Glutamatergic synapse protein composition of wild-type mice is sensitive to in utero MTHFR genotype and the timing of neonatal vigabatrin exposure.

The enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate-reductase (MTHFR) is part of the homocysteine and folate metabolic pathways. In utero, Mthfr-deficient environment has been reported as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and neural tube defects. Neonatal disruption of the GABAergic system is also associated with behavioral outcomes. The interaction between Mthfr deficiency and neonatal exposure to the GABA-potentiating drug vigabatrin (GVG) in mice alters anxiety, memory, and social behavior in a gender-dependent manner. In addition, a gender-dependent enhancement of proteins implicated in excitatory synapse plasticity in the cerebral cortex was shown. Here we show that in utero MTHFR deficiency is sufficient to alter the levels of glutamate receptor subunits GluR1, GluR2, and NR2B in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of adult offspring with a WT genotype. In addition, FMRP1, CAMKII α and γ, and NLG1 levels in WT offspring were vulnerable to the in utero genotype. These effects depend on brain region and the cellular compartment tested. The effect of in utero MTHFR deficiency varies with the age of neonatal GVG exposure to modify GluR1, NR2A, reelin, CAMKII α, and NLG1 levels. These changes in molecular composition of the glutamatergic synapse were associated with increased anxiety-like behavior. Complex, multifactorial disorders of the nervous system show significant association with several genetic and environmental factors. Our data exemplify the contribution of an in utero MTHFR-deficient environment and early exposure to an antiepileptic drug to the basal composition of the glutamatergic synapses. The robust effect is expected to alter synapse function and plasticity and the cortico-hippocampal circuitry.

Sex-dependent behavioral effects of Mthfr deficiency and neonatal GABA potentiation in mice.

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (Mthfr) gene and/or abnormal homocysteine-folate metabolism are associated with increased risk for birth defects and neuropsychiatric diseases. In addition, disturbances of the GABAergic system in the brain as well as Mthfr polymorphism are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. In the present study we performed behavioral phenotyping of male and female Mthfr mice (wild type and their heterozygous littermates). The present study addresses two main questions: (1) genetic susceptibility, as examined by effects of Mthfr deficiency on behavior (Experiment 1) and (2) possible gene-drug interactions as expressed by behavioral phenotyping of Mthfr-deficient mice neonatally exposed to the GABA potentiating drug GVG (Experiment 2). Newborn development was slightly influenced by Mthfr genotype per se (Experiment 1); however the gene-drug interaction similarly affected reflex development in both male and female offspring (Experiment 2). Hyperactivity was demonstrated in Mthfr heterozygous male mice (Experiment 1) and due to GVG treatment in both Wt and Mthfr+/- male and female mice (Experiment 2). The gene-environment interaction did not affect anxiety-related behavior of male mice (Experiment 2). In female mice, gene-treatment interactions abolished the reduced anxiety observed due to GVG treatment and Mthfr genotype (Experiment 2). Finally, recognition memory of adult mice was impaired due to genotype, treatment and the gene-treatment combination in a sex-independent manner (Experiment 2). Overall, Mthfr deficiency and/or GABA potentiation differentially affect a spectrum of behaviors in male and female mice. This study is the first to describe behavioral phenotypes due to Mthfr genotype, GVG treatment and the interaction between these two factors. The behavioral outcomes suggest that Mthfr deficiency modulates the effects of GABA potentiating drugs. These findings suggest that future treatment strategies should consider a combination of genotyping with drug regimens.

Gender-specific effect of Mthfr genotype and neonatal vigabatrin interaction on synaptic proteins in mouse cortex.

The enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a part of the homocysteine and folate metabolic pathways, affecting the methylations of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Mthfr deficiency was reported as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Neonatal disruption of the GABAergic system is also associated with behavioral outcomes. The interaction between the epigenetic influence of Mthfr deficiency and neonatal exposure to the GABA potentiating drug vigabatrin (GVG) in mice has been shown to have gender-dependent effects on mice anxiety and to have memory impairment effects in a gender-independent manner. Here we show that Mthfr deficiency interacts with neonatal GABA potentiation to alter social behavior in female, but not male, mice. This impairment was associated with a gender-dependent enhancement of proteins implicated in excitatory synapse plasticity in the female cortex. Reelin and fragile X mental retardation 1 protein (FMRP) levels and membrane GluR1/GluR2 ratios were elevated in wild-type mice treated neonatally with GVG and in Mthfr+/- mice treated with saline, but not in Mthfr+/- mice treated with GVG, compared with control groups (wild type treated with saline). A minor influence on the levels of these proteins was observed in male mice cortices, possibly due to high basal protein levels. Interaction between gender, genotype, and treatment was also observed in the GABA pathway. In female mice, GABA Aα2/gephyrin ratios were suppressed in all test groups; in male mice, a genotype-specific enhancement of GABA Aα2/gephyrin was observed. The lack of an effect on either reln or Fmr1 transcription suggests post-transcriptional regulation of these genes. Taken together, these findings suggest that Mthfr deficiency may interact with neonatal GABA potentiation in a gender-dependent manner to interrupt synaptic function. This may illustrate a possible mechanism for the epigenetic involvement of Mthfr deficiency in neurodevelopmental disorders.