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Medeiros D, Polepalli L, Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. Altered activity of mPFC pyramidal neurons and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons during social interactions in a Mecp2 mouse model for Rett syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.06.606882. [PMID: 39149275 PMCID: PMC11326302 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.06.606882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Social memory impairments in Mecp2 knockout (KO) mice result from altered neuronal activity in the monosynaptic projection from the ventral hippocampus (vHIP) to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The hippocampal network is hyperactive in this model for Rett syndrome, and such atypically heightened neuronal activity propagates to the mPFC through this monosynaptic projection, resulting in altered mPFC network activity and social memory deficits. However, the underlying mechanism of cellular dysfunction within this projection between vHIP pyramidal neurons (PYR) and mPFC PYRs and parvalbumin interneurons (PV-IN) resulting in social memory impairments in Mecp2 KO mice has yet to be elucidated. We confirmed social memory (but not sociability) deficits in Mecp2 KO mice using a new 4-chamber social memory arena, designed to minimize the impact of the tethering to optical fibers required for simultaneous in vivo fiber photometry of Ca2+-sensor signals during social interactions. mPFC PYRs of wildtype (WT) mice showed increases in Ca2+ signal amplitude during explorations of a novel toy mouse and interactions with both familiar and novel mice, while PYRs of Mecp2 KO mice showed smaller Ca2+ signals during interactions only with live mice. On the other hand, mPFC PV-INs of Mecp2 KO mice showed larger Ca2+ signals during interactions with a familiar cage-mate compared to those signals in PYRs, a difference absent in the WT mice. These observations suggest atypically heightened inhibition and impaired excitation in the mPFC network of Mecp2 KO mice during social interactions, potentially driving their deficit in social memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destynie Medeiros
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Likhitha Polepalli
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Sihn D, Chae S, Kim SP. A method to find temporal structure of neuronal coactivity patterns with across-trial correlations. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 408:110172. [PMID: 38782124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110172] [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] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The across-trial correlation of neurons' coactivity patterns emerges to be important for information coding, but methods for finding their temporal structures remain largely unexplored. NEW METHOD In the present study, we propose a method to find time clusters in which coactivity patterns of neurons are correlated across trials. We transform the multidimensional neural activity at each timing into a coactivity pattern of binary states, and predict the coactivity patterns at different timings. We devise a method suitable for these coactivity pattern predictions, call general event prediction. Cross-temporal prediction accuracy is then used to estimate across-trial correlations between coactivity patterns at two timings. We extract time clusters from the cross-temporal prediction accuracy by a modified k-means algorithm. RESULTS The feasibility of the proposed method is verified through simulations based on ground truth. We apply the proposed method to a calcium imaging dataset recorded from the motor cortex of mice, and demonstrate time clusters of motor cortical coactivity patterns during a motor task. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS While the existing cosine similarity method, which does not account for across-trial correlation, shows temporal structures only for contralateral neural responses, the proposed method reveals those for both contralateral and ipsilateral neural responses, demonstrating the effect of across-trial correlations. CONCLUSIONS This study introduces a novel method for measuring the temporal structure of neuronal ensemble activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duho Sihn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, the Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Chae
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Phil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, the Republic of Korea.
