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Tang B, Zhao J, Zhang C, Qi P, Zheng S, Xu C, Chen M, Ye X. Dysregulation of parvalbumin expression and neurotransmitter imbalance in the auditory cortex of the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Dev Neurobiol 2024. [PMID: 39128889 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22952] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit abnormalities in auditory perception, a phenomenon potentially attributed to alterations in the excitatory and inhibitory cells constituting cortical circuits. However, the exact genetic factors and cell types affected by ASD remain unclear. The present study investigated the balance of excitatory and inhibitory activity in the auditory cortex using BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a well-established model for autism research. Our investigation unveiled a reduction in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) neurons within the AC of BTBR mice. Remarkably, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies disclosed an elevation in glutamate (Glu) levels alongside a decrement in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in this cortical region. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis of the mouse model facilitated the classification of several ASD-associated genes based on their cellular function and pathways. By comparing autism risk genes with RNA transcriptome sequencing data from the ASD mouse model, we identified the recurrent target gene Scn1a and performed validation. Intriguingly, we uncovered the specific expression of Scn1a in cortical inhibitory neurons. These findings hold significant value for understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of abnormal sensory perception in animal models of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binliang Tang
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, 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, China
| | - Jingting Zhao
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, 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, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Pengwei Qi
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, 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, China
| | - Shuyu Zheng
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengyuan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiangming Ye
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, 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, China
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Parrella NF, Hill AT, Dipnall LM, Loke YJ, Enticott PG, Ford TC. Inhibitory dysfunction and social processing difficulties in autism: A comprehensive narrative review. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:113-125. [PMID: 38016393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a prominent role in regulating neural development and function, with disruption to GABAergic signalling linked to behavioural phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism. Such neurochemical disruption, likely resulting from diverse genetic and molecular mechanisms, particularly during early development, can subsequently affect the cellular balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which may account for the social processing difficulties observed in autism and related conditions. This comprehensive narrative review integrates diverse streams of research from several disciplines, including molecular neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, and systems neuroscience. In so doing it aims to elucidate the relevance of inhibitory dysfunction to autism, with specific focus on social processing difficulties that represent a core feature of this disorder. Many of the social processing difficulties experienced in autism have been linked to higher levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and/or lower levels of inhibitory GABA. While current therapeutic options for social difficulties in autism are largely limited to behavioural interventions, this review highlights the psychopharmacological studies that explore the utility of GABA modulation in alleviating such difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aron T Hill
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lillian M Dipnall
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Early Life Epigenetics Group, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Yuk Jing Loke
- Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Talitha C Ford
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Ahmed S, Abir AH, Sharmin O, Khurshid N, Akter A, Nakshy NT, Hasan MM, Yesmine S, Rahman M. Modulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling cascade through G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) activation: Prenatal lysophosphatidylinositol attenuates valproic acid-induced synaptic abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction. Life Sci 2023; 334:122195. [PMID: 37866808 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122195] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Dysregulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) has recently emerged as a potential regulator of this signaling cascade. This study explores the intricate modulation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling cascade via GPR55 activation and its potential therapeutic implications in the context of autism-associated neuronal impairments. MAIN METHODS Valproic acid (VPA) was administered on embryonic day 12 (E12) to induce ASD, and lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), a GPR55 agonist, was used prenatally to modulate the receptor activity. Golgi-cox staining was performed to observe neuronal morphology, and Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining was carried out to quantify damaged neurons. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was implemented to identify molecular mediators involved in neuroprotection. KEY FINDINGS Prenatal VPA exposure resulted in significant abnormalities in synaptic development, which were further evidenced by impairments in social interaction and cognitive function. When LPI was administered, most of the synaptic abnormalities were alleviated, as reflected by higher neuron and dendritic spine count. LPI treatment also reduced cytoplasmic cytochrome c concentration and related neuronal cell death. Mechanistically, GPR55 activation by LPI increases the expression of phospho-Akt and phospho-GSK3β, leading to the activation of this signaling in the process of rescuing synaptic abnormalities and mitochondria-mediated neuronal apoptosis. SIGNIFICANCE The observed therapeutic effects of GPR55 activation shed light on its significance as a prospective target for ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and dendritic spine loss, offering novel prospects for developing targeted interventions to alleviate the neuropathological causes of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamim Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Ariful Haque Abir
