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Ferhat AT, Verpy E, Biton A, Forget B, De Chaumont F, Mueller F, Le Sourd AM, Coqueran S, Schmitt J, Rochefort C, Rondi-Reig L, Leboucher A, Boland A, Fin B, Deleuze JF, Boeckers TM, Ey E, Bourgeron T. Excessive self-grooming, gene dysregulation and imbalance between the striosome and matrix compartments in the striatum of Shank3 mutant mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1139118. [PMID: 37008785 PMCID: PMC10061084 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1139118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is characterized by atypical social communication and stereotyped behaviors. Mutations in the gene encoding the synaptic scaffolding protein SHANK3 are detected in 1–2% of patients with autism and intellectual disability, but the mechanisms underpinning the symptoms remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the behavior of Shank3Δ11/Δ11 mice from 3 to 12 months of age. We observed decreased locomotor activity, increased stereotyped self-grooming and modification of socio-sexual interaction compared to wild-type littermates. We then used RNAseq on four brain regions of the same animals to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). DEGs were identified mainly in the striatum and were associated with synaptic transmission (e.g., Grm2, Dlgap1), G-protein-signaling pathways (e.g., Gnal, Prkcg1, and Camk2g), as well as excitation/inhibition balance (e.g., Gad2). Downregulated and upregulated genes were enriched in the gene clusters of medium-sized spiny neurons expressing the dopamine 1 (D1-MSN) and the dopamine 2 receptor (D2-MSN), respectively. Several DEGs (Cnr1, Gnal, Gad2, and Drd4) were reported as striosome markers. By studying the distribution of the glutamate decarboxylase GAD65, encoded by Gad2, we showed that the striosome compartment of Shank3Δ11/Δ11 mice was enlarged and displayed much higher expression of GAD65 compared to wild-type mice. Altogether, these results indicate altered gene expression in the striatum of Shank3-deficient mice and strongly suggest, for the first time, that the excessive self-grooming of these mice is related to an imbalance in the striatal striosome and matrix compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allain-Thibeault Ferhat
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Allain-Thibeault Ferhat,
| | - Elisabeth Verpy
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anne Biton
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Benoît Forget
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice De Chaumont
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Florian Mueller
- Imagerie et Modélisation, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3691, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Le Sourd
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sabrina Coqueran
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Schmitt
- Cerebellum Navigation and Memory Team, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Neurosciences Paris Seine, CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm UMR-S 1130, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Christelle Rochefort
- Cerebellum Navigation and Memory Team, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Neurosciences Paris Seine, CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm UMR-S 1130, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Laure Rondi-Reig
- Cerebellum Navigation and Memory Team, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Neurosciences Paris Seine, CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm UMR-S 1130, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Aziliz Leboucher
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anne Boland
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Bertrand Fin
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- Centre d’Étude du Polymorphisme Humain, Paris, France
| | - Tobias M. Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Elodie Ey
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 7104, Inserm UMR-S 1258, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3571, IUF, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Thomas Bourgeron,
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Ferhat AT, Jensen G, Terrace HS, Ferrera VP. Influence of Rule- and Reward-based Strategies on Inferences of Serial Order by Monkeys. J Cogn Neurosci 2022; 34:592-604. [DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Knowledge of transitive relationships between items can contribute to learning the order of a set of stimuli from pairwise comparisons. However, cognitive mechanisms of transitive inferences based on rank order remain unclear, as are relative contributions of reward associations and rule-based inference. To explore these issues, we created a conflict between rule- and reward-based learning during a serial ordering task. Rhesus macaques learned two lists, each containing five stimuli that were trained exclusively with adjacent pairs. Selection of the higher-ranked item resulted in rewards. “Small reward” lists yielded two drops of fluid reward, whereas “large reward” lists yielded five drops. Following training of adjacent pairs, monkeys were tested on novels pairs. One item was selected from each list, such that a ranking rule could conflict with preferences for large rewards. Differences between the corresponding reward magnitudes had a strong influence on accuracy, but we also observed a symbolic distance effect. That provided evidence of a rule-based influence on decisions. RT comparisons suggested a conflict between rule- and reward-based processes. We conclude that performance reflects the contributions of two strategies and that a model-based strategy is employed in the face of a strong countervailing reward incentive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Greg Jensen