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3
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Mack NR, Bouras NN, Gao WJ. Prefrontal Regulation of Social Behavior and Related Deficits: Insights From Rodent Studies. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:85-94. [PMID: 38490368 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is well known as the executive center of the brain, combining internal states and goals to execute purposeful behavior, including social actions. With the advancement of tools for monitoring and manipulating neural activity in rodents, substantial progress has been made in understanding the specific cell types and neural circuits within the PFC that are essential for processing social cues and influencing social behaviors. Furthermore, combining these tools with translationally relevant behavioral paradigms has also provided novel insights into the PFC neural mechanisms that may contribute to social deficits in various psychiatric disorders. This review highlights findings from the past decade that have shed light on the PFC cell types and neural circuits that support social information processing and distinct aspects of social behavior, including social interactions, social memory, and social dominance. We also explore how the PFC contributes to social deficits in rodents induced by social isolation, social fear conditioning, and social status loss. These studies provide evidence that the PFC uses both overlapping and unique neural mechanisms to support distinct components of social cognition. Furthermore, specific PFC neural mechanisms drive social deficits induced by different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy R Mack
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Nadia N Bouras
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Sun M, Zhang Y, Zhang XQ, Zhang Y, Wang XD, Li JT, Si TM, Su YA. Dopamine D1 receptor in medial prefrontal cortex mediates the effects of TAAR1 activation on chronic stress-induced cognitive and social deficits. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1341-1351. [PMID: 38658737 PMCID: PMC11224251 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01866-7] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is an intracellular expressed G-protein-coupled receptor that is widely expressed in major dopaminergic areas and plays a crucial role in modulation of central dopaminergic neurotransmission and function. Pharmacological studies have clarified the roles of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in cognitive function and social behaviors, and chronic stress can inhibit D1R expression due to its susceptibility. Recently, we identified TAAR1 in the mPFC as a potential target for treating chronic stress-induced cognitive and social dysfunction, but whether D1R is involved in mediating the effects of TAAR1 agonist remains unclear. Combined genomics and transcriptomic studies revealed downregulation of D1R in the mPFC of TAAR1-/- mice. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that hydrogen bond, salt bridge, and Pi-Pi stacking interactions were formed between TAAR1 and D1R indicating a stable TAAR1-D1R complex structure. Using pharmacological interventions, we found that D1R antagonist disrupted therapeutic effect of TAAR1 partial agonist RO5263397 on stress-related cognitive and social dysfunction. Knockout TAAR1 in D1-type dopamine receptor-expressing neurons reproduced adverse effects of chronic stress, and TAAR1 conditional knockout in the mPFC led to similar deficits, along with downregulation of D1R expression, all of these effects were ameliorated by viral overexpression of D1R in the mPFC, suggesting the functional interaction between TAAR1 and D1R. Collectively, our data elucidate the possible molecular mechanism that D1R in the mPFC mediates the effects of TAAR1 activation on chronic stress-induced cognitive and social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Xian-Qiang Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ji-Tao Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Mei Si
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.
| | - Yun-Ai Su
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.
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Zhao T, Huang C, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Chen X, Wang T, Shao J, Meng X, Huang Y, Wang H, Wang H, Wang B, Xu D. Prenatal 1-Nitropyrene Exposure Causes Autism-Like Behavior Partially by Altering DNA Hydroxymethylation in Developing Brain. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306294. [PMID: 38757379 PMCID: PMC11267330 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by social communication disability and stereotypic behavior. This study aims to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), a key component of motor vehicle exhaust, on autism-like behaviors in a mouse model. Three-chamber test finds that prenatal 1-NP exposure causes autism-like behaviors during the weaning period. Patch clamp shows that inhibitory synaptic transmission is reduced in medial prefrontal cortex of 1-NP-exposed weaning pups. Immunofluorescence finds that prenatal 1-NP exposure reduces the number of prefrontal glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) positive interneurons in fetuses and weaning pups. Moreover, prenatal 1-NP exposure retards tangential migration of GAD67-positive interneurons and downregulates interneuron migration-related genes, such as Nrg1, Erbb4, and Sema3F, in fetal forebrain. Mechanistically, prenatal 1-NP exposure reduces hydroxymethylation of interneuron migration-related genes through inhibiting ten-eleven translocation (TET) activity in fetal forebrain. Supplement with alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG), a cofactor of TET enzyme, reverses 1-NP-induced hypohydroxymethylation at specific sites of interneuron migration-related genes. Moreover, α-KG supplement alleviates 1-NP-induced migration retardation of interneurons in fetal forebrain. Finally, maternal α-KG supplement improves 1-NP-induced autism-like behaviors in weaning offspring. In conclusion, prenatal 1-NP exposure causes autism-like behavior partially by altering DNA hydroxymethylation of interneuron migration-related genes in developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhao
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Cheng‐Qing Huang
- School of Food and BioengineeringHefei University of TechnologyHefei230009China
| | - Yi‐Hao Zhang
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Yan‐Yan Zhu
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Xiao‐Xi Chen
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Tao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Jing Shao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Xiu‐Hong Meng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - Hui‐Li Wang
- School of Food and BioengineeringHefei University of TechnologyHefei230009China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
| | - De‐Xiang Xu
- Department of ToxicologySchool of Public HealthAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230022China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education InstitutesAnhui Medical UniversityHefei230032China
