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Loss of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of Engrailed-2 null mutant mice: implications for autism spectrum disorders.
- Source :
-
Experimental neurology [Exp Neurol] 2013 Sep; Vol. 247, pp. 496-505. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jan 27. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- The homeobox-containing transcription factor Engrailed-2 (En2) is involved in patterning and neuronal differentiation of the midbrain/hindbrain region, where it is prominently expressed. En2 mRNA is also expressed in the adult mouse hippocampus and cerebral cortex, indicating that it might also function in these brain areas. Genome-wide association studies revealed that En2 is a candidate gene for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and mice devoid of its expression (En2(-/-) mice) display anatomical, behavioral and clinical "autistic-like" features. Since reduced GABAergic inhibition has been proposed as a possible pathogenic mechanism of ASD, we hypothesized that the phenotype of En2(-/-) mice might include defective GABAergic innervation in the forebrain. Here we show that the Engrailed proteins are present in postnatal GABAergic neurons of the mouse hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and adult En2(-/-) mice show reduced expression of GABAergic marker mRNAs in these areas. In addition, reduction in parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SOM) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressing interneurons is detected in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of adult En2(-/-) mice. Our results raise the possibility of a link between altered function of En2, anatomical deficits of GABAergic forebrain neurons and the pathogenesis of ASD.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Homeodomain Proteins
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Neuropeptide Y metabolism
Parvalbumins metabolism
Somatostatin metabolism
Autistic Disorder genetics
Autistic Disorder pathology
Cerebral Cortex cytology
GABAergic Neurons pathology
Hippocampus cytology
Nerve Tissue Proteins deficiency
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1090-2430
- Volume :
- 247
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Experimental neurology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23360806
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.01.021