Nr4a1 regulates cell-specific transcriptional programs in inhibitory GABAergic interneurons.

The patterns of synaptic connectivity and physiological properties of diverse neuron types are shaped by distinct gene sets. Our study demonstrates that, in the mouse forebrain, the transcriptional profiles of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are regulated by Nr4a1, an orphan nuclear receptor whose expression is transiently induced by sensory experiences and is required for normal learning. Nr4a1 exerts contrasting effects on the local axonal wiring of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons, which innervate different subcellular domains of their postsynaptic partners. The loss of Nr4a1 activity in these interneurons results in bidirectional, cell-type-specific transcriptional switches across multiple gene families, including those involved in surface adhesion and repulsion. Our findings reveal that combinatorial synaptic organizing codes are surprisingly flexible and highlight a mechanism by which inducible transcription factors can influence neural circuit structure and function.

The multifaceted role of SOCE in central synapses.

Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is a mechanism for calcium influx through the plasma membrane in response to release of free calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum. Two recent studies revealed how SOCE regulates the exocytosis of neurotransmitter vesicles at central synapses.

A GABAB receptor antagonist rescues functional and structural impairments in the perirhinal cortex of a mouse model of CDKL5 deficiency disorder.

CDKL5 (cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5) deficiency disorder (CDD) is a severe neurodevelopmental encephalopathy characterized by early-onset epilepsy and intellectual disability. Studies in mouse models have linked CDKL5 deficiency to defects in neuronal maturation and synaptic plasticity, and disruption of the excitatory/inhibitory balance. Interestingly, increased density of both GABAergic synaptic terminals and parvalbumin inhibitory interneurons was recently observed in the primary visual cortex of Cdkl5 knockout (KO) mice, suggesting that excessive GABAergic transmission might contribute to the visual deficits characteristic of CDD. However, the functional relevance of cortical GABAergic circuits abnormalities in these mutant mice has not been investigated so far. Here we examined GABAergic circuits in the perirhinal cortex (PRC) of Cdkl5 KO mice, where we previously observed impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) associated with deficits in novel object recognition (NOR) memory. We found a higher number of GABAergic (VGAT)-immunopositive terminals in the PRC of Cdkl5 KO compared to wild-type mice, suggesting that increased inhibitory transmission might contribute to LTP impairment. Interestingly, while exposure of PRC slices to the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin had no positive effects on LTP in Cdkl5 KO mice, the selective GABAB receptor antagonist CGP55845 restored LTP magnitude, suggesting that exaggerated GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition contributes to LTP impairment in mutants. Moreover, acute in vivo treatment with CGP55845 increased the number of PSD95 positive puncta as well as density and maturation of dendritic spines in PRC, and restored NOR memory in Cdkl5 KO mice. The present data show the efficacy of limiting excessive GABAB receptor-mediated signaling in improving synaptic plasticity and cognition in CDD mice.

Functional and Structural Impairments in the Perirhinal Cortex of a Mouse Model of CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder Are Rescued by a TrkB Agonist.

Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder (CDD) is a severe X-linked neurodevelopmental encephalopathy caused by mutations in the CDKL5 gene and characterized by early-onset epilepsy and intellectual and motor impairments. No cure is currently available for CDD patients, as limited knowledge of the pathology has hindered the development of therapeutics. Cdkl5 knockout (KO) mouse models, recently created to investigate the role of CDKL5 in the etiology of CDD, recapitulate various features of the disorder. Previous studies have shown alterations in synaptic plasticity and dendritic pattern in the cerebral cortex and in the hippocampus, but the knowledge of the molecular substrates underlying these alterations is still limited. Here, we have examined for the first time synaptic function and plasticity, dendritic morphology, and signal transduction pathways in the perirhinal cortex (PRC) of this mouse model. Being interconnected with a wide range of cortical and subcortical structures and involved in various cognitive processes, PRC provides a very interesting framework for examining how CDKL5 mutation leads to deficits at the synapse, circuit, and behavioral level. We found that long-term potentiation (LTP) was impaired, and that the TrkB/PLCγ1 pathway could be mechanistically involved in this alteration. PRC neurons in mutant mice showed a reduction in dendritic length, dendritic branches, PSD-95-positive puncta, GluA2-AMPA receptor levels, and spine density and maturation. These functional and structural deficits were associated with impairment in visual recognition memory. Interestingly, an in vivo treatment with a TrkB agonist (the 7,8-DHF prodrug R13) to trigger the TrkB/PLCγ1 pathway rescued defective LTP, dendritic pattern, PSD-95 and GluA2-AMPA receptor levels, and restored visual recognition memory in Cdkl5 KO mice. Present findings demonstrate a critical role of TrkB signaling in the synaptic development alterations due to CDKL5 mutation, and suggest the possibility of TrkB-targeted pharmacological interventions.

