Environmental Enrichment and Social Isolation Mediate Neuroplasticity of Medium Spiny Neurons through the GSK3 Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Resilience and vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders are linked to molecular changes underlying excitability that are still poorly understood. Here, we identify glycogen-synthase kinase 3? (GSK3?) and voltage-gated Na+ channel Nav1.6 as regulators of neuroplasticity induced by environmentally enriched (EC) or isolated (IC) conditions-models for resilience and vulnerability. Transcriptomic studies in the nucleus accumbens from EC and IC rats predicted low levels of GSK3? and SCN8A mRNA as a protective phenotype associated with reduced excitability in medium spiny neurons (MSNs). In vivo genetic manipulations demonstrate that GSK3? and Nav1.6 are molecular determinants of MSN excitability and that silencing of GSK3? prevents maladaptive plasticity of IC MSNs. In vitro studies reveal direct interaction of GSK3? with Nav1.6 and phosphorylation at Nav1.6T1936 by GSK3?. A GSK3?-Nav1.6T1936 competing peptide reduces MSNs excitability in IC, but not EC rats. These results identify GSK3? regulation of Nav1.6 as a biosignature of MSNs maladaptive plasticity.

SUBMITTER: Scala F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6150488 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature