain Research, University of Trento, Palazzo Fedrigotti-corso Bettini 31, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Matthias H. J. Munk
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ernst Dalhoff
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (J.S.); (S.W.); (K.D.); (M.R.); (J.W.); (T.E.); (K.B.); (W.S.); (L.R.)
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum SG, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female-specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and estrogen receptor α. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114056. [PMID: 38581678 PMCID: PMC11112681 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Little is known of the brain mechanisms that mediate sex-specific autism symptoms. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSEPten knockout [KO]) results in robust cortical circuit hyperexcitability selectively in female mice observed as prolonged spontaneous persistent activity states. Circuit hyperexcitability in females is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling to mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1/2) and de novo protein synthesis. Pten KO layer 5 neurons have a female-specific increase in mGluR5 and mGluR5-dependent protein synthesis. Furthermore, mGluR5-ERα complexes are generally elevated in female cortices, and genetic reduction of ERα rescues enhanced circuit excitability, protein synthesis, and neuron size selectively in NSEPten KO females. Female NSEPten KO mice display deficits in sensory processing and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. These results reveal mechanisms by which sex and a high-confidence ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob E Bowles
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Darya Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Saba Mirjafary
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shari G Birnbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jay R Gibson
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum S, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and Estrogen Receptor α. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.10.552857. [PMID: 37609208 PMCID: PMC10441407 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.10.552857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Autism manifests differently in males and females and the brain mechanisms that mediate these sex-dependent differences are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the ASD-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSE Pten KO) results in robust hyperexcitability of local neocortical circuits in female, but not male, mice, observed as prolonged, spontaneous persistent activity states (UP states). Circuit hyperexcitability in NSE Pten KO mice is mediated by enhanced and/or altered signaling of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) to ERK and protein synthesis selectively in Pten deleted female neurons. In support of this idea, Pten deleted Layer 5 cortical neurons have female-specific increases in mGluR5 and mGluR5-driven protein synthesis. In addition, mGluR5-ERα complexes are elevated in female cortex and genetic reduction of ERα in Pten KO cortical neurons rescues circuit excitability, protein synthesis and enlarged neurons selectively in females. Abnormal timing and hyperexcitability of neocortical circuits in female NSE Pten KO mice are associated with deficits in temporal processing of sensory stimuli and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. Female-specific cortical hyperexcitability and mGluR5-dependent seizures are also observed in a human disease relevant mouse model, germline Pten +/- mice. Our results reveal molecular mechanisms by which sex and a high impact ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Erickson MA, Binder DK, Razak KA. Developmental delays in cortical auditory temporal processing in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:23. [PMID: 37516865 PMCID: PMC10386252 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09496-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a wide array of debilitating symptoms, including sensory dysfunction and delayed language development. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech perception and language development. Abnormal development of temporal processing may account for the language impairments associated with ASD. Very little is known about the development of temporal processing in any animal model of ASD. METHODS In the current study, we quantify auditory temporal processing throughout development in the Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of intellectual disability and ASD-associated behaviors. Using epidural electrodes in awake and freely moving wildtype (WT) and KO mice, we recorded auditory event related potentials (ERP) and auditory temporal processing with a gap-in-noise auditory steady state response (gap-ASSR) paradigm. Mice were recorded at three different ages in a cross sectional design: postnatal (p)21, p30 and p60. Recordings were obtained from both auditory and frontal cortices. The gap-ASSR requires underlying neural generators to synchronize responses to gaps of different widths embedded in noise, providing an objective measure of temporal processing across genotypes and age groups. RESULTS We present evidence that the frontal, but not auditory, cortex shows significant temporal processing deficits at p21 and p30, with poor ability to phase lock to rapid gaps in noise. Temporal processing was similar in both genotypes in adult mice. ERP amplitudes were larger in Fmr1 KO mice in both auditory and frontal cortex, consistent with ERP data in humans with FXS. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate cortical region-specific delays in temporal processing development in Fmr1 KO mice. Developmental delays in the ability of frontal cortex to follow rapid changes in sounds may shape language delays in FXS, and more broadly in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | | | - Devin K Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, USA.
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Xue B, Meng X, Kao JPY, Kanold PO. Age-related changes in excitatory and inhibitory intra-cortical circuits in auditory cortex of C57Bl/6 mice. Hear Res 2023; 429:108685. [PMID: 36701895 PMCID: PMC9928889 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A common impairment in aging is age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), which manifests as impaired spectrotemporal processing. Aging is accompanied by alteration in normal inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission, and changes in excitatory (NMDA and AMPA) synapses in the auditory cortex (ACtx). However, the circuits affected by these synaptic changes remain unknown. Mice of the C57Bl/6J strain show premature age-related hearing loss and changes in functional responses in ACtx. We thus investigated how auditory cortical microcircuits change with age by comparing young (∼ 6 weeks) and aged (>1 year old) C57Bl/6J mice. We performed laser scanning photostimulation (LSPS) combined with whole-cell patch clamp recordings from Layer (L) 2/3 cells in primary auditory cortex (A1) of young adult and aged C57Bl/6J mice. We found that L2/3 cells in aged C57Bl/6J mice display functional hypoconnectivity of both excitatory and inhibitory circuits. Compared to cells from young C57Bl/6 mice, cells from aged C57Bl/6J mice have fewer excitatory connections with weaker connection strength. Whereas young adult and aged C57Bl/6J mice have similar amounts of inhibitory connections, the strength of local inhibition is weaker in the aged group. We confirmed these results by recording miniature excitatory (mEPSCs) and inhibitory synaptic currents (mIPSCs). Our results suggest a specific reduction in excitatory and inhibitory intralaminar cortical circuits in aged C57Bl/6J mice compared with young adult animals. We speculate that these unbalanced changes in cortical circuits contribute to the functional manifestations of age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghan Xue
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
| | - Xiangying Meng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
| | - Joseph P Y Kao
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, and Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
| | - Patrick O Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States.
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JA R, Lovelace JW, Kokash J, Hussain A, KA R. Nicotine reduces age-related changes in cortical neural oscillations without affecting auditory brainstem responses. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 120:10-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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