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universität Klinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center, Glückstraße 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ozayra Sharmin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neda Khurshid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Amana Akter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Nafisa Tajneen Nakshy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Department of Pharmacy, University of Information Technology and Sciences, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mahmudul Hasan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Saquiba Yesmine
- Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
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Khaledi F, Dehkordi HT, Zarean E, Shahrani M, Amini-Khoei H. Possible role of NO/NMDA pathway in the autistic-like behaviors induced by maternal separation stress in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292631. [PMID: 37815997 PMCID: PMC10564128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Maternal separation (MS) stress is an established model of early-life stress associated with autistic-like behaviors. Altered glutamatergic and nitrergic neurotransmissions may contribute to the pathophysiology of ASD. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these alterations and their relationship to MS-induced autistic-like behaviors remain unclear. Addressing this knowledge gap, this study aims to elucidate the involvement of the nitric oxide (NO)/ N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) pathway in MS-induced autistic-like behaviors in mice. This knowledge has the potential to guide future research, potentially leading to the development of targeted interventions or treatments aimed at modulating the NO/NMDA pathway to ameliorate ASD symptoms. Ninety male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice were assigned to six groups (n = 15) comprising a control group (treated with saline) and five groups subjected to MS and treated with saline, ketamine, NMDA, L-NAME, and L-arginine. Behavioral tests were conducted, including the three-chamber test, shuttle box, elevated plus-maze, and marble burying test. Gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, and NMDA-R subunits (NR2A and NR2B), along with nitrite levels, was evaluated in the hippocampus. The findings demonstrated that MS induced autistic-like behaviors, accompanied by increased gene expression of iNOS, nNOS, NR2B, NR2A, and elevated nitrite levels in the hippocampus. Modulation of the NO/NMDA pathway with activators and inhibitors altered the effects of MS. These results suggest that the NO/NMDA pathway plays a role in mediating the negative effects of MS and potentially contributes to the development of autistic-like behaviors in maternally separated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Khaledi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Tahmasebi Dehkordi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Zarean
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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5
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Davidson M, Rashidi N, Sinnayah P, Ahmadi AH, Apostolopoulos V, Nurgali K. Improving behavioral test data collection and analysis in animal models with an image processing program. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114544. [PMID: 37321312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114544] [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: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral studies are commonly used as a standard procedure to evaluate anxiety and depression in animal models. Recently, different methods have been developed to improve data collection and analysis of the behavioral tests. Currently available methods, including manual analysis and commercially available products, are either time-consuming or costly. The objective of this study was to improve the collection and analysis of behavioral test data in animal models by developing an image processing program. Eleven behavioral parameters were evaluated by three different methods, including (i) manual detection, (ii) commercially available TopScan software (CleverSys Inc, USA), and (iii) In-housed-developed Advanced Move Tracker (AMT) software. Results obtained from different methods were compared to validate the accuracy and efficiency of AMT. Results showed that AMT software provides highly accurate and reliable data analysis compared to other methods. Less than 5% tolerance was reported between results obtained from AMT compared to TopScan. In addition, the analysis processing time was remarkably reduced (68.3%) by using AMT compared to manual detection. Overall, the findings confirmed that AMT is an efficient program for automated data analysis, significantly enhancing research outcomes through accurate analysis of behavioral test data in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Davidson
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Niloufar Rashidi
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Puspha Sinnayah
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amir Hossein Ahmadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Immunology Program, Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Kulmira Nurgali
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine Western Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells Program, Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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6
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Maloney SE, Sarafinovska S, Weichselbaum C, McCullough KB, Swift RG, Liu Y, Dougherty JD. A comprehensive assay of social motivation reveals sex-specific roles of autism-associated genes and oxytocin. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100504. [PMID: 37426756 PMCID: PMC10326376 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Social motivation is critical to the development of typical social functioning. Social motivation, specifically one or more of its components (e.g., social reward seeking or social orienting), could be relevant for understanding phenotypes related to autism. We developed a social operant conditioning task to quantify effort to access a social partner and concurrent social orienting in mice. We established that mice will work for access to a social partner, identified sex differences, and observed high test-retest reliability. We then benchmarked the method with two test-case manipulations. Shank3B mutants exhibited reduced social orienting and failed to show social reward seeking. Oxytocin receptor antagonism decreased social motivation, consistent with its role in social reward circuitry. Overall, we believe that this method provides a valuable addition to the assessment of social phenotypes in rodent models of autism and the mapping of potentially sex-specific social motivation neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E. Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Simona Sarafinovska
