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Liu YB, Arystarkhova E, Sacino AN, Szabari MV, Lutz CM, Terrey M, Morsci NS, Jakobs TC, Lykke-Hartmann K, Brashear A, Napoli E, Sweadner KJ. Phenotype Distinctions in Mice Deficient in the Neuron-Specific α3 Subunit of Na,K-ATPase: Atp1a3 tm1Ling/+ and Atp1a3 +/D801Y. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0101-24.2024. [PMID: 39111836 PMCID: PMC11360364 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0101-24.2024] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024] Open
Abstract
ATP1A3 is a Na,K-ATPase gene expressed specifically in neurons in the brain. Human mutations are dominant and produce an unusually wide spectrum of neurological phenotypes, most notably rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism (RDP) and alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). Here we compared heterozygotes of two mouse lines, a line with little or no expression (Atp1a3tm1Ling/+) and a knock-in expressing p.Asp801Tyr (D801Y, Atp1a3 +/D801Y). Both mouse lines had normal lifespans, but Atp1a3 +/D801Y had mild perinatal mortality contrasting with D801N mice (Atp1a3 +/D801N), which had high mortality. The phenotypes of Atp1a3tm1Ling/+ and Atp1a3 +/D801Y were different, and testing of each strain was tailored to its symptom range. Atp1a3tm1Ling/+ mice displayed little at baseline, but repeated ethanol intoxication produced hyperkinetic motor abnormalities not seen in littermate controls. Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice displayed robust phenotypes: hyperactivity, diminished posture consistent with hypotonia, and deficiencies in beam walk and wire hang tests. Symptoms also included qualitative motor abnormalities that are not well quantified by conventional tests. Paradoxically, Atp1a3 +/D801Y showed sustained better performance than wild type on the accelerating rotarod. Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice were overactive in forced swimming and afterward had intense shivering, transient dystonic postures, and delayed recovery. Remarkably, Atp1a3 +/D801Y mice were refractory to ketamine anesthesia, which elicited hyperactivity and dyskinesia even at higher dose. Neither mouse line exhibited fixed dystonia (typical of RDP patients), spontaneous paroxysmal weakness (typical of AHC patients), or seizures but had consistent, measurable neurological abnormalities. A gradient of variation supports the importance of studying multiple Atp1a3 mutations in animal models to understand the roles of this gene in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Bessie Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Elena Arystarkhova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Amanda N Sacino
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Margit V Szabari
- Department Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | | | | | | | - Tatjana C Jakobs
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | | | - Allison Brashear
- Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203
| | - Elenora Napoli
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
| | - Kathleen J Sweadner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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Miles KD, Barker CM, Russell KP, Appel BH, Doll CA. Electrical Synapses Mediate Embryonic Hyperactivity in a Zebrafish Model of Fragile X Syndrome. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2275232024. [PMID: 38969506 PMCID: PMC11293453 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2275-23.2024] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although hyperactivity is associated with a wide variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, the early embryonic origins of locomotion have hindered investigation of pathogenesis of these debilitating behaviors. The earliest motor output in vertebrate animals is generated by clusters of early-born motor neurons (MNs) that occupy distinct regions of the spinal cord, innervating stereotyped muscle groups. Gap junction electrical synapses drive early spontaneous behavior in zebrafish, prior to the emergence of chemical neurotransmitter networks. We use a genetic model of hyperactivity to gain critical insight into the consequences of errors in motor circuit formation and function, finding that Fragile X syndrome model mutant zebrafish are hyperexcitable from the earliest phases of spontaneous behavior, show altered sensitivity to blockade of electrical gap junctions, and have increased expression of the gap junction protein Connexin 34/35. We further show that this hyperexcitable behavior can be rescued by pharmacological inhibition of electrical synapses. We also use functional imaging to examine MN and interneuron (IN) activity in early embryogenesis, finding genetic disruption of electrical gap junctions uncouples activity between mnx1 + MNs and INs. Taken together, our work highlights the importance of electrical synapses in motor development and suggests that the origins of hyperactivity in neurodevelopmental disorders may be established during the initial formation of locomotive circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleb D Miles
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Chase M Barker
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Kristen P Russell
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Bruce H Appel
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Caleb A Doll
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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Arake M, Ohta H, Nozawa T, Satoh Y, Fujita M, Nakata T, Meredith AL, Shinomiya N, Ishizuka T, Morimoto Y. BK channel dysfunction disrupts attention-controlled behaviors and altered perseverative responses in murine instrumental learning. Behav Brain Res 2024; 468:115015. [PMID: 38670533 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115015] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
This study examined the effect of knockout of KCNMA1 gene, coding for the BK channel, on cognitive and attentional functions in mice, with an aim to better understand its implications for human neurodevelopmental disorders. The study used the 3-choice serial reaction time task (3-CSRTT) to assess the learning performance, attentional abilities, and repetitive behaviors in mice lacking the KCNMA1 gene (KCNMA1-/-) compared to wild-type (WT) controls. Results showed no significant differences in learning accuracy between the two groups. However, KCNMA1-/- mice were more prone to omitting responses to stimuli. In addition, when the timing of cue presentation was randomized, the KCNMA1-/- showed premature responses. Notably, these mice also demonstrated a marked reduction in perseverative responses, which include repeated nose-poke behaviors following decisions. These findings highlight the involvement of the KCNMA1 gene in managing attention, impulsivity, and potentially moderating repetitive actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Arake
- Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ohta
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.
| | - Takashi Nozawa
- Department of Psychology, Mejiro University, Nakaochiai 4-31-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8539, Japan
| | - Yasushi Satoh
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Masanori Fujita
- Division of Environmental Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nakata
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, Faculty of Health Promotional Sciences, Tokoha University, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Andrea L Meredith
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Nariyoshi Shinomiya
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Bio-Nano Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ishizuka
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Yuji Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
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Kim D, Yadav D, Song M. An updated review on animal models to study attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:187. [PMID: 38605002 PMCID: PMC11009407 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02893-0] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting both children and adolescents. Individuals with ADHD experience heterogeneous problems, such as difficulty in attention, behavioral hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Recent studies have shown that complex genetic factors play a role in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. Animal models with clear hereditary traits are crucial for studying the molecular, biological, and brain circuit mechanisms underlying ADHD. Owing to their well-managed genetic origins and the relative simplicity with which the function of neuronal circuits is clearly established, models of mice can help learn the mechanisms involved in ADHD. Therefore, in this review, we highlighting the important genetic animal models that can be used to study ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daegeon Kim
- Department of Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, South Korea
| | - Dhananjay Yadav
- Department of Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, South Korea
| | - Minseok Song
- Department of Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, South Korea.
