NMDA Receptor Signaling Research Articles

Altered prefrontal cortical MARCKS and PPP1R9A mRNA expression in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

BackgroundWe previously observed dendritic spine loss in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder subjects. In the current study, we sought to determine if the mRNA expression of genes known to regulate the actin cytoskeleton and spines correlated with spine loss. MethodsFive candidate genes were identified using previously obtained microarray data from the DLPFC from schizophrenia and control subjects. The relative mRNA expression of the genes linked to dendritic spine growth and function, i.e. IGF1R, MARCKS, PPP1R9A, PTPRF, and ARHGEF2, was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in the DLPFC from a second cohort including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and control subjects. Functional pathway analysis was conducted to determine which actin cytoskeleton-regulatory pathways the genes of interest interact with. ResultsMARCKS mRNA expression was increased in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder subjects. PPP1R9A mRNA expression was increased in bipolar disorder subjects. For IGF1R, mRNA expression did not differ significantly among groups; however, it did show a significant, negative correlation with dendrite length. MARCKS and PPP1R9A mRNA expression did not correlate with spine loss, but they interact with NMDA receptor signaling pathways that regulate the actin cytoskeleton and spines. ConclusionsMARCKS and PPP1R9A might contribute to spine loss in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through their interactions, possibly indirect ones, with NMDA signaling pathways that regulate spine structure and function.

Pregnenolone sulfate normalizes schizophrenia-like behaviors in dopamine transporter knockout mice through the AKT/GSK3β pathway.

Pregnenolone sulfate, an endogenous neurosteroid in the central nervous system, is a positive allosteric modulator of the NMDA receptor, and plays a role in the modulation of learning and memory. Here, we study the actions of pregnenolone sulfate using the dopamine transporter knockout (DAT-KO) mice, which exhibit endophenotypes that recapitulate certain symptoms of schizophrenia, including the psychomotor agitation, stereotypy, prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits and cognitive impairments. We found that acute treatment with pregnenolone sulfate normalized the hyperlocomotion and stereotypic bouts, and rescued the PPI deficits of DAT-KO mice. In addition, long-term treatment with pregnenolone sulfate rescued the cognitive deficits of DAT-KO mice in the novel object recognition and social transmission of food preference tests. We also showed that pregnenolone sulfate normalized behavioral abnormalities in MK801-treated wild-type mice, whereas pregnenolone, its precursor, only partially rescued MK801-induced behavioral abnormalities. This indicates that there are distinct mechanisms of action between pregnenolone sulfate and pregnenolone, and the involvement of NMDA receptor signaling in the action of pregnenolone sulfate. Moreover, we found that acute treatment with pregnenolone sulfate increased the phosphorylation levels of striatal AKT and GSK3β in DAT-KO mice, and that long-term treatment with pregnenolone sulfate increased expression levels of NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in hippocampus. Thus, pregnenolone sulfate was able to rescue the behavioral anomalies of DAT-KO mice through the NMDA receptor-mediated, AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.

PBT2 inhibits glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in neurons through metal-mediated preconditioning

Excitotoxicity is the pathological process by which neuronal death occurs as a result of excessive stimulation of receptors at the excitatory synapse such as the NMDA receptor (NMDAR). Excitotoxicity has been implicated in the acute neurological damage from ischemia and traumatic brain injury and in the chronic neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Huntington's disease (HD). As a result NMDAR antagonists have become an attractive therapeutic strategy for the potential treatment of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. However NMDAR signaling is dichotomous in nature, with excessive increases in neuronal intracellular calcium through excessive NMDAR activity being lethal but moderate increases to intracellular calcium levels during normal synaptic function providing neuroprotection. Subsequently indiscriminant inhibition of this receptor is best avoided as was concluded from previous clinical trials of NMDAR antagonists. We show that the metal chaperone, PBT2, currently in clinical trials for HD, is able to protect against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity mediated through NMDARs. This was achieved by PBT2 inducing Zn2+-dependent increases in intracellular Ca2+ levels resulting in preconditioning of neurons and inhibition of Ca2+-induced neurotoxic signaling cascade involving calpain-activated cleavage of calcineurin. Our study demonstrates that modulating intracellular Ca2+ levels by a zinc ionophore is a valid therapeutic strategy to protect against the effects of excitotoxicity thought to underlie both acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Deconstructing N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptor Contributions to Cortical Circuit Functions to Construct Better Hypotheses About the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia