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Xu P, Park G, Sun X, Ge Q, Jin Z, Lai CH, Liu X, Liu Q, Simha R, Zeng C, Du J, Lu H. Different emotional states engage distinct descending pathways from the prefrontal cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.28.596238. [PMID: 38853906 PMCID: PMC11160632 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.28.596238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Emotion regulation, essential for adaptive behavior, depends on the brain's capacity to process a range of emotions. Current research has largely focused on individual emotional circuits without fully exploring how their interaction influences physiological responses or understanding the neural mechanisms that differentiate emotional valence. Using in vivo calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetics, we examined neural circuit dynamics in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), targeting two key areas: the basal lateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Our results demonstrate distinct activation patterns in the mPFC→BLA and mPFC→NAc pathways in response to social stimuli, indicating a mechanism for discriminating emotions: increased mPFC→BLA activity signals anxiety, while heightened mPFC→NAc responses are linked to exploration. Additionally, chronic emotional states amplify activity in these pathways-positivity enhances mPFC→NAc, while negativity boosts mPFC→BLA. This study sheds light on the nuanced neural circuitry involved in emotion regulation, revealing the pivotal roles of mPFC projections in emotional processing. Identifying these specific circuits engaged by varied emotional states advances our understanding of emotional regulation's biological underpinnings and highlights potential targets for addressing emotional dysregulation in psychiatric conditions. Significance statement While existing circuitry studies have underscored the significance of emotional circuits, the majority of research has concentrated on individual circuits. The assessment of whether and how the balance among multiple circuits influences overall physiological outcomes is often overlooked. This study delves into the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation, focusing on how positive and negative valences are discriminated and managed. By examining the specific pathways from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to key emotional centers-the basal lateral amygdala (BLA) for negative valence and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) for positive one-we uncovered a novel dual-balanced neural circuit mechanism that enables this essential aspect of human cognition.
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7
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Mykins M, Bridges B, Jo A, Krishnan K. Multidimensional Analysis of a Social Behavior Identifies Regression and Phenotypic Heterogeneity in a Female Mouse Model for Rett Syndrome. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1078232023. [PMID: 38199865 PMCID: PMC10957218 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1078-23.2023] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Regression is a key feature of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). It is characterized by an early period of typical development with subsequent regression of previously acquired motor and speech skills in girls. The syndromic phenotypes are individualistic and dynamic over time. Thus far, it has been difficult to capture these dynamics and syndromic heterogeneity in the preclinical Mecp2-heterozygous female mouse model (Het). The emergence of computational neuroethology tools allows for robust analysis of complex and dynamic behaviors to model endophenotypes in preclinical models. Toward this first step, we utilized DeepLabCut, a marker-less pose estimation software to quantify trajectory kinematics and multidimensional analysis to characterize behavioral heterogeneity in Het in the previously benchmarked, ethologically relevant social cognition task of pup retrieval. We report the identification of two distinct phenotypes of adult Het: Het that display a delay in efficiency in early days and then improve over days like wild-type mice and Het that regress and perform worse in later days. Furthermore, regression is dependent on age and behavioral context and can be detected in the initial days of retrieval. Together, the novel identification of two populations of Het suggests differential effects on neural circuitry, opens new avenues to investigate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of heterogeneity, and designs better studies for stratifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mykins
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Benjamin Bridges
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Angela Jo
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Keerthi Krishnan
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
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8
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Xin Q, Hao S, Xiaoqin W, Jiali P. Brain Source Localization and Functional Connectivity in Group Identity Regulation of Overbidding in Contest. Neuroscience 2024; 541:101-117. [PMID: 38301740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.016] [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] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Contests may be highly effective in eliciting high levels of effort, but they also carry the risk of inefficient resource allocation due to excessive effort (overbidding), squandering valuable social resources. While a growing body of research has focused on how group identity exacerbates out-group conflict, its influence on in-group conflict remains relatively unexplored. This study endeavors to explore the impact of group identity on conflicts within and between groups in competitive environments, thereby addressing gaps in the current research landscape and dissecting the involved neurobiological mechanisms. By employing source localization and functional connectivity techniques, our research aims to identify the brain regions involved in competitive decision-making and group identity processes, as well as the functional connectivities between social brain areas. The results of our investigation revealed that participants exhibited activation in the bilateral frontal and prefrontal lobes during the bidding behavior before the group identity task. Subsequently, after the task, additional activation was observed in the right temporal lobe. Results from functional connectivity studies indicated that group identity tasks modify decision-making processes by promoting group norms, empathy, and blurred self-other boundaries for in-group decisions, while out-group decisions after the group identity task see heightened cognitive control, an increased dependence on rational judgment, introspection of self-environment relationships, and a greater focus on anticipating others' behaviors. This study reveals the widespread occurrence of overbidding behavior and demonstrates the role of group identity in mitigating this phenomenon, concurrently providing a comprehensive analysis of the underlying neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xin
- School of Economics and Management, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Su Hao
- School of Economics and Management, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China; Key Laboratory of Energy Security and Low-carbon Development, Chengdu 610500, China.