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Sharghi S, Flunkert S, Daurer M, Rabl R, Chagnaud BP, Leopoldo M, Lacivita E, Hutter-Paier B, Prokesch M. Evaluating the effect of R-Baclofen and LP-211 on autistic behavior of the BTBR and Fmr1-KO mouse models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1087788. [PMID: 37065917 PMCID: PMC10097904 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1087788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by two core behavioral symptoms: impaired social communication and interaction, as well as stereotypic, repetitive behavior. No distinct cause of ASD is known so far; however, excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and a disturbed serotoninergic transmission have been identified as prominent candidates responsible for ASD etiology.MethodsThe GABAB receptor agonist R-Baclofen and the selective agonist for the 5HT7 serotonin receptor LP-211 have been reported to correct social deficits and repetitive behaviors in mouse models of ASD. To evaluate the efficacy of these compounds in more details, we treated BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J and B6.129P2-Fmr1tm1Cgr/J mice acutely with R-Baclofen or LP-211 and evaluated the behavior of animals in a series of tests.ResultsBTBR mice showed motor deficits, elevated anxiety, and highly repetitive behavior of self-grooming. Fmr1-KO mice exhibited decreased anxiety and hyperactivity. Additionally, Fmr1-KO mice’s ultrasonic vocalizations were impaired suggesting a reduced social interest and communication of this strain. Acute LP-211 administration did not affect the behavioral abnormalities observed in BTBR mice but improved repetitive behavior in Fmr1-KO mice and showed a trend to change anxiety of this strain. Acute R-Baclofen treatment improved repetitive behavior only in Fmr1-KO mice.ConclusionOur results add value to the current available data on these mouse models and the respective compounds. Yet, additional studies are needed to further test R-Baclofen and LP-211 as potential treatments for ASD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Sharghi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, QPS Austria GmbH, Grambach, Austria
- Institute for Biology, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Graz, Austria
- *Correspondence: Shirin Sharghi,
| | - Stefanie Flunkert
- Department of Neuropharmacology, QPS Austria GmbH, Grambach, Austria
| | - Magdalena Daurer
- Department of Neuropharmacology, QPS Austria GmbH, Grambach, Austria
| | - Roland Rabl
- Department of Neuropharmacology, QPS Austria GmbH, Grambach, Austria
| | | | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Enza Lacivita
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Prokesch
- Department of Neuropharmacology, QPS Austria GmbH, Grambach, Austria
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Gredell M, Lu J, Zuo Y. The effect of single-cell knockout of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein on synaptic structural plasticity. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1135479. [PMID: 37035256 PMCID: PMC10076639 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1135479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the best-known form of inherited intellectual disability caused by the loss-of-function mutation in a single gene. The FMR1 gene mutation abolishes the expression of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), which regulates the expression of many synaptic proteins. Cortical pyramidal neurons in postmortem FXS patient brains show abnormally high density and immature morphology of dendritic spines; this phenotype is replicated in the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse. While FMRP is well-positioned in the dendrite to regulate synaptic plasticity, intriguing in vitro and in vivo data show that wild type neurons embedded in a network of Fmr1 KO neurons or glia exhibit spine abnormalities just as neurons in Fmr1 global KO mice. This raises the question: does FMRP regulate synaptic morphology and dynamics in a cell-autonomous manner, or do the synaptic phenotypes arise from abnormal pre-synaptic inputs? To address this question, we combined viral and mouse genetic approaches to delete FMRP from a very sparse subset of cortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons (L5 PyrNs) either during early postnatal development or in adulthood. We then followed the structural dynamics of dendritic spines on these Fmr1 KO neurons by in vivo two-photon microscopy. We found that, while L5 PyrNs in adult Fmr1 global KO mice have abnormally high density of thin spines, single-cell Fmr1 KO in adulthood does not affect spine density, morphology, or dynamics. On the contrary, neurons with neonatal FMRP deletion have normal spine density but elevated spine formation at 1 month of age, replicating the phenotype in Fmr1 global KO mice. Interestingly, these neurons exhibit elevated thin spine density, but normal total spine density, by adulthood. Together, our data reveal cell-autonomous FMRP regulation of cortical synaptic dynamics during adolescence, but spine defects in adulthood also implicate non-cell-autonomous factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yi Zuo
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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Negrón-Moreno PN, Diep DT, Guoynes CD, Sidorov MS. Dissociating motor impairment from five-choice serial reaction time task performance in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:968159. [PMID: 36212189 PMCID: PMC9539753 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.968159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cognitive and motor impairment, seizures, lack of speech, and disrupted sleep. AS is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the UBE3A gene, and approaches to reinstate functional UBE3A are currently in clinical trials in children. Behavioral testing in a mouse model of AS (Ube3a m-/p+ ) represents an important tool to assess the effectiveness of current and future treatments preclinically. Existing behavioral tests effectively model motor impairments, but not cognitive impairments, in Ube3a m-/p+ mice. Here we tested the hypothesis that the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT) can be used to assess cognitive behaviors in Ube3a m-/p+ mice. Ube3a m-/p+ mice had more omissions during 5CSRTT training than wild-type littermate controls, but also showed impaired motor function including open field hypoactivity and delays in eating pellet rewards. Motor impairments thus presented an important confound for interpreting this group difference in omissions. We report that despite hypoactivity during habituation, Ube3a m-/p+ mice had normal response latencies to retrieve rewards during 5CSRTT training. We also accounted for delays in eating pellet rewards by assessing omissions solely on trials where eating delays would not impact results. Thus, the increase in omissions in Ube3a m-/p+ mice is likely not caused by concurrent motor impairments. This work underscores the importance of considering how known motor impairments in Ube3a m-/p+ mice may affect behavioral performance in other domains. Our results also provide guidance on how to design a 5CSRTT protocol that is best suited for future studies in Ube3a mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola N. Negrón-Moreno
- University of Puerto Rico-Cayey, Cayey, PR, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - David T. Diep
- University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Caleigh D. Guoynes
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michael S. Sidorov
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
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8
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Sato A, Ikeda K. Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 2:95-105. [PMID: 36325164 PMCID: PMC9616270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual’s reciprocal social interaction and communication ability. Numerous genetic and environmental conditions are associated with ASD, including tuberous sclerosis complex, phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartoma tumor syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and neurofibromatosis 1. The pathogenic molecular mechanisms of these diseases are integrated into the hyperactivation of mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1). Rodent models of these diseases have shown high mTORC1 activity in the brain and ASD-related behavioral deficits, which were reversed by the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. Environmental stress can also affect this signaling pathway. In utero exposure to valproate caused ASD in offspring and enhanced mTORC1 activity in the brain, which was sensitive to mTORC1 inhibition. mTORC1 is a signaling hub for diverse cellular functions, including protein synthesis, through the phosphorylation of its targets, such as ribosomal protein S6 kinases. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5–mediated synaptic function is also affected by the dysregulation of mTORC1 activity, such as in fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. Reversing these downstream changes that are associated with mTORC1 activation normalizes behavioral defects in rodents. Despite abundant preclinical evidence, few clinical studies have investigated the treatment of ASD and cognitive deficits. Therapeutics other than mTORC1 inhibitors failed to show efficacy in fragile X syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1. mTORC1 inhibitors have been tested mainly in tuberous sclerosis complex, and their effects on ASD and neuropsychological deficits are promising. mTORC1 is a promising target for the pharmacological treatment of ASD associated with mTORC1 activation.
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Altimiras F, Garcia JA, Palacios-García I, Hurley MJ, Deacon R, González B, Cogram P. Altered Gut Microbiota in a Fragile X Syndrome Mouse Model. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:653120. [PMID: 34121987 PMCID: PMC8190892 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.653120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome is the ecosystem of microorganisms that live in the human digestive system. Several studies have related gut microbiome variants to metabolic, immune and nervous system disorders. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder considered the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading monogenetic cause of autism. The role of the gut microbiome in FXS remains largely unexplored. Here, we report the results of a gut microbiome analysis using a FXS mouse model and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We identified alterations in the fmr1 KO2 gut microbiome associated with different bacterial species, including those in the genera Akkermansia, Sutterella, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Odoribacter, Turicibacter, Flexispira, Bacteroides, and Oscillospira. Several gut bacterial metabolic pathways were significantly altered in fmr1 KO2 mice, including menaquinone degradation, catechol degradation, vitamin B6 biosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis, and nucleotide metabolism. Several of these metabolic pathways, including catechol degradation, nucleotide metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis, were previously reported to be altered in children and adults with autism. The present study reports a potential association of the gut microbiome with FXS, thereby opening new possibilities for exploring reliable treatments and non-invasive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Altimiras
- Faculty of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Faculty of Engineering and Business, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Antonio Garcia
- Faculty of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ismael Palacios-García
- School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael J Hurley
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Deacon
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,FRAXA-DVI, FRAXA Research Foundation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bernardo González
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile.,Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia Cogram
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,FRAXA-DVI, FRAXA Research Foundation, Santiago, Chile
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Sidorov MS, Kim H, Rougie M, Williams B, Siegel JJ, Gavornik JP, Philpot BD. Visual Sequences Drive Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Mouse Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108152. [PMID: 32937128 PMCID: PMC7536640 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity have been well characterized in mouse primary visual cortex (V1), including a form of potentiation driven by repeated presentations of a familiar visual sequence (“sequence plasticity”). The prefrontal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds to visual stimuli, yet little is known about if and how visual experience modifies ACC circuits. We find that mouse ACC exhibits sequence plasticity, but in contrast to V1, the plasticity expresses as a change in response timing, rather than a change in response magnitude. Sequence plasticity is absent in ACC, but not V1, in a mouse model of a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with intellectual disability and autism-like features. Our results demonstrate that simple sensory stimuli can be used to reveal how experience functionally (or dysfunctionally) modifies higher-order prefrontal circuits and suggest a divergence in how ACC and V1 encode familiarity. Sidorov et al. demonstrate that patterned visual input can drive experience-dependent plasticity in the timing of neural responses in mouse anterior cingulate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Sidorov
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology & Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Marie Rougie
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Brittany Williams