One of the challenges facing translational neuroscience is to achieve a deep understanding of how brain circuits represent behavior and the clinical features of psychiatric disorders. Despite progress in understanding working memory, decision making, fear, and some other behaviors, a new generation of advances is needed before we can claim a deep mechanistic understanding of any symptom of any psychiatric disorder. One reason this task is so daunting is that specific molecular abnormalities are recapitulated at multiple sites within individual neurons, microcircuits, and macrocircuits widely distributed in the brain. Siegel and his group at the University of Pennsylvania provide new insight into the impact of developmental deficits in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor function in a series of elegant articles describing cell-type specific genetic reductions in NMDA receptor expression, including an article in this issue of Biological Psychiatry by Tatard-Leitman et al. (1) describing the impact of targeted reductions in the expression of the NR1 (GluN1) subunit of the NMDA receptor in forebrain pyramidal neurons (Figure 1). In their study, NR1 knockout (KO) animals showed locomotor hyperactivity and behavioral traits commonly associated with patients with schizophrenia, including impairment of working memory, reduced “self-care” (nest building), and reduced social activity. They also exhibited reduced long-term potentiation (LTP) and increased pyramidal cell excitability, associated with a reduction of G protein– regulated inward-rectifier potassium channel 2. The authors also documented a disturbance in high-frequency (gamma) oscillations that has been characterized in schizophrenia by this group as loss of tuning or reduced signal-to-noise (2) (i.e., increased resting gamma power but reduced evoked gamma power). These findings provide some support for the hypothesis that glutamate synaptic dysfunction may be a primary form of pathology for schizophrenia (3) and that network disinhibition arising from reductions in NMDA receptor signaling in schizophrenia need not develop as a consequence of deficits in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. However, loss of pyramidal neuron NMDA receptors did not recapitulate all findings associated with schizophrenia. For example, schizophrenia is associated with impairments in the functional integrity of many GABA neuronal populations, whereas this model selectively affected interneurons that release cholecystokinin. A parallel study from this group described mice with selective KO of NMDA receptors on parvalbumin-containing GABA neurons (Figure 1) (4). Similar to the pyramidal cell NR1 KOs, these mice showed reductions in social behaviors, but

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism has differential effects on alcohol craving and drinking in heavy drinkers.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine (0, 20, 40mg/d), upon alcohol drinking and craving in heavy drinkers with or without a family history (FH) of alcoholism, and to explore the modulatory influence of the presence of impulsivity on these outcomes. Ninety-two, nontreatment-seeking, heavy drinkers received memantine or placebo for 8days. On the eighth day, they received a priming dose of alcohol followed by a 3-hour period of alcohol access. Memantine at a dose of 20mg reduced alcohol craving but did not influence alcohol drinking. No effects of FH were observed. In participants with higher baseline levels of impulsivity, 40mg of memantine reduced alcohol craving but increased alcohol drinking and alcohol-induced stimulation. NMDA receptor signaling may play divergent roles in mediating alcohol cue-induced craving and alcohol drinking in heavy drinkers. The potential efficacy of memantine as monotherapy for alcohol use disorders may be limited by its tendency to disinhibit drinking in some individuals.

Leptin: a potential anxiolytic by facilitation of fear extinction.

Anxiety disorders are characterized by a deficient extinction of fear memory. Evidence is growing that leptin influences numerous neuronal functions. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects and the mechanism of leptin on fear extinction. Leptin (1 mg/kg, i.p) was applied to evaluate the anxiolytic effect in rat behavioral tests. Field potentials recording were used to investigate the changes in synaptic transmission in the thalamic-lateral amygadala (LA) pathway of rat. We found that leptin produced strong anxiolytic effects under basal condition and after acute stress. Systemic administration and intra-LA infusions of leptin facilitated extinction of conditioned fear responses. The antagonist of NMDA receptor, MK-801, blocked the effect of leptin on fear extinction completely. Furthermore, these effects of leptin on fear extinction were accompanied by a reversal of conditioning-induced synaptic potentiation in the LA. Leptin facilitated NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, and reversed amygdala long-term potentiation (LTP) in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and this LTP depotentiation effect was mediated by NMDA receptor and MAPK signaling pathway. These results identify a key role of leptin in dampening fear conditioning-induced synaptic potentiation in the LA through NMDA receptor and indicate a new strategy for treating anxiety disorders.

Microwave Exposure Impairs Synaptic Plasticity in the Rat Hippocampus and PC12 Cells through Over-activation of the NMDA Receptor Signaling Pathway

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate whether microwave exposure would affect the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) signaling pathway to establish whether this plays a role in synaptic plasticity impairment. Methods48 male Wistar rats were exposed to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 10 min every other day for three times. Hippocampal structure was observed through H&E staining and transmission electron microscope. PC12 cells were exposed to 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 5 min and the synapse morphology was visualized with scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. The release of amino acid neurotransmitters and calcium influx were detected. The expressions of several key NMDAR signaling molecules were evaluated. ResultsMicrowave exposure caused injury in rat hippocampal structure and PC12 cells, especially the structure and quantity of synapses. The ratio of glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitters was increased and the intracellular calcium level was elevated in PC12 cells. A significant change in NMDAR subunits (NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) and related signaling molecules (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II gamma and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein) were examined. Conclusion30 mW/cm2 microwave exposure resulted in alterations of synaptic structure, amino acid neurotransmitter release and calcium influx. NMDAR signaling molecules were closely associated with impaired synaptic plasticity.

Antidepressant-like effects induced by NMDA receptor blockade and NO synthesis inhibition in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex of rats exposed to the forced swim test.