| | - Wang Xiaoqin
- School of Economics and Management, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
| | - Pan Jiali
- School of Economics and Management, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
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9
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Chen H, Xiong XX, Jin SY, He XY, Li XW, Yang JM, Gao TM, Chen YH. Dopamine D2 receptors in pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex regulate social behavior. Pharmacol Res 2024; 199:107042. [PMID: 38142878 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.107042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Drugs acting on dopamine D2 receptors are widely used for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and depression. Social deficits are a core symptom of these disorders. Pharmacological manipulation of dopamine D2 receptors (Drd2), a Gi-coupled subtype of dopamine receptors, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has shown that Drd2 is implicated in social behaviors. However, the type of neurons expressing Drd2 in the mPFC and the underlying circuit mechanism regulating social behaviors remain largely unknown. Here, we show that Drd2 were mainly expressed in pyramidal neurons in the mPFC and that the activation of the Gi-pathway in Drd2+ pyramidal neurons impaired social behavior in male mice. In contrast, the knockdown of D2R in pyramidal neurons in the mPFC enhanced social approach behaviors in male mice and selectively facilitated the activation of mPFC neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) during social interaction. Remarkably, optogenetic activation of mPFC-to-NAc-projecting neurons mimicked the effects of conditional D2R knockdown on social behaviors. Altogether, these results demonstrate a cell type-specific role for Drd2 in the mPFC in regulating social behavior, which may be mediated by the mPFC-to-NAc pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xing-Xing Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Yang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Ying He
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China.
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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10
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Towner TT, Goyden MA, Coleman HJ, Drumm MK, Ritchie IP, Lieb KR, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF. Determining the neuronal ensembles underlying sex-specific social impairments following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2023; 238:109663. [PMID: 37429543 PMCID: PMC10984351 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109663] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Binge drinking during adolescence can have behavioral and neurobiological consequences. We have previously found that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure produces sex-specific social alterations indexed via decreases of social investigation and/or social preference in rats. The prelimbic cortex (PrL) regulates social interaction, and alterations within the PrL resulting from AIE may contribute to social alterations. The current study sought to determine whether AIE-induced PrL dysfunction underlies decreases in social interaction evident in adulthood. We first examined social interaction-induced neuronal activation of the PrL and several other regions of interest (ROIs) implicated in social interaction. Adolescent male and female cFos-LacZ rats were exposed to water (control) or ethanol (4 g/kg, 25% v/v) via intragastric gavage every other day between postnatal day (P) 25 and 45 (total 11 exposures). Since cFos-LacZ rats express β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a proxy for Fos, activated cells that express of β-gal can be inactivated by Daun02. In most ROIs, expression of β-gal was elevated in socially tested adult rats relative to home cage controls, regardless of sex. However, decreased social interaction-induced β-gal expression in AIE-exposed rats relative to controls was evident only in the PrL of males. A separate cohort underwent PrL cannulation surgery in adulthood and was subjected to Daun02-induced inactivation. Inactivation of PrL ensembles previously activated by social interaction reduced social investigation in control males, with no changes evident in AIE-exposed males or females. These findings highlight the role of the PrL in male social investigation and suggest an AIE-associated dysfunction of the PrL that may contribute to reduced social investigation following adolescent ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor T Towner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Matthew A Goyden
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Harper J Coleman
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Mary K Drumm
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Isabella P Ritchie
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Kayla R Lieb
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - David F Werner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
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11