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jennifer J Siegel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Benjamin D Philpot
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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11
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Wittkowski J, Fritz RG, Meier M, Schmidtke D. Conditioning learning in an attentional task relates to age and ventricular expansion in a nonhuman primate (Microcebus murinus). Behav Brain Res 2020; 399:113053. [PMID: 33279643 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a promising nonhuman primate model for brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Age-related cognitive decline in this model is well described, however, data on possible relations between attention and age, as they are known from humans, are missing. We tested 10 mouse lemurs in a touchscreen-based version of the 5-choice-serial-reaction-time-task (5CSRTT) on visuo-spatial attention: subjects had to interact with a briefly presented stimulus occurring unpredictably in one out of five locations on the touchscreen. Animals were trained to an 80 % performance at a four seconds stimulus presentation duration (SPD) and subsequently challenged by a SPD of two seconds. Additionally, ventricular expansion was assessed using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Trials to the 80 % criterion at four seconds SPD correlated significantly with age and with ventricular expansion, especially around the occipital lobe. Once criterion performance was reached, two seconds challenge performance was independent of age. In four subjects that were additionally challenged with 1.5, 1.0, 0.8, or 0.6 s SPDs or variable delays preceding stimulus presentation, performance linearly declined with decreasing SPD, i.e. increasing attentional demand. In conclusion, this is the first report of 5CSRTT data in mouse lemurs and demonstrates the general applicability of this task of visuo-spatial attention to this nonhuman primate model. Results further demonstrate age-related deficits in learning during acquisition of the 5CSRTT and suggest that both may be linked through age-related atrophy of occipital structures and a resulting deficit in central visual processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wittkowski
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Rebecca G Fritz
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Meier
- ZTL-Imaging, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Schmidtke
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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12
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Gamma power abnormalities in a Fmr1-targeted transgenic rat model of fragile X syndrome. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18799. [PMID: 33139785 PMCID: PMC7608556 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75893-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is characteristically displayed intellectual disability, hyperactivity, anxiety, and abnormal sensory processing. Electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities are also observed in subjects with FXS, with many researchers paying attention to these as biomarkers. Despite intensive preclinical research using Fmr1 knock out (KO) mice, an effective treatment for FXS has yet to be developed. Here, we examined Fmr1-targeted transgenic rats (Fmr1-KO rats) as an alternative preclinical model of FXS. We characterized the EEG phenotypes of Fmr1-KO rats by measuring basal EEG power and auditory steady state response (ASSR) to click trains of stimuli at a frequency of 10–80 Hz. Fmr1-KO rats exhibited reduced basal alpha power and enhanced gamma power, and these rats showed enhanced locomotor activity in novel environment. While ASSR clearly peaked at around 40 Hz, both inter-trial coherence (ITC) and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) were significantly reduced at the gamma frequency band in Fmr1-KO rats. Fmr1-KO rats showed gamma power abnormalities and behavioral hyperactivity that were consistent with observations reported in mouse models and subjects with FXS. These results suggest that gamma power abnormalities are a translatable biomarker among species and demonstrate the utility of Fmr1-KO rats for investigating drugs for the treatment of FXS.
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13
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Kramvis I, van Westen R, Lammertse HCA, Riga D, Heistek TS, Loebel A, Spijker S, Mansvelder HD, Meredith RM. Dysregulated Prefrontal Cortex Inhibition in Prepubescent and Adolescent Fragile X Mouse Model. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:88. [PMID: 32528248 PMCID: PMC7264168 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in excitation and inhibition are associated with the pathobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders of intellectual disability and autism and are widely described in Fragile X syndrome (FXS). In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), essential for cognitive processing, excitatory connectivity and plasticity are found altered in the FXS mouse model, however, little is known about the state of inhibition. To that end, we investigated GABAergic signaling in the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) knock out (Fmr1-KO) mouse medial PFC (mPFC). We report changes at the molecular, and functional levels of inhibition at three (prepubescence) and six (adolescence) postnatal weeks. Functional changes were most prominent during early postnatal development, resulting in stronger inhibition, through increased synaptic inhibitory drive and amplitude, and reduction of inhibitory short-term synaptic depression. Noise analysis of prepubescent post-synaptic currents demonstrated an increased number of receptors opening during peak current in Fmr1-KO inhibitory synapses. During adolescence amplitudes and plasticity changes normalized, however, the inhibitory drive was now reduced in Fmr1-KO, while synaptic kinetics were prolonged. Finally, adolescent GABAA receptor subunit α2 and GABAB receptor subtype B1 expression levels were different in Fmr1-KOs than WT littermate controls. Together these results extend the degree of synaptic GABAergic alterations in FXS, now to the mPFC of Fmr1-KO mice, a behaviourally relevant brain region in neurodevelopmental disorder pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Kramvis
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rhodé van Westen
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hanna C A Lammertse
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Danai Riga
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tim S Heistek
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alex Loebel
- Department of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Spijker
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rhiannon M Meredith
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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14
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Kissinger ST, Wu Q, Quinn CJ, Anderson AK, Pak A, Chubykin AA. Visual Experience-Dependent Oscillations and Underlying Circuit Connectivity Changes Are Impaired in Fmr1 KO Mice. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107486. [PMID: 32268079 PMCID: PMC7201849 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FX), the most common inherited form of autism and intellectual disability, is a condition associated with visual perceptual learning deficits. We recently discovered that perceptual experience can encode visual familiarity via persistent low-frequency oscillations in the mouse primary visual cortex (V1). Here, we combine this paradigm with a multifaceted experimental approach to identify neurophysiological impairments of these oscillations in FX mice. Extracellular recordings reveal shorter durations, lower power, and lower frequencies of peak oscillatory activity in FX mice. Directed information analysis of extracellularly recorded spikes reveals differences in functional connectivity from multiple layers in FX mice after the perceptual experience. Channelrhodopsin-2 assisted circuit mapping (CRACM) reveals increased synaptic strength from L5 pyramidal onto L4 fast-spiking cells after experience in wild-type (WT), but not FX, mice. These results suggest differential encoding of visual stimulus familiarity in FX via persistent oscillations and identify circuit connections that may underlie these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T Kissinger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Qiuyu Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Christopher J Quinn
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Adam K Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Alexandr Pak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Alexander A Chubykin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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15
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Möhrle D, Fernández M, Peñagarikano O, Frick A, Allman B, Schmid S. What we can learn from a genetic rodent model about autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 109:29-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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16
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Norris RHC, Churilov L, Hannan AJ, Nithianantharajah J. Mutations in neuroligin-3 in male mice impact behavioral flexibility but not relational memory in a touchscreen test of visual transitive inference. Mol Autism 2019; 10:42. [PMID: 31827744 PMCID: PMC6889473 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0292-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction including disrupted behavioral flexibility is central to neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A cognitive measure that assesses relational memory, and the ability to flexibly assimilate and transfer learned information is transitive inference. Transitive inference is highly conserved across vertebrates and disrupted in cognitive disorders. Here, we examined how mutations in the synaptic cell-adhesion molecule neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) that have been documented in ASD impact relational memory and behavioral flexibility. We first refined a rodent touchscreen assay to measure visual transitive inference, then assessed two mouse models of Nlgn3 dysfunction (Nlgn3−/y and Nlgn3R451C). Deep analysis of touchscreen behavioral data at a trial level established we could measure trajectories in flexible responding and changes in processing speed as cognitive load increased. We show that gene mutations in Nlgn3 do not disrupt relational memory, but significantly impact flexible responding. Our study presents the first analysis of reaction times in a rodent transitive inference test, highlighting response latencies from the touchscreen system are useful indicators of processing demands or decision-making processes. These findings expand our understanding of how dysfunction of key components of synaptic signaling complexes impact distinct cognitive processes disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders, and advance our approaches for dissecting rodent behavioral assays to provide greater insights into clinically relevant cognitive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H C Norris
- 1Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria Australia
| | - Leonid Churilov
- 2Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 245 Burgundy St, Heidelberg, Victoria Australia.,3Department of Medicine - Austin Health, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, 245 Burgundy St, Heidelberg, Victoria Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- 1Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria Australia.,4Florey Department of Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria Australia.,5Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria Australia
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- 1Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria Australia.,4Florey Department of Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria Australia
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17
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Ryan AM, Berman RF, Bauman MD. Bridging the species gap in translational research for neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 165:106950. [PMID: 30347236 PMCID: PMC6474835 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and societal impact of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) continue to increase despite years of research in both patient populations and animal models. There remains an urgent need for translational efforts between clinical and preclinical research to (i) identify and evaluate putative causes of NDD, (ii) determine their underlying neurobiological mechanisms, (iii) develop and test novel therapeutic approaches, and (iv) translate basic research into safe and effective clinical practices. Given the complexity behind potential causes and behaviors affected by NDDs, modeling these uniquely human brain disorders in animals will require that we capitalize on unique advantages of a diverse array of species. While much NDD research has been conducted in more traditional animal models such as the mouse, ultimately, we may benefit from creating animal models with species that have a more sophisticated social behavior repertoire such as the rat (Rattus norvegicus) or species that more closely related to humans, such as the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Here, we highlight the rat and rhesus macaque models for their role in previous psychological research discoveries, current efforts to understand the neurobiology of NDDs, and focus on the convergence of behavior outcome measures that parallel features of human NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Ryan
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - R F Berman
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - M D Bauman
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States.
