Synaptic imbalance, stereotypies, and impaired social interactions in mice with altered neuroligin 2 expression

Rochelle M. Hines, Longjun Wu, Dustin J. Hines, Hendrik Steenland, Souraya Mansour, Regina Dahlhaus, Roshni R. Singaraja, Xiaoyan Cao, Esther Sammler, Sheriar G. Hormuzdi, Min Zhuo, Alaa El-Husseini

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    146 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The level of excitation in the brain is kept under control through inhibitory signals mainly exerted by GABA neurons. However, the molecular machinery that regulates the balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) remains unclear. Candidate molecules implicated in this process are neuroligin (NL) adhesion molecules, which are differentially enriched at either excitatory or inhibitory contacts. In this study, we use transgenic mouse models expressing NL1 or NL2 to examine whether enhanced expression of specific NLs results in synaptic imbalance and altered neuronal excitability and animal behavior. Our analysis reveals several abnormalities selectively manifested in transgenic mice with enhanced expression of NL2 but not NL1. A small change in NL2 expression results in enlarged synaptic contact size and vesicle reserve pool in frontal cortex synapses and an overall reduction in the E/I ratio. The frequency of miniature inhibitory synaptic currents was also found to be increased in the frontal cortex of transgenic NL2 mice. These animals also manifested stereotyped jumping behavior, anxiety, impaired social interactions, and enhanced incidence of spike-wave discharges, as depicted by EEG analysis in freely moving animals. These findings may provide the neural basis for E/I imbalance and altered behavior associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)6055-6067
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Neuroscience
    Volume28
    Issue number24
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 11 Jun 2008

    Keywords

    • neuroligin
    • transgenic
    • synapse
    • excitatory/inhibitory ratio
    • neurodevelopmental disorder
    • autism
    • AUTISM-SPECTRUM DISORDERS
    • RETT-SYNDROME
    • INHIBITORY SYNAPSES
    • CELL-ADHESION
    • BETA-NEUREXINS
    • FRONTAL-CORTEX
    • LOBE EPILEPSY
    • MOUSE
    • BEHAVIOR
    • AMYGDALA

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