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Zhu L, Zheng D, Li R, Shen CJ, Cai R, Lyu C, Tang B, Sun H, Wang X, Ding Y, Xu B, Jia G, Li X, Gao L, Li XM. Induction of Anxiety-Like Phenotypes by Knockdown of Cannabinoid Type-1 Receptors in the Amygdala of Marmosets. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1669-1682. [PMID: 37368194 PMCID: PMC10603018 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01081-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is an important hub for regulating emotions and is involved in the pathophysiology of many mental diseases, such as depression and anxiety. Meanwhile, the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and mainly functions through the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R), which is strongly expressed in the amygdala of non-human primates (NHPs). However, it remains largely unknown how the CB1Rs in the amygdala of NHPs regulate mental diseases. Here, we investigated the role of CB1R by knocking down the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene encoding CB1R in the amygdala of adult marmosets through regional delivery of AAV-SaCas9-gRNA. We found that CB1R knockdown in the amygdala induced anxiety-like behaviors, including disrupted night sleep, agitated psychomotor activity in new environments, and reduced social desire. Moreover, marmosets with CB1R-knockdown had up-regulated plasma cortisol levels. These results indicate that the knockdown of CB1Rs in the amygdala induces anxiety-like behaviors in marmosets, and this may be the mechanism underlying the regulation of anxiety by CB1Rs in the amygdala of NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Di Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Chen-Jie Shen
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ruolan Cai
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Chenfei Lyu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Binliang Tang
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311399, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Guoqiang Jia
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Xinjian Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Lixia Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brian Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China/Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Joint Institute for Genetics and Genome Medicine Between Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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12
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Frost NA, Donohue KC, Sohal V. Context-invariant socioemotional encoding by prefrontal ensembles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.19.563015. [PMID: 37961143 PMCID: PMC10634670 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.19.563015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in social interactions, anxiety-related avoidance, and flexible context- dependent behaviors, raising the question: how do prefrontal neurons represent socioemotional information across different environments? Are contextual and socioemotional representations segregated or intermixed, and does this cause socioemotional encoding to remap or generalize across environments? To address this, we imaged neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice engaged in social interactions or anxiety-related avoidance within different environments. Neuronal ensembles representing context and social interaction overlapped more than expected while remaining orthogonal. Anxiety-related representations similarly generalized across environments while remaining orthogonal to contextual information. This shows how prefrontal cortex multiplexes parallel information streams using the same neurons, rather than distinct subcircuits, achieving context-invariant encoding despite context-specific reorganization of population-level activity.
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13
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Rupert DD, Pagliaro AH, Choe J, Shea SD. Selective Deletion of Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 from Parvalbumin Interneurons in the Auditory Cortex Delays the Onset of Maternal Retrieval in Mice. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6745-6759. [PMID: 37625856 PMCID: PMC10552946 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0838-23.2023] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in MECP2 cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. MECP2 codes for methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), a transcriptional regulator that activates genetic programs for experience-dependent plasticity. Many neural and behavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome may result from dysregulated timing and thresholds for plasticity. As a model of adult plasticity, we examine changes to auditory cortex inhibitory circuits in female mice when they are first exposed to pups; this plasticity facilitates behavioral responses to pups emitting distress calls. Brainwide deletion of Mecp2 alters expression of markers associated with GABAergic parvalbumin interneurons (PVins) and impairs the emergence of pup retrieval. We hypothesized that loss of Mecp2 in PVins disproportionately contributes to the phenotype. Here, we find that deletion of Mecp2 from PVins delayed the onset of maternal retrieval behavior and recapitulated the major molecular and neurophysiological features of brainwide deletion of Mecp2 We observed that when PVin-selective mutants were exposed to pups, auditory cortical expression of PVin markers increased relative to that in wild-type littermates. PVin-specific mutants also failed to show the inhibitory auditory cortex plasticity seen in wild-type mice on exposure to pups and their vocalizations. Finally, using an intersectional viral genetic strategy, we demonstrate that postdevelopmental loss of Mecp2 in PVins of the auditory cortex is sufficient to delay onset of maternal retrieval. Our results support a model in which PVins play a central role in adult cortical plasticity and may be particularly impaired by loss of Mecp2 SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that includes deficits in both communication and the ability to update brain connections and activity during learning (plasticity). This condition is caused by mutations in the gene MECP2 We use a maternal behavioral test in mice requiring both vocal perception and neural plasticity to probe the role of Mecp2 in social and sensory learning. Mecp2 is normally active in all brain cells, but here we remove it from a specific population (parvalbumin neurons). We find that this is sufficient to delay learned behavioral responses to pups and recreates many deficits seen in whole-brain Mecp2 deletion. Our findings suggest that parvalbumin neurons specifically are central to the consequences of loss of Mecp2 activity and yield clues as to possible mechanisms by which Rett syndrome impairs brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah D Rupert