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18
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Felgerolle C, Hébert B, Ardourel M, Meyer-Dilhet G, Menuet A, Pinto-Morais K, Bizot JC, Pichon J, Briault S, Perche O. Visual Behavior Impairments as an Aberrant Sensory Processing in the Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:228. [PMID: 31680892 PMCID: PMC6797836 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of human intellectual disability (ID) associated with autistic-like behaviors, is characterized by dys-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, especially vision. In the absence of Fragile Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), both retinal and cerebral structures of the visual pathway are impaired, suggesting that perception and integration of visual stimuli are altered. However, behavioral consequences of these defects remain unknown. In this study, we used male Fmr1−/y mice to further define visual disturbances from a behavioral perspective by focusing on three traits characterizing visual modality: perception of depth, contrasts and movements. We performed specific tests (Optomotor Drum, Visual Cliff) to evaluate these visual modalities, their evolution from youth to adulthood, and to assess their involvement in a cognitive task. We show that Fmr1−/y mice exhibit alteration in their visual skills, displaying impaired perspective perception, a drop in their ability to understand a moving contrasted pattern, and a defect in contrasts discrimination. Interestingly, Fmr1−/y phenotypes remain stable over time from adolescence to late adulthood. Besides, we report that color and shape are meaningful for the achievement of a cognitive test involving object recognition. Altogether, these results underline the significance of visual behavior alterations in FXS conditions and relevance of assessing visual skills in neuropsychiatric models before performing behavioral tasks, such as cognitive assessments, that involve visual discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Felgerolle
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Betty Hébert
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Maryvonne Ardourel
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Géraldine Meyer-Dilhet
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Arnaud Menuet
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Kimberley Pinto-Morais
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | | | - Jacques Pichon
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Sylvain Briault
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France.,Department of Genetics, Regional Hospital, Orléans, France
| | - Olivier Perche
- UMR7355, CNRS, Orléans, France.,Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics, University of Orléans, Orléans, France.,Department of Genetics, Regional Hospital, Orléans, France
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19
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Schmitt LM, Shaffer RC, Hessl D, Erickson C. Executive Function in Fragile X Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E15. [PMID: 30654486 PMCID: PMC6356760 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive function (EF) supports goal-directed behavior and includes key aspects such as working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, attention, processing speed, and planning. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited monogenic cause of intellectual disability and is phenotypically characterized by EF deficits beyond what is expected given general cognitive impairments. Yet, a systematic review of behavioral studies using performance-based measures is needed to provide a summary of EF deficits across domains in males and females with FXS, discuss clinical and biological correlates of these EF deficits, identify critical limitations in available research, and offer suggestions for future studies in this area. Ultimately, this review aims to advance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to EF in FXS and to inform the development of outcome measures of EF and identification of new treatment targets in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Schmitt
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| | - Rebecca C Shaffer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
| | - David Hessl
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Craig Erickson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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20
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Martin HGS, Lassalle O, Manzoni OJ. Differential Adulthood Onset mGlu5 Signaling Saves Prefrontal Function in the Fragile X Mouse. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:5592-5602. [PMID: 27797833 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The final maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) continues into early adulthood and is delayed compared with other forebrain structures. However, how these late onset changes in the PFC relate to neurodevelopment disorders is poorly understood. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a prevalent neurogenetic disorder linked to deficits in PFC function. mGlu5 is an important molecular hub in the etiology of FXS. Thus we have examined changes in mGlu5 function in the PFC in a mouse model of FXS (Fmr1 knockout) during early adulthood and subsequent maturity. An unusual endophenotype was identified; during early adulthood (2-month-old) Fmr1 knockout mice show a severe deficit in mGlu5 dependent eCB synaptic plasticity; however, in 1-year-old this deficit self rectifies. This adulthood onset correction in mGlu5 function is linked to an engagement of TRPV1 receptors in 1-year-old mice. In 2-month-old Fmr1 knockout mice, mGlu5 mediated synaptic plasticity could be recovered with eCB system targeted drugs, but also by direct enhancement of mGlu5 function with a positive allosteric modulator. These results point to further refinements to the role of mGlu5 in FXS. Furthermore our findings suggest when studying neurodevelopmental disorders with a significant PFC phenotype consideration of late onset changes may be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry G S Martin
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille 13009, France
| | - Olivier Lassalle
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille 13009, France
| | - Olivier J Manzoni
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille 13009, France
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21
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Logan S, Owen D, Chen S, Chen WJ, Ungvari Z, Farley J, Csiszar A, Sharpe A, Loos M, Koopmans B, Richardson A, Sonntag WE. Simultaneous assessment of cognitive function, circadian rhythm, and spontaneous activity in aging mice. GeroScience 2018; 40:123-137. [PMID: 29687240 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-018-0019-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive function declines substantially with age in both humans and animal models. In humans, this decline is associated with decreases in independence and quality of life. Although the methodology for analysis of cognitive function in human models is relatively well established, similar analyses in animal models have many technical issues (e.g., unintended experimenter bias, motivational issues, stress, and testing during the light phase of the light dark cycle) that limit interpretation of the results. These caveats, and others, potentially bias the interpretation of studies in rodents and prevent the application of current tests of learning and memory as part of an overall healthspan assessment in rodent models of aging. The goal of this study was to establish the methodology to assess cognitive function in aging animals that addresses many of these concerns. Here, we use a food reward-based discrimination procedure with minimal stress in C57Bl/6J male mice at 6, 21, and 27 months of age, followed by a reversal task to assess behavioral flexibility. Importantly, the procedures minimize issues related to between-experimenter confounds and are conducted during both the dark and light phases of the light dark cycle in a home-cage setting. During cognitive testing, we were able to assess multiple measures of spontaneous movement and diurnal activity in young and aged mice including, distance moved, velocity, and acceleration over a 90-h period. Both initial discrimination and reversal learning significantly decreased with age and, similar to rats and humans, not all old mice demonstrated impairments in learning with age. These results permitted classification of animals based on their cognitive status. Analysis of movement parameters indicated decreases in distance moved as well as velocity and acceleration with increasing age. Based on these data, we developed preliminary models indicating, as in humans, a close relationship exists between age-related movement parameters and cognitive ability. Our results provide a reliable method for assessing cognitive performance with minimal stress and simultaneously provide key information on movement and diurnal activity. These methods represent a novel approach to developing non-invasive healthspan measures in rodent models that allow standardization across laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreemathi Logan
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| | - Daniel Owen
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Sixia Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Wei-Jen Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Julie Farley
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Anna Csiszar
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Amanda Sharpe
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Maarten Loos
- Sylics (Synaptologics BV), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arlan Richardson
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - William E Sonntag
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10TH Street, SLY-BRC 1303, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
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22
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Berzhanskaya J, Phillips MA, Gorin A, Lai C, Shen J, Colonnese MT. Disrupted Cortical State Regulation in a Rat Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:1386-1400. [PMID: 26733529 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) have deficits of attention and arousal. To begin to identify the neural causes of these deficits, we examined juvenile rats lacking the Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMR-KO) for disruption of cortical activity related to attention and arousal. Specifically, we examined the switching of visual cortex between activated and inactivated states that normally occurs during movement and quiet rest, respectively. In both wild-type and FMR-KO rats, during the third and fourth postnatal weeks cortical activity during periods of movement was dominated by an activated state with prominent 18-52 Hz activity. However, during quiet rest, when activity in wild-type rats became dominated by the inactivated state (3-9 Hz activity), FMR-KO rat cortex abnormally remained activated, resulting in increased high-frequency and reduced low-frequency power during rest. Firing rate correlations revealed reduced synchronization in FMR-KO rats, particularly between fast-spiking interneurons, that developmentally precede cortical state defects. Together our data suggest that disrupted inhibitory connectivity impairs the ability of visual cortex to regulate exit from the activated state in a behaviorally appropriate manner, potentially contributing to disrupted attention and sensory processing observed in children with FXS by making it more difficult to decrease cortical drive by unattended stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Berzhanskaya
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Marnie A Phillips
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Alexis Gorin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Chongxi Lai
- Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jing Shen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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23
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Carreno-Munoz MI, Martins F, Medrano MC, Aloisi E, Pietropaolo S, Dechaud C, Subashi E, Bony G, Ginger M, Moujahid A, Frick A, Leinekugel X. Potential Involvement of Impaired BK Ca Channel Function in Sensory Defensiveness and Some Behavioral Disturbances Induced by Unfamiliar Environment in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:492-502. [PMID: 28722023 PMCID: PMC5770751 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
In fragile X syndrome (FXS), sensory hypersensitivity and impaired habituation is thought to result in attention overload and various behavioral abnormalities in reaction to the excessive and remanent salience of environment features that would normally be ignored. This phenomenon, termed sensory defensiveness, has been proposed as the potential cause of hyperactivity, hyperarousal, and negative reactions to changes in routine that are often deleterious for FXS patients. However, the lack of tools for manipulating sensory hypersensitivity has not allowed the experimental testing required to evaluate the relevance of this hypothesis. Recent work has shown that BMS-204352, a BKCa channel agonist, was efficient to reverse cortical hyperexcitability and related sensory hypersensitivity in the Fmr1-KO mouse model of FXS. In the present study, we report that exposing Fmr1-KO mice to novel or unfamiliar environments resulted in multiple behavioral perturbations, such as hyperactivity, impaired nest building and excessive grooming of the back. Reversing sensory hypersensitivity with the BKCa channel agonist BMS-204352 prevented these behavioral abnormalities in Fmr1-KO mice. These results are in support of the sensory defensiveness hypothesis, and confirm BKCa as a potentially relevant molecular target for the development of drug medication against FXS/ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Isabel Carreno-Munoz