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a neuropeptide with cellular actions in arousal and anxiety-related nuclei: Functional implications for effects of NPS on wakefulness and mood.

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a peptide recently recognized to be present in the CNS, and believed to play a role in vigilance and mood control, as behavioral studies have shown it promotes arousal and has an anxiolytic effect. Although NPS precursor is found in very few neurons, NPS positive fibers are present throughout the brain stem. Given the behavioral actions of this peptide and the wide innervation pattern, we examined the cellular effects of NPS within two brain stem nuclei known to play a critical role in anxiety and arousal: the dorsal raphe (DR) and laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT). In mouse brain slices, NPS increased cytoplasmic levels of calcium in DR and LDT cells. Calcium rises were independent of action potential generation, reduced by low extracellular levels of calcium, attenuated by IP3 - and ryanodine (RyR)-dependent intracellular calcium store depletion, and eliminated by the receptor (NPSR) selective antagonist, SHA 68. NPS also exerted an effect on the membrane of DR and LDT cells inducing inward and outward currents, which were driven by an increase in conductance, and eliminated by SHA 68. Membrane actions of NPS were found to be dependent on store-mediated calcium as depletion of IP3 and RyR stores eliminated NPS-induced currents. Finally, NPS also had actions on synaptic events, suggesting facilitation of glutamatergic and GABAergic presynaptic transmission. When taken together, actions of NPS influenced the excitability of DR and LDT neurons, which could play a role in the anxiolytic and arousal-promoting effects of this peptide.

Neuroanatomical alterations and synaptic plasticity impairment in the perirhinal cortex of the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS), a genetic condition due to triplication of Chromosome 21, is characterized by numerous neurodevelopmental alterations and intellectual disability. Individuals with DS and DS mouse models are impaired in several memory domains, including hippocampus-dependent declarative (spatial, in rodents) memory and visual recognition memory, a form of memory in which the perirhinal cortex (PRC) plays a fundamental role. The anatomo-functional substrates of hippocampus-dependent memory impairment have been largely elucidated in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS. In contrast, there is a lack of corresponding information regarding visual recognition memory. Therefore, we deemed it of interest to examine at both an anatomical and functional level the PRC of Ts65Dn mice. We found that the PRC of adult (1.5-3.5month-old) Ts65Dn mice exhibited diffused hypocellularity and neurons with a reduced spine density. No difference between Ts65Dn and euploid mice was detected in the abundance of glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals. We examined brain slices for long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity involved in long-term memory. Theta burst stimulation of intracortical fibers was used in order to elicit LTP in the superficial layers of the PRC. We found that in trisomic slices LTP had a similar time-course but a reduced magnitude in comparison with euploid slices. While exposure to the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin had no effect on LTP magnitude, exposure to the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP55845 caused an increase in LTP magnitude that became even larger than in euploid slices. Western blot analysis showed increased levels of the G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channel 2 (GIRK2) in the PRC of Ts65Dn mice, consistent with triplication of the gene coding for GIRK2. This suggests that the reduced magnitude of LTP may be caused by GIRK2-dependent exaggerated GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition. Results provide novel evidence for anatomo-functional alterations in the PRC of Ts65Dn mice. These alterations may underlie trisomy-due impairment in visual recognition memory.