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8434
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Alexa H Pagliaro
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Jane Choe
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Stephen D Shea
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
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Shao W, Zheng H, Zhu J, Li W, Li Y, Hu W, Zhang J, Jing L, Wang K, Jiang X. Deletions of Cacna2d3 in parvalbumin-expressing neurons leads to autistic-like phenotypes in mice. Neurochem Int 2023; 169:105569. [PMID: 37419212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105569] [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] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a series of highly inherited neurodevelopmental disorders. Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the CACNA2D3 gene are associated with ASD. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Dysfunction of cortical interneurons (INs) is strongly implicated in ASD. Parvalbumin-expressing (PV) INs and somatostatin-expressing (SOM) INs are the two most subtypes. Here, we characterized a mouse knockout of the Cacna2d3 gene in PV-expressing neurons (PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice) or in SOM-expressing neurons (SOMCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice), respectively. PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice showed deficits in the core ASD behavioral domains (including impaired sociability and increased repetitive behavior), as well as anxiety-like behavior and improved spatial memory. Furthermore, loss of Cacna2d3 from a subset of PV neurons results in a reduction of GAD67 and PV expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These may underlie the increased neuronal excitability in the mPFC, which contribute to the abnormal social behavior in PVCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice. Whereas, SOMCre;Cacna2d3f/f mice showed no obvious deficits in social, cognitive, or emotional phenotypes. Our findings provide the first evidence suggesting the causal role of Cacna2d3 insufficiency in PV neurons in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shao
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hang Zheng
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingwen Zhu
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenjie Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liang Jing
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China.
| | - Kai Wang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiao Jiang
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China.
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15
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Wang X, Zhao Z, Guo J, Mei D, Duan Y, Zhang Y, Gou L. GABA B1 receptor knockdown in prefrontal cortex induces behavioral aberrations associated with autism spectrum disorder in mice. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110755. [PMID: 37678443 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110755] [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] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social interaction deficit, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors. Apart from these core symptoms, a great number of individuals with ASD exhibit higher levels of anxiety and memory deficits. Previous studies demonstrate pronounced decrease of γ-aminobutyric acid B1 receptor (GABAB1R) protein level of frontal lobe in both ASD patients and animal models. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of GABAB1R in ASD-related behavioral aberrations. Herein, the protein and mRNA levels of GABAB1R in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of sodium valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse ASD model were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis, respectively. Moreover, the behavioral abnormalities in naive mice with GABAB1R knockdown mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) were assessed in a comprehensive test battery consisted of social interaction, marble burying, self-grooming, open-field, Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Furthermore, the action potential changes induced by GABAB1R deficiency were examined in neurons within the PFC of mouse. The results show that the mRNA and protein levels of GABAB1R in the PFC of prenatal VPA-induced mouse ASD model were decreased. Concomitantly, naive mice with GABAB1R knockdown exhibited ASD-like behaviors, such as impaired social interaction and communication, elevated stereotypes, anxiety and memory deficits. Patch-clamp recordings also revealed that GABAB1R knockdown provoked enhanced neuronal excitability by increasing action potential discharge frequencies. Overall, these findings support a notion that GABAB1R deficiency might contribute to ASD-like phenotypes, with the pathogenesis most likely resulting from enhanced neuronal excitability. SUBHEADINGS: GABAB1 Knockdown Induces Behavioral Aberrations with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Zhengqin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jisheng Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yantai Campus of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai City, Shandong, China
| | - Daoqi Mei
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongtao Duan
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Peninsula Cancer Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China.
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