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia, Spain
| | - Fabienne Martins
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Maria Carmen Medrano
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Elisabetta Aloisi
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Susanna Pietropaolo
- University of Bordeaux, INCIA, Pessac, France,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Pessac, France
| | - Corentin Dechaud
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Enejda Subashi
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Guillaume Bony
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Melanie Ginger
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Andreas Frick
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Xavier Leinekugel
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, Bordeaux, France,Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM U1215, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Leo Saignat, 33077 Bordeaux, France, Tel: +33 6 09 55 53 39, Fax: +33 5 57 57 36 69, E-mail:
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24
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Anshu K, Nair AK, Kumaresan UD, Kutty BM, Srinath S, Laxmi TR. Altered attentional processing in male and female rats in a prenatal valproic acid exposure model of autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2017; 10:1929-1944. [PMID: 28851114 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Attention is foundational to efficient perception and optimal goal driven behavior. Intact attentional processing is crucial for the development of social and communication skills. Deficits in attention are therefore likely contributors to the core pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clinical evidence in ASD is suggestive of impairments in attention and its control, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We examined sustained, spatially divided attention in a prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model of ASD using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). As compared to controls, male and female VPA rats had progressively lower accuracy and higher omissions with increasing attentional demands during 5-CSRTT training, and showed further performance decrements when subjected to parametric task manipulations. It is noteworthy that although VPA exposure induced attentional deficits in both sexes, there were task parameter specific sex differences. Importantly, we did not find evidence of impulsivity or motivational deficits in VPA rats but we did find reduced social preference, as well as sensorimotor deficits that suggest pre-attentional information processing impairments. Importantly, with fixed rules, graded difficulty levels, and more time, VPA rats could be successfully trained on the attentional task. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining attentional functions in a VPA model. Our work underscores the need for studying both sexes in ASD animal models and validates the use of the VPA model in the quest for mechanistic understanding of aberrant attentional functions and for evaluating suitable therapeutic targets. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1929-1944. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY We studied rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), an established rodent model of autism. Both male and female VPA rats had a range of attentional impairments with sex-specific characteristics. Importantly, with fixed rules, graded difficulty levels, and more time, VPA rats could be successfully trained on the attentional task. Our work validates the use of the VPA model in the quest for evaluating suitable therapeutic targets for improving attentional performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari Anshu
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Ajay Kumar Nair
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - U D Kumaresan
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Bindu M Kutty
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Shoba Srinath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - T Rao Laxmi
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
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25
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Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction in Fragile X Mice Depends on the Continued Absence of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in the Adult Brain. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7305-7317. [PMID: 28652410 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0571-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FX) is generally considered a developmental disorder, arising from a mutation that disrupts the transcription of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP). However, FMRP regulates the transcription of other proteins and participates in an unknown number of protein-protein interactions throughout life. In addition to known developmental issues, it is thus likely that some dysfunction is also due to the ongoing absence of FMRP. Dissociating dysfunction due to developmental dysregulation from dysfunction due to the continued absence of FMRP is necessary to understand the different roles of FMRP and to treat patients effectively throughout life. We show here that FX model mice display substantial deficits in a PFC-dependent task. We then use conditional knock-out mice to eliminate FMRP only in the PFC alone of adult mice. We observe an increase in the proportion of nonlearners and a delay in the onset of learning in both FX and conditional knock-out mice. The results suggest that these deficits (1) are due to the absence of FMRP in the PFC alone and (2) are not the result of developmental dysregulation. Furthermore, PFC-associated deficits are rescued by initiating production of FMRP in adult conditional restoration mice, suggesting that PFC dysfunction may persist as long as FMRP is absent and therefore can be rescued after development. The data suggest that it is possible to dissociate the roles of FMRP in neural function from developmental dysregulation, and that PFC function can be restored in the adult FX brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The absence of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) from birth results in developmental disabilities and lifelong impairments. We show here that in mouse models PFC dysfunction in Fragile X Syndrome (FX) can be attributed to the continued absence of FMRP from the PFC, independent of FMRP status during development. Furthermore, initiation of FMRP production in the PFC of adult FX animals rescues PFC function. The results suggest that at least some FX-specific neurological defects can be rescued in the adult FX brain after development.
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26
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Schaefer TL, Davenport MH, Grainger LM, Robinson CK, Earnheart AT, Stegman MS, Lang AL, Ashworth AA, Molinaro G, Huber KM, Erickson CA. Acamprosate in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome: modulation of spontaneous cortical activity, ERK1/2 activation, locomotor behavior, and anxiety. J Neurodev Disord 2017; 9:6. [PMID: 28616095 PMCID: PMC5467053 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-017-9184-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) occurs as a result of a silenced fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1) and subsequent loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) expression. Loss of FMRP alters excitatory/inhibitory signaling balance, leading to increased neuronal hyperexcitability and altered behavior. Acamprosate (the calcium salt of N-acetylhomotaurinate), a drug FDA-approved for relapse prevention in the treatment of alcohol dependence in adults, is a novel agent with multiple mechanisms that may be beneficial for people with FXS. There are questions regarding the neuroactive effects of acamprosate and the significance of the molecule's calcium moiety. Therefore, the electrophysiological, cellular, molecular, and behavioral effects of acamprosate were assessed in the Fmr1-/y (knock out; KO) mouse model of FXS controlling for the calcium salt in several experiments. METHODS Fmr1 KO mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates were utilized to assess acamprosate treatment on cortical UP state parameters, dendritic spine density, and seizure susceptibility. Brain extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation was used to investigate this signaling molecule as a potential biomarker for treatment response. Additional adult mice were used to assess chronic acamprosate treatment and any potential effects of the calcium moiety using CaCl2 treatment on behavior and nuclear ERK1/2 activation. RESULTS Acamprosate attenuated prolonged cortical UP state duration, decreased elevated ERK1/2 activation in brain tissue, and reduced nuclear ERK1/2 activation in the dentate gyrus in KO mice. Acamprosate treatment modified behavior in anxiety and locomotor tests in Fmr1 KO mice in which control-treated KO mice were shown to deviate from control-treated WT mice. Mice treated with CaCl2 were not different from saline-treated mice in the adult behavior battery or nuclear ERK1/2 activation. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that acamprosate, and not calcium, improves function reminiscent of reduced anxiety-like behavior and hyperactivity in Fmr1 KO mice and that acamprosate attenuates select electrophysiological and molecular dysregulation that may play a role in the pathophysiology of FXS. Differences between control-treated KO and WT mice were not evident in a recognition memory test or in examination of acoustic startle response/prepulse inhibition which impeded conclusions from being made about the treatment effects of acamprosate in these instances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tori L Schaefer
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
| | - Matthew H Davenport
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
| | - Lindsay M Grainger
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
| | - Chandler K Robinson
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
| | - Anthony T Earnheart
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
| | - Melinda S Stegman
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA.,Present address: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Anna L Lang
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA.,Present address: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202 USA
| | - Amy A Ashworth
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA.,Present address: BlackbookHR, Cincinnati, OH 45202 USA
| | - Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Craig A Erickson
- Division of Psychiatry, MLC 7004, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 USA
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27
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de la Peña JB, Dela Peña IJ, Custodio RJ, Botanas CJ, Kim HJ, Cheong JH. Exploring the Validity of Proposed Transgenic Animal Models of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:3739-3754. [PMID: 28534274 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, behavioral, and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Symptoms of this disorder are managed by treatment with methylphenidate, amphetamine, and/or atomoxetine. The cause of ADHD is unknown, but substantial evidence indicates that this disorder has a significant genetic component. Transgenic animals have become an essential tool in uncovering the genetic factors underlying ADHD. Although they cannot accurately reflect the human condition, they can provide insights into the disorder that cannot be obtained from human studies due to various limitations. An ideal animal model of ADHD must have face (similarity in symptoms), predictive (similarity in response to treatment or medications), and construct (similarity in etiology or underlying pathophysiological mechanism) validity. As the exact etiology of ADHD remains unclear, the construct validity of animal models of ADHD would always be limited. The proposed transgenic animal models of ADHD have substantially increased and diversified over the years. In this paper, we compiled and explored the validity of proposed transgenic animal models of ADHD. Each of the reviewed transgenic animal models has strengths and limitations. Some fulfill most of the validity criteria of an animal model of ADHD and have been extensively used, while there are others that require further validation. Nevertheless, these transgenic animal models of ADHD have provided and will continue to provide valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of this complex disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Bryan de la Peña
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Irene Joy Dela Peña
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Raly James Custodio
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Chrislean Jun Botanas
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Cheong
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea.