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
- Columbia University, New York, NY
- Reed College, Portland OR
| | - Herbert S. Terrace
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
- Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Vincent P. Ferrera
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
- Columbia University, New York, NY
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Ey E, Torquet N, de Chaumont F, Lévi-Strauss J, Ferhat AT, Le Sourd AM, Boeckers TM, Bourgeron T. Shank2 Mutant Mice Display Hyperactivity Insensitive to Methylphenidate and Reduced Flexibility in Social Motivation, but Normal Social Recognition. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:365. [PMID: 30337855 PMCID: PMC6180161 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of autism can be used to study evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying behavioral abnormalities in social communication and repetitive behaviors. SHANK genes code for synaptic scaffolding proteins at excitatory synapses and mutations in all SHANK genes have been associated with autism. Here, we present three behavioral aspects of the mutant mice deleted for exon 16 in Shank2. First, we treated Shank2 mutant mice with methylphenidate to rescue the hyperactivity. Our failure to do so suggests that the hyperactivity displayed by Shank2 mutant mice is not related to the one displayed by the typical mouse models of hyperactivity, and might be more closely related to manic-like behaviors. Second, by testing the effect of group housing and social isolation on social interest, we highlighted that Shank2 mutant mice lack the typical flexibility to modulate social interest, in comparison with wild-type littermates. Finally, we established a new protocol to test for social recognition in a social context. We used this protocol to show that Shank2 mutant mice were able to discriminate familiar and unknown conspecifics in free interactions. Altogether, these studies shed some light on specific aspects of the behavioral defects displayed by the Shank2 mouse model. Such information could be used to orient therapeutic strategies and to design more specific tests to characterize the complex behavior of mouse models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Ey
- CNRS UMR 3571, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Torquet
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), Paris, France
| | | | - Julie Lévi-Strauss
- CNRS UMR 3571, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Anne-Marie Le Sourd
- CNRS UMR 3571, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- CNRS UMR 3571, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France
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Ferhat AT, Halbedl S, Schmeisser MJ, Kas MJ, Bourgeron T, Ey E. Behavioural Phenotypes and Neural Circuit Dysfunctions in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 2018; 224:85-101. [PMID: 28551752 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-52498-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition primarily characterised by alterations in social interaction and communication combined with the presence of restricted interests and stereotyped behaviours. Mutations in several genes have been associated with ASD resulting in the generation of corresponding mouse models. Here, we focus on the behavioural (social and stereotyped behaviours), functional and structural traits of mice with mutations in genes encoding defined synaptic proteins including adhesion proteins, scaffolding proteins and subunits of channels and receptors. A meta-analysis on ASD mouse models shows that they can be divided into two subgroups. Cluster I gathered models highly impaired in social interest, stereotyped behaviours, synaptic physiology and protein composition, while Cluster II regrouped much less impaired models, with typical social interactions. This distribution was not related to gene families. Even within the large panel of mouse models carrying mutations in Shank3, the number of mutated isoforms was not related to the severity of the phenotype. Our study points that the majority of structural or functional analyses were performed in the hippocampus. However, to robustly link the structural and functional impairments with the behavioural deficits observed, brain structures forming relevant nodes in networks involved in social and stereotyped behaviours should be targeted in the future. In addition, the characterisation of core ASD-like behaviours needs to be more detailed using new approaches quantifying the variations in social motivation, recognition and stereotyped behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allain-Thibeault Ferhat
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sonja Halbedl
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Division of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martien J Kas
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France.,Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elodie Ey
