Dataset Information

Autistic-Like Traits and Cerebellar Dysfunction in Purkinje Cell PTEN Knock-Out Mice.

ABSTRACT: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, isolated areas of interest, and insistence on sameness. Mutations in Phosphatase and tensin homolog missing on chromosome 10 (PTEN) have been reported in individuals with ASDs. Recent evidence highlights a crucial role of the cerebellum in the etiopathogenesis of ASDs. In the present study we analyzed the specific contribution of cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) PTEN loss to these disorders. Using the Cre-loxP recombination system, we generated conditional knockout mice in which PTEN inactivation was induced specifically in PCs. We investigated PC morphology and physiology as well as sociability, repetitive behavior, motor learning, and cognitive inflexibility of adult PC PTEN-mutant mice. Loss of PTEN in PCs results in autistic-like traits, including impaired sociability, repetitive behavior and deficits in motor learning. Mutant PCs appear hypertrophic and show structural abnormalities in dendrites and axons, decreased excitability, disrupted parallel fiber and climbing fiber synapses and late-onset cell death. Our results unveil new roles of PTEN in PC function and provide the first evidence of a link between the loss of PTEN in PCs and the genesis of ASD-like traits.

SUBMITTER: Cupolillo D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4832032 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Autistic-Like Traits and Cerebellar Dysfunction in Purkinje Cell PTEN Knock-Out Mice.

Cupolillo Dario D Hoxha Eriola E Faralli Alessio A De Luca Annarita A Rossi Ferdinando F Tempia Filippo F Carulli Daniela D

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 20151105 6

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, isolated areas of interest, and insistence on sameness. Mutations in Phosphatase and tensin homolog missing on chromosome 10 (PTEN) have been reported in individuals with ASDs. Recent evidence highlights a crucial role of the cerebellum in the etiopathogenesis of ASDs. In the present study we analyzed the specific contribution of cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) PTEN loss to these disorde ...[more]

PMID: 26538449

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Project description:Alterations in the expression and activity of the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (ppargc1a or PGC-1α) have been reported in multiple movement disorders, yet it is unclear how a lack of PGC-1α impacts transcription and function of the cerebellum, a region with high PGC-1α expression. We show here that mice lacking PGC-1α exhibit ataxia in addition to the previously described deficits in motor coordination. Using q-RT-PCR in cerebellar homogenates from PGC-1α(-/-) mice, we measured expression of 37 microarray-identified transcripts upregulated by PGC-1α in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with neuroanatomical overlap with PGC-1α or parvalbumin (PV), a calcium buffer highly expressed by Purkinje cells. We found significant reductions in transcripts with synaptic (complexin1, Cplx1; Pacsin2), structural (neurofilament heavy chain, Nefh), and metabolic (isocitrate dehydrogenase 3a, Idh3a; neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1, Nceh1; pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1, Pdha1; phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase, Phyh; ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, Rieske iron-sulfur polypeptide 1, Uqcrfs1) functions. Using conditional deletion of PGC-1α in PV-positive neurons, we determined that 50% of PGC-1α expression and a reduction in a subset of these transcripts could be explained by its concentration in PV-positive neuronal populations in the cerbellum. To determine whether there were functional consequences associated with these changes, we conducted stereological counts and spike rate analysis in Purkinje cells, a cell type rich in PV, from PGC-1α(-/-) mice. We observed a significant loss of Purkinje cells by 6 weeks of age, and the remaining Purkinje cells exhibited a 50% reduction in spike rate. Together, these data highlight the complexity of PGC-1α's actions in the central nervous system and suggest that dysfunction in multiple cell types contribute to motor deficits in the context of PGC-1α deficiency.

Project description:Hormones and nuclear receptors (NRs) play important roles in brain development and function. The recently identified steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family contains three homologous members that can enhance transcriptional activities of NRs and certain non-NR transcription factors. To study the role of SRC-1 in brain development and function, we examined the spatial and temporal expression patterns of SRC-1 and characterized the phenotypes of brain development and function in SRC-1 knock-out (SRC-1(-)/-) mice. In the adult mouse brain, SRC-1 is highly expressed in the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, piriform cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem. Multiple behavioral tests revealed that SRC-1(-)/- mice exhibit normal hippocampal function but moderate motor dysfunction. The behavior phenotypes correlate with the spatial distribution of the SRC family members. In most brain structures where SRC-1 is expressed, SRC-2 is expressed at lower levels; however, SRC-3 mRNA is detectable only in the hippocampus. In the adult cerebellum, Purkinje cells (PCs) preferentially express SRC-1 over SRC-2, but SRC-2 mRNA is slightly elevated in the SRC-1(-)/- PCs. During embryonic development, SRC-1 is expressed in the cerebellar primordium. SRC-2 is expressed in PCs after postnatal day (P) 10. Time course analysis revealed that the precursors of SRC-1(-)/- PCs were generated approximately 2 d later than wild-type precursor cells. A further delay in SRC-1(-)/- PC maturation was detected at the neonatal stage. The morphology and number of SRC-1(-)/- PCs were equivalent to wild type by P10; this timing correlated with the early expression of SRC-2 in the SRC-1(-)/- PCs. These results demonstrate that the relative levels of SRC expression are region specific, and the degree of overlapping expression may influence their functional redundancy. Disruption of SRC-1 specifically delays the PC development and maturation in early stages and results in moderate motor dysfunction in adulthood.

Dataset Information

Autistic-Like Traits and Cerebellar Dysfunction in Purkinje Cell PTEN Knock-Out Mice.

Publications

Autistic-Like Traits and Cerebellar Dysfunction in Purkinje Cell PTEN Knock-Out Mice.

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