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28
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Sinclair D, Oranje B, Razak KA, Siegel SJ, Schmid S. Sensory processing in autism spectrum disorders and Fragile X syndrome-From the clinic to animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 76:235-253. [PMID: 27235081 PMCID: PMC5465967 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Brains are constantly flooded with sensory information that needs to be filtered at the pre-attentional level and integrated into endogenous activity in order to allow for detection of salient information and an appropriate behavioral response. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) are often over- or under-reactive to stimulation, leading to a wide range of behavioral symptoms. This altered sensitivity may be caused by disrupted sensory processing, signal integration and/or gating, and is often being neglected. Here, we review translational experimental approaches that are used to investigate sensory processing in humans with ASD and FXS, and in relevant rodent models. This includes electroencephalographic measurement of event related potentials, neural oscillations and mismatch negativity, as well as habituation and pre-pulse inhibition of startle. We outline robust evidence of disrupted sensory processing in individuals with ASD and FXS, and in respective animal models, focusing on the auditory sensory domain. Animal models provide an excellent opportunity to examine common mechanisms of sensory pathophysiology in order to develop therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sinclair
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 125 S 31st St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - B Oranje
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, HP A 01.126 Heidelberglaan 100, CX Utrecht, 3584, The Netherlands; Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR) and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Copenhagen University Hospital, Psychiatric Center Glostrup, Ndr. Ringvej 29-67, Glostrup, 2600, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Sensory Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K A Razak
- Psychology Department, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - S J Siegel
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 125 S 31st St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - S Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, MSB 470, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
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29
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Sinclair D, Featherstone R, Naschek M, Nam J, Du A, Wright S, Pance K, Melnychenko O, Weger R, Akuzawa S, Matsumoto M, Siegel SJ. GABA-B Agonist Baclofen Normalizes Auditory-Evoked Neural Oscillations and Behavioral Deficits in the Fmr1 Knockout Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. eNeuro 2017; 4:ENEURO.0380-16.2017. [PMID: 28451631 PMCID: PMC5394929 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0380-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition resulting from FMR1 gene mutation that leads to intellectual disability, autism-like symptoms, and sensory hypersensitivity. Arbaclofen, a GABA-B agonist, has shown efficacy in some individuals with FXS but has become unavailable after unsuccessful clinical trials, prompting interest in publicly available, racemic baclofen. The present study investigated whether racemic baclofen can remediate abnormalities of neural circuit function, sensory processing, and behavior in Fmr1 knockout mice, a rodent model of fragile X syndrome. Fmr1 knockout mice showed increased baseline and auditory-evoked high-frequency gamma (30-80 Hz) power relative to C57BL/6 controls, as measured by electroencephalography. These deficits were accompanied by decreased T maze spontaneous alternation, decreased social interactions, and increased open field center time, suggestive of diminished working memory, sociability, and anxiety-like behavior, respectively. Abnormal auditory-evoked gamma oscillations, working memory, and anxiety-related behavior were normalized by treatment with baclofen, but impaired sociability was not. Improvements in working memory were evident predominantly in mice whose auditory-evoked gamma oscillations were dampened by baclofen. These findings suggest that racemic baclofen may be useful for targeting sensory and cognitive disturbances in fragile X syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sinclair
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - R Featherstone
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M Naschek
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - J Nam
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - A Du
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - S Wright
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - K Pance
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - O Melnychenko
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - R Weger
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - S Akuzawa
- Neuroscience Research Unit, DDR, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-Shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - M Matsumoto
- Neuroscience Research Unit, DDR, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba-Shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - S J Siegel
- Translational Neuroscience Program Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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30
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Cope ZA, Powell SB, Young JW. Modeling neurodevelopmental cognitive deficits in tasks with cross-species translational validity. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:27-44. [PMID: 26667374 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Numerous psychiatric disorders whose cognitive dysfunction links to functional outcome have neurodevelopmental origins including schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder. Treatments are needed for these cognitive deficits, which require development using animal models. Models of neurodevelopmental disorders are as varied and diverse as the disorders themselves, recreating some but not all aspects of the disorder. This variety may in part underlie why purported procognitive treatments translated from these models have failed to restore functioning in the targeted patient populations. Further complications arise from environmental factors used in these models that can contribute to numerous disorders, perhaps only impacting specific domains, while diagnostic boundaries define individual disorders, limiting translational efficacy. The Research Domain Criteria project seeks to 'develop new ways to classify mental disorders based on behavioral dimensions and neurobiological measures' in hopes of facilitating translational research by remaining agnostic toward diagnostic borders derived from clinical presentation in humans. Models could therefore recreate biosignatures of cognitive dysfunction irrespective of disease state. This review highlights work within the field of neurodevelopmental models of psychiatric disorders tested in cross-species translational cognitive paradigms that directly inform this newly developing research strategy. By expounding on this approach, the hopes are that a fuller understanding of each model may be attainable in terms of the cognitive profile elicited by each manipulation. Hence, conclusions may begin to be drawn on the nature of cognitive neuropathology on neurodevelopmental and other disorders, increasing the chances of procognitive treatment development for individuals affected in specific cognitive domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z A Cope
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - S B Powell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - J W Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla.,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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31
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Somatosensory map expansion and altered processing of tactile inputs in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 96:201-215. [PMID: 27616423 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited form of intellectual disability caused by the absence or reduction of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) encoded by the FMR1 gene. In humans, one symptom of FXS is hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, including touch. We used a mouse model of FXS (Fmr1 KO) to study sensory processing of tactile information conveyed via the whisker system. In vivo electrophysiological recordings in somatosensory barrel cortex showed layer-specific broadening of the receptive fields at the level of layer 2/3 but not layer 4, in response to whisker stimulation. Furthermore, the encoding of tactile stimuli at different frequencies was severely affected in layer 2/3. The behavioral effect of this broadening of the receptive fields was tested in the gap-crossing task, a whisker-dependent behavioral paradigm. In this task the Fmr1 KO mice showed differences in the number of whisker contacts with platforms, decrease in the whisker sampling duration and reduction in the whisker touch-time while performing the task. We propose that the increased excitability in the somatosensory barrel cortex upon whisker stimulation may contribute to changes in the whisking strategy as well as to other observed behavioral phenotypes related to tactile processing in Fmr1 KO mice.