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. .,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. .,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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Ferhat AT, Torquet N, Le Sourd AM, de Chaumont F, Olivo-Marin JC, Faure P, Bourgeron T, Ey E. Recording Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalizations to Evaluate Social Communication. J Vis Exp 2016:53871. [PMID: 27341321 PMCID: PMC4927756 DOI: 10.3791/53871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations in different contexts throughout development and in adulthood. These vocal signals are now currently used as proxies for modeling the genetic bases of vocal communication deficits. Characterizing the vocal behavior of mouse models carrying mutations in genes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders will help to understand the mechanisms leading to social communication deficits. We provide here protocols to reliably elicit ultrasonic vocalizations in pups and in adult mice. This standardization will help reduce inter-study variability due to the experimental settings. Pup isolation calls are recorded throughout development from individual pups isolated from dam and littermates. In adulthood, vocalizations are recorded during same-sex interactions (without a sexual component) by exposing socially motivated males or females to an unknown same-sex conspecific. We also provide a protocol to record vocalizations from adult males exposed to an estrus female. In this context, there is a sexual component in the interaction. These protocols are established to elicit a large amount of ultrasonic vocalizations in laboratory mice. However, we point out the important inter-individual variability in the vocal behavior of mice, which should be taken into account by recording a minimal number of individuals (at least 12 in each condition). These recordings of ultrasonic vocalizations are used to evaluate the call rate, the vocal repertoire and the acoustic structure of the calls. Data are combined with the analysis of synchronous video recordings to provide a more complete view on social communication in mice. These protocols are used to characterize the vocal communication deficits in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2, a gene associated with autism spectrum disorders. More ultrasonic vocalizations recordings can also be found on the mouseTube database, developed to favor the exchange of such data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allain-Thibeault Ferhat
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur
| | - Nicolas Torquet
- Neurophysiology and Behavior, University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, CNRS UMR 7102
| | - Anne-Marie Le Sourd
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur
| | | | | | - Philippe Faure
- Neurophysiology and Behavior, University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, CNRS UMR 7102
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur
| | - Elodie Ey
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur;
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Ferhat AT, Le Sourd AM, de Chaumont F, Olivo-Marin JC, Bourgeron T, Ey E. Social communication in mice--are there optimal cage conditions? PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121802. [PMID: 25806942 PMCID: PMC4373896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Social communication is heavily affected in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. Accordingly, mouse models designed to study the mechanisms leading to these disorders are tested for this phenotypic trait. Test conditions vary between different models, and the effect of these test conditions on the quantity and quality of social interactions and ultrasonic communication is unknown. The present study examines to which extent the habituation time to the test cage as well as the shape / size of the cage influence social communication in freely interacting mice. We tested 8 pairs of male mice in free dyadic social interactions, with two habituation times (20 min and 30 min) and three cage formats (rectangle, round, square). We tested the effect of these conditions on the different types of social contacts, approach-escape sequences, follow behavior, and the time each animal spent in the vision field of the other one, as well as on the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations and their contexts of emission. We provide for the first time an integrated analysis of the social interaction behavior and ultrasonic vocalizations. Surprisingly, we did not highlight any significant effect of habituation time and cage shape / size on the behavioral events examined. There was only a slight increase of social interactions with the longer habituation time in the round cage. Remarkably, we also showed that vocalizations were emitted during specific behavioral sequences especially during close contact or approach behaviors. The present study provides a protocol reliably eliciting social contacts and ultrasonic vocalizations in adult male mice. This protocol is therefore well adapted for standardized investigation of social interactions in mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allain-Thibeault Ferhat
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 3571 ‘Genes, Synapses and Cognition’, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Le Sourd
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 3571 ‘Genes, Synapses and Cognition’, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 3571 ‘Genes, Synapses and Cognition’, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France
- FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France
| | - Elodie Ey
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 3571 ‘Genes, Synapses and Cognition’, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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