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Claire Weichselbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Katherine B. McCullough
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Raylynn G. Swift
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yating Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joseph D. Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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7
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Tartaglione AM, Farioli Vecchioli S, Giorgi MC, Cutuli D, Calamandrei G. Altered responsiveness to pups in virgin female mice of the BTBR strain: Insights from pattern of c-Fos expression in brain regions involved in maternal behavior. Behav Brain Res 2021; 410:113365. [PMID: 33992667 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BTBR is an inbred mouse strain that displays several behavioral alterations resembling the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including deficit in sociability. In the present study, we investigated whether the pup-induced maternal behavior in virgin female mice, a naturally rewarding behavior, is impaired in this strain similarly to social interaction with adult conspecifics. We firstly assessed the maternal responsiveness towards newly born pups expressed by either virgin female mice of the BTBR strain or of the normo-social B6 strain. Next, we examined in both strains the expression of c-Fos as a marker of neuronal activity in selected brain areas involved in the regulation of maternal behavior in rodents including the olfactory bulb, the medial preoptic area and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). We also examined the effects of pup presentation on oxytocinergic neurons of the PVN, the major brain site of synthesis of oxytocin, which has a pivotal role in facilitation of maternal response and social responsiveness in general. As a final step, we assessed the c-Fos expression pattern comparing the effect of exposure to pups with that induced by exposure to another social stimulus, focusing on other areas implicated in maternal responsiveness as well as in the affective component of social behavior such as pyriform cortex and central and basolateral amygdala. Our data showed that BTBR virgin females are less responsive to presentation of pups in comparison to B6, in parallel with lower activation of brain areas implicated in the maternal and social responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tartaglione
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - M C Giorgi
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - D Cutuli
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - G Calamandrei
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy.
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8
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Arakawa H. Somatosensorimotor and Odor Modification, Along with Serotonergic Processes Underlying the Social Deficits in BTBR T+ Itpr3 tf/J and BALB/cJ Mouse Models of Autism. Neuroscience 2020; 445:144-162. [PMID: 32061779 PMCID: PMC8078887 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a complex spectrum of disorders characterized by core behavioral deficits in social communicative behavior, which are also required for comprehensive analysis of preclinical mouse models. As animal models of the core behavioral deficits in autism, two inbred mouse strains, BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and BALB/cJ (BALB), were compared with the standard social strain, C57BL/6J (B6), regarding a variety of behavioral factors underlying social communicative interactions, including olfactory and tactile sensory processes, social recognition abilities and behavioral expression strategies. Although both female BTBR and BALB mice can express social recognition and approach behavior depending on the stimuli they encounter, the available sensory modalities, along with modulation of the serotonergic system, differ between the two strains. BALB mice have deficits in using volatile olfactory cues and tactile information in a social context; they fail to exhibit a social approach to volatile cues and seek nonvolatile cues by exhibiting substantial sniff/contact behavior when allowed direct contact with social opponents. Systemic injection of the serotonin (5-HT1A) agonist buspirone has little effect on these social deficits, suggesting a congenitally degraded serotonergic system in BALB mice. In contrast, BTBR mice exhibit impaired body coordination and social motivation-modified olfactory signals, which are relevant to a reduced social approach. A systemic injection of the 5-HT1A agonist restored these social deficits in BTBR mice, indicating that a downregulated serotonergic system is involved in the social deficits exhibited by BTBR mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Rodent Behavioral Core Department of Research Administration, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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9
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Rein B, Ma K, Yan Z. A standardized social preference protocol for measuring social deficits in mouse models of autism. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:3464-3477. [PMID: 32895524 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0382-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and other behavioral abnormalities. The three-chamber social preference test is often used to assess social deficits in mouse models of ASD. However, varying and often contradicting phenotypic descriptions of ASD mouse models can be found in the scientific literature, and the substantial variability in the methods used by researchers to assess social deficits in mice could be a contributing factor. Here we describe a standardized three-chamber social preference protocol, which is sensitive and reliable at detecting social preference deficits in several mouse models of ASD. This protocol comprises three phases that can all be completed within 1 d. The test mouse is first habituated to the apparatus containing two empty cups in the side chambers, followed by the pre-test phase in which the mouse can interact with two identical inanimate objects placed in the cups. During the test phase, the mouse is allowed to interact with a social stimulus (an unfamiliar wild-type (WT) mouse) contained in one cup and a novel non-social stimulus contained in the other cup. The protocol is thus designed to assess preference between social and non-social stimuli under conditions of equal salience. The broad implementation of the three-chamber social preference protocol presented here should improve the accuracy and consistency of assessments for social preference deficits associated with ASD and other psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaijie Ma
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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