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32
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Normal Performance of Fmr1 Mice on a Touchscreen Delayed Nonmatching to Position Working Memory Task. eNeuro 2016; 3:eN-CFN-0143-15. [PMID: 27022628 PMCID: PMC4800045 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0143-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by mild-to-severe cognitive deficits. The complete absence of Fmr1 and its protein product in the mouse model of fragile X (Fmr1 KO) provides construct validity. A major conundrum in the field is the remarkably normal performance of Fmr1 mice on cognitive tests in most reports. One explanation may be insufficiently challenging cognitive testing procedures. Here we developed a delayed nonmatching to position touchscreen task to test the hypothesis that paradigms placing demands on working memory would reveal robust and replicable cognitive deficits in the Fmr1 KO mouse. We first tested Fmr1 KO mice (Fmr1) and their wild-type (WT) littermates in a simple visual discrimination task, followed by assessment of reversal learning. We then tested Fmr1 and WT mice in a new touchscreen nonmatch to position task and subsequently challenged their working memory abilities by adding delays, representing a higher cognitive load. The performance by Fmr1 KO mice was equal to WTs on both touchscreen tasks. Last, we replicated previous reports of normal performance by Fmr1 mice on Morris water maze spatial navigation and reversal. These results indicate that, while the Fmr1 mouse model effectively recapitulates many molecular and cellular aspects of fragile X syndrome, the cognitive profile of Fmr1 mice generally does not recapitulate the primary cognitive deficits in the human syndrome, even when diverse and challenging tasks are imposed.
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Kazdoba TM, Leach PT, Yang M, Silverman JL, Solomon M, Crawley JN. Translational Mouse Models of Autism: Advancing Toward Pharmacological Therapeutics. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2016; 28:1-52. [PMID: 27305922 PMCID: PMC5116923 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_5003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Animal models provide preclinical tools to investigate the causal role of genetic mutations and environmental factors in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Knockout and humanized knock-in mice, and more recently knockout rats, have been generated for many of the de novo single gene mutations and copy number variants (CNVs) detected in ASD and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. Mouse models incorporating genetic and environmental manipulations have been employed for preclinical testing of hypothesis-driven pharmacological targets, to begin to develop treatments for the diagnostic and associated symptoms of autism. In this review, we summarize rodent behavioral assays relevant to the core features of autism, preclinical and clinical evaluations of pharmacological interventions, and strategies to improve the translational value of rodent models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana M Kazdoba
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Prescott T Leach
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Mu Yang
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jacqueline N Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001A Research 2 Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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Molecular underpinnings of prefrontal cortex development in rodents provide insights into the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:795-809. [PMID: 25450230 PMCID: PMC4486649 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC), seat of the highest-order cognitive functions, constitutes a conglomerate of highly specialized brain areas and has been implicated to have a role in the onset and installation of various neurodevelopmental disorders. The development of a properly functioning PFC is directed by transcription factors, guidance cues and other regulatory molecules and requires the intricate and temporal orchestration of a number of developmental processes. Disturbance or failure of any of these processes causing neurodevelopmental abnormalities within the PFC may contribute to several of the cognitive deficits seen in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we elaborate on the specific processes underlying prefrontal development, such as induction and patterning of the prefrontal area, proliferation, migration and axonal guidance of medial prefrontal progenitors, and their eventual efferent and afferent connections. We furthermore integrate for the first time the available knowledge from genome-wide studies that have revealed genes linked to neurodevelopmental disorders with experimental molecular evidence in rodents. The integrated data suggest that the pathogenic variants in the neurodevelopmental disorder-associated genes induce prefrontal cytoarchitectonical impairments. This enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of prefrontal (mis)development underlying the four major neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, that is, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, and may thus provide clues for the development of novel therapies.
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Schaefer TL, Davenport MH, Erickson CA. Emerging pharmacologic treatment options for fragile X syndrome. APPLICATION OF CLINICAL GENETICS 2015; 8:75-93. [PMID: 25897255 PMCID: PMC4396424 DOI: 10.2147/tacg.s35673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common single gene cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Caused by a silenced fragile X mental retardation 1 gene and the subsequent deficiency in fragile X mental retardation protein, patients with FXS experience a range of physical, behavioral, and intellectual debilitations. The FXS field, as a whole, has recently met with some challenges, as several targeted clinical trials with high expectations of success have failed to elucidate significant improvements in a variety of symptom domains. As new clinical trials in FXS are planned, there has been much discussion about the use of the commonly used clinical outcome measures, as well as study design considerations, patient stratification, and optimal age range for treatment. The evidence that modification of these drug targets and use of these failed compounds would prove to be efficacious in human clinical study were rooted in years of basic and translational research. There are questions arising as to the use of the mouse models for studying FXS treatment development. This issue is twofold: many of the symptom domains and molecular and biochemical changes assessed and indicative of efficacy in mouse model study are not easily amenable to clinical trials in people with FXS because of the intolerability of the testing paradigm or a lack of noninvasive techniques (prepulse inhibition, sensory hypersensitivity, startle reactivity, or electrophysiologic, biochemical, or structural changes in the brain); and capturing subtle yet meaningful changes in symptom domains such as sociability, anxiety, and hyperactivity in human FXS clinical trials is challenging with the currently used measures (typically parent/caregiver rating scales). Clinicians, researchers, and the pharmaceutical industry have all had to take a step back and critically evaluate the way we think about how to best optimize future investigations into pharmacologic FXS treatments. As new clinical trials are coming down the drug discovery pipeline, it is clear that the field is moving in a direction that values the development of molecular biomarkers, less subjective quantitative measures of symptom improvement, and rating scales developed specifically for use in FXS in conjunction with drug safety. While summarizing preclinical evidence, where applicable, and discussing challenges in FXS treatment development, this review details both completed clinical trials for the targeted and symptomatic treatment of FXS and introduces novel projects on the cusp of clinical trial investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tori L Schaefer
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Matthew H Davenport
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Craig A Erickson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Itohara S, Kobayashi Y, Nakashiba T. Genetic factors underlying attention and impulsivity: mouse models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Foti F, De Crescenzo F, Vivanti G, Menghini D, Vicari S. Implicit learning in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2015; 45:897-910. [PMID: 25126858 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714001950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by social communication difficulties and behavioural rigidity. Difficulties in learning from others are one of the most devastating features of this group of conditions. Nevertheless, the nature of learning difficulties in ASDs is still unclear. Given the relevance of implicit learning for social and communicative functioning, a link has been hypothesized between ASDs and implicit learning deficit. However, studies that have employed formal testing of implicit learning in ASDs provided mixed results. METHOD We undertook a systematic search of studies that examined implicit learning in ASDs using serial reaction time (SRT), alternating serial reaction time (ASRT), pursuit rotor (PR), and contextual cueing (CC) tasks, and synthesized the data using meta-analysis. A total of 11 studies were identified, representing data from 407 individuals with ASDs and typically developing comparison participants. RESULTS The results indicate that individuals with ASDs do not differ in any task considered [SRT and ASRT task: standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.71 to 0.36; PR task: SMD -0.34, 95% CI -1.04 to 0.36; CC task: SMD 0.27, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.60]. CONCLUSIONS Based on our synthesis of the existing literature, we conclude that individuals with ASDs can learn implicitly, supporting the hypothesis that implicit learning deficits do not represent a core feature in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Foti
- Department of Psychology,'Sapienza' University of Rome,Italy
| | - F De Crescenzo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
| | - G Vivanti
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science,La Trobe University,Melbourne, VIC,Australia
| | - D Menghini
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
| | - S Vicari
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
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Martin HGS, Lassalle O, Brown JT, Manzoni OJ. Age-Dependent Long-Term Potentiation Deficits in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Fmr1 Knockout Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Cereb Cortex 2015; 26:2084-2092. [PMID: 25750254 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common inherited monogenetic cause of intellectual disability is Fragile X syndrome (FXS). The clinical symptoms of FXS evolve with age during adulthood; however, neurophysiological data exploring this phenomenon are limited. The Fmr1 knockout (Fmr1KO) mouse models FXS, but studies in these mice of prefrontal cortex (PFC) function are underrepresented, and aging linked data are absent. We studied synaptic physiology and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the medial PFC of Fmr1KO mice from 2 to 12 months. In young adult Fmr1KO mice, NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated long-term potentiation (LTP) is intact; however, in 12-month-old mice this LTP is impaired. In parallel, there was an increase in the AMPAR/NMDAR ratio and a concomitant decrease of synaptic NMDAR currents in 12-month-old Fmr1KO mice. We found that acute pharmacological blockade of mGlu5 receptor in 12-month-old Fmr1KO mice restored a normal AMPAR/NMDAR ratio and LTP. Taken together, the data reveal an age-dependent deficit in LTP in Fmr1KO mice, which may correlate to some of the complex age-related deficits in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry G S Martin
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Lassalle
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille, France
| | - Jonathan T Brown
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Olivier J Manzoni
- INSERM U901, Marseille 13009, France.,INMED, Marseille 13009, France.,Université de Aix-Marseille, UMR S901, Marseille, France
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Kim L, He L, Maaswinkel H, Zhu L, Sirotkin H, Weng W. Anxiety, hyperactivity and stereotypy in a zebrafish model of fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 55:40-9. [PMID: 24681195 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability and is caused by a loss of function of the fragile X mental retardation (fmr1) gene. Animal fmr1-knockout (KO) models are not only of interest for the study of FXS, but have also important implications for our understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we report the behavioral changes in fmr1-knockout zebrafish in an open field with two white and two transparent walls. The neophobic responses that in wild-type (WT) zebrafish normally occur during the first 5-10 min in an unfamiliar environment (such as freezing, hypo-activity and preferences for the bottom and opaque walls of the tank), were weakened in fmr1 mutants, suggesting a reduction of novelty-induced anxiety. The fmr1-KO zebrafish showed somewhat increased vertical activity beyond the 'neophobic phase', but no overall hyperactivity. The mutants demonstrated a clear habituation-independent preference for the transparent walls. Whether this was attributable to altered spatial information processing or to reduced avoidance of open spaces is discussed. Finally, since restrictive repetitive (or stereotypical) behaviors are frequently present in FXS and ASD patients, we analyzed relative turning angles, directional and preferential turning ratios and performed frequency-domain analysis. However, no indications of abnormal movement patterning were detected. The possible reasons for the absence of stereotypical behaviors are discussed in terms of behavioral endpoint selection and of eliciting conditions. Overall, our findings are consistent with those reported in fmr1-KO mice and suggest that further analysis of the fmr1-KO zebrafish model has potential to deepen our understanding of FXS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Kim
- Research and Development, xyZfish, Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
| | - Lucy He
- Research and Development, xyZfish, Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
| | | | - Liqun Zhu
- Research and Development, xyZfish, Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
| | - Howard Sirotkin
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Wei Weng
- Research and Development, xyZfish, Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
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40
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Kazdoba TM, Leach PT, Silverman JL, Crawley JN. Modeling fragile X syndrome in the Fmr1 knockout mouse. Intractable Rare Dis Res 2014; 3:118-33. [PMID: 25606362 PMCID: PMC4298642 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2014.01024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a commonly inherited form of intellectual disability and one of the leading genetic causes for autism spectrum disorder. Clinical symptoms of FXS can include impaired cognition, anxiety, hyperactivity, social phobia, and repetitive behaviors. FXS is caused by a CGG repeat mutation which expands a region on the X chromosome containing the FMR1 gene. In FXS, a full mutation (> 200 repeats) leads to hypermethylation of FMR1, an epigenetic mechanism that effectively silences FMR1 gene expression and reduces levels of the FMR1 gene product, fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that is important for the regulation of protein expression. In an effort to further understand how loss of FMR1 and FMRP contribute to FXS symptomology, several FXS animal models have been created. The most well characterized rodent model is the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse, which lacks FMRP protein due to a disruption in its Fmr1 gene. Here, we review the behavioral phenotyping of the Fmr1 KO mouse to date, and discuss the clinical relevance of this mouse model to the human FXS condition. While much remains to be learned about FXS, the Fmr1 KO mouse is a valuable tool for understanding the repercussions of functional loss of FMRP and assessing the efficacy of pharmacological compounds in ameliorating the molecular and behavioral phenotypes relevant to FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana M. Kazdoba
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Tatiana M. Kazdoba, MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. E-mail:
| | - Prescott T. Leach
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jill L. Silverman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline N. Crawley
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Loos M, Koopmans B, Aarts E, Maroteaux G, van der Sluis S, Verhage M, Smit AB. Sheltering behavior and locomotor activity in 11 genetically diverse common inbred mouse strains using home-cage monitoring. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108563. [PMID: 25264768 PMCID: PMC4180925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional genetic analyses in mice rely on efficient and in-depth characterization of the behavioral spectrum. Automated home-cage observation can provide a systematic and efficient screening method to detect unexplored, novel behavioral phenotypes. Here, we analyzed high-throughput automated home-cage data using existing and novel concepts, to detect a plethora of genetic differences in spontaneous behavior in a panel of commonly used inbred strains (129S1/SvImJ, A/J, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, DBA/2J, NOD/LtJ, FVB/NJ, WSB/EiJ, PWK/PhJ and CAST/EiJ). Continuous video-tracking observations of sheltering behavior and locomotor activity were segmented into distinguishable behavioral elements, and studied at different time scales, yielding a set of 115 behavioral parameters of which 105 showed highly significant strain differences. This set of 115 parameters was highly dimensional; principal component analysis identified 26 orthogonal components with eigenvalues above one. Especially novel parameters of sheltering behavior and parameters describing aspects of motion of the mouse in the home-cage showed high genetic effect sizes. Multi-day habituation curves and patterns of behavior surrounding dark/light phase transitions showed striking strain differences, albeit with lower genetic effect sizes. This spontaneous home-cage behavior study demonstrates high dimensionality, with a strong genetic contribution to specific sets of behavioral measures. Importantly, spontaneous home-cage behavior analysis detects genetic effects that cannot be studied in conventional behavioral tests, showing that the inclusion of a few days of undisturbed, labor extensive home-cage assessment may greatly aid gene function analyses and drug target discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Loos
- Sylics (Synaptologics BV), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Emmeke Aarts
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gregoire Maroteaux
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie van der Sluis
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Section Complex Trait Genetics, Department of Clinical Genetics, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Matthijs Verhage
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - August B. Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Sidorov MS, Krueger DD, Taylor M, Gisin E, Osterweil EK, Bear MF. Extinction of an instrumental response: a cognitive behavioral assay in Fmr1 knockout mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2014; 13:451-8. [PMID: 24684608 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X (FX) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism. Previous studies have shown that partial inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling is sufficient to correct behavioral phenotypes in a mouse model of FX, including audiogenic seizures, open-field hyperactivity and social behavior. These phenotypes model well the epilepsy (15%), hyperactivity (20%) and autism (30%) that are comorbid with FX in human patients. Identifying reliable and robust mouse phenotypes to model cognitive impairments is critical considering the 90% comorbidity of FX and intellectual disability. Recent work characterized a five-choice visuospatial discrimination assay testing cognitive flexibility, in which FX model mice show impairments associated with decreases in synaptic proteins in prefrontal cortex (PFC). In this study, we sought to determine whether instrumental extinction, another process requiring PFC, is altered in FX model mice, and whether downregulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling pathways is sufficient to correct both visuospatial discrimination and extinction phenotypes. We report that instrumental extinction is consistently exaggerated in FX model mice. However, neither the extinction phenotype nor the visuospatial discrimination phenotype is corrected by approaches targeting metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling. This work describes a novel behavioral extinction assay to model impaired cognition in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, provides evidence that extinction is exaggerated in the FX mouse model and suggests possible limitations of metabotropic glutamate receptor-based pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Sidorov
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - D D Krueger
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - M Taylor
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - E Gisin
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - E K Osterweil
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M F Bear
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Rotschafer SE, Razak KA. Auditory processing in fragile x syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:19. [PMID: 24550778 PMCID: PMC3912505 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited form of intellectual disability and autism. Among other symptoms, FXS patients demonstrate abnormalities in sensory processing and communication. Clinical, behavioral, and electrophysiological studies consistently show auditory hypersensitivity in humans with FXS. Consistent with observations in humans, the Fmr1 KO mouse model of FXS also shows evidence of altered auditory processing and communication deficiencies. A well-known and commonly used phenotype in pre-clinical studies of FXS is audiogenic seizures. In addition, increased acoustic startle response is seen in the Fmr1 KO mice. In vivo electrophysiological recordings indicate hyper-excitable responses, broader frequency tuning, and abnormal spectrotemporal processing in primary auditory cortex of Fmr1 KO mice. Thus, auditory hyper-excitability is a robust, reliable, and translatable biomarker in Fmr1 KO mice. Abnormal auditory evoked responses have been used as outcome measures to test therapeutics in FXS patients. Given that similarly abnormal responses are present in Fmr1 KO mice suggests that cellular mechanisms can be addressed. Sensory cortical deficits are relatively more tractable from a mechanistic perspective than more complex social behaviors that are typically studied in autism and FXS. The focus of this review is to bring together clinical, functional, and structural studies in humans with electrophysiological and behavioral studies in mice to make the case that auditory hypersensitivity provides a unique opportunity to integrate molecular, cellular, circuit level studies with behavioral outcomes in the search for therapeutics for FXS and other autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Rotschafer
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA USA
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