Systemic treatment with NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) or of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), induce antidepressant-like effects in rats. Increased levels of glutamate and nitric oxide (NO) in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) of stressed animals have been described in the literature. However, the role of the NMDAR-nNOS-sGC pathway of the MPFC in the mediation of forced swim-induced behaviors remains unclear. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the inhibition of the NMDAR-nNOS-sGC pathway in the ventral MPFC (infralimbic (IL) or prelimbic (PL)) would elicit antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test (FST). Rats implanted with cannulae aimed at the PL or the IL were exposed to the FST and injected with LY235959 (NMDAR antagonist), NPA (nNOS inhibitor), ODQ (sGC inhibitor), or carboxy-PTIO (NO scavenger). Additional groups received the AMPA antagonist, NBQX, before the effective doses of LY235959 or NPA. LY235959 administration into PL or IL before the FS pretest produced no effects. Administration of LY235959 (3 and 10nmol/0.2μL) after pretest was effective only when administered into the PL. However, the administration of NPA (0.01nmol/0.2μL), c-PTIO (1.0nmol/0.2μL), and ODQ (1.0nmol/0.2μL) into the PL or IL before the FST produced antidepressant-like effects. NBQX blocked the antidepressant-like effect of LY235959 but not of NPA. Blocking NMDAR or NO signaling in the vMPFC, either in the IL or the PL, induces antidepressant-like effects in the rat FST. These effects seemingly occur through independent mechanisms, since NBQX blocked the former effect but not the latter.

The effect of soybean isoflavone on the dysregulation of NMDA receptor signaling pathway induced by β-amyloid peptides 1-42 in rats.

Synaptic damage is the key factor of cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of soybean isoflavone (SIF) on synaptic damage induced by β-amyloid peptide 1-42 (Aβ1-42) in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, Aβ1-42, SIF, and SIF + Aβ1-42 (SIF pretreatment) groups according to body weight. SIF was treated orally by gavage in SIF and SIF + Aβ1-42 groups. After 14 days pretreatment with SIF or vehicle, Aβ1-42 was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats in Aβ1-42 and SIF + Aβ1-42 groups using miniosmotic pump. The level of Aβ1-42 and the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartic-acid receptor (NMDAR) were observed by immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA levels of NMDAR, calmodulin (CaM), calcium/CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The results showed that Aβ1-42 down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of the NR1 and NR2B subunits of NMDAR, SIF pretreatment could reverse these changes. The mRNA expression of CaM, CaMKII, CREB, and BDNF were down-regulated by Aβ1-42, but they were all regulated by SIF pretreatment. These results suggest that SIF pretreatment could antagonize the neuron damage in rats induced by Aβ1-42, and its mechanism might be associated with the NMDA receptor and CaM/CaMKII/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway, which are the synaptic plasticity-related molecules.

Rapid antidepressants stimulate the decoupling of GABA(B) receptors from GIRK/Kir3 channels through increased protein stability of 14-3-3η.

A single injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists produces a rapid antidepressant response. Lasting changes in the synapse structure and composition underlie the effectiveness of these drugs. We recently discovered that rapid antidepressants cause a shift in the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABABR) signaling pathway, such that GABABR activation shifts from opening inwardly rectifiying potassium channels (Kir/GIRK) to increasing resting dendritic calcium signal and mammalian Target of Rapamycin activity. However, little is known about the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that initiate this shift. Herein, we show that GABABR signaling to Kir3 (GIRK) channels decreases with NMDAR blockade. Blocking NMDAR signaling stabilizes the adaptor protein 14-3-3η, which decouples GABABR signaling from Kir3 and is required for the rapid antidepressant efficacy. Consistent with these results, we find that key proteins involved in GABABR signaling bidirectionally change in a depression model and with rapid antidepressants. In socially defeated rodents, a model for depression, GABABR and 14-3-3η levels decrease in the hippocampus. The NMDAR antagonists AP5 and Ro-25-6981, acting as rapid antidepressants, increase GABABR and 14-3-3η expression and decrease Kir3.2. Taken together, these data suggest that the shift in GABABR function requires a loss of GABABR-Kir3 channel activity mediated by 14-3-3η. Our findings support a central role for 14-3-3η in the efficacy of rapid antidepressants and define a critical molecular mechanism for activity-dependent alterations in GABABR signaling.

Cav2.2-mediated NMDA receptor signaling in short-term memory

Cav2.2-mediated NMDA receptor signaling in short-term memory

Understanding the functions of endogenous and exogenous tissue-type plasminogen activator during stroke.

Alteplase (Actilyse or Activase) is the gold standard acute treatment of ischemic stroke1 and receives attention for hematoma resolution in hemorrhagic stroke. The active principle of Alteplase is the recombinant form of an endogenous protease, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Its intravascular thrombolytic activity is well known, but less are its multifaceted functions in the central nervous system (CNS). Endogenous tPA is not only released in the blood by endothelial cells but also expressed by many cells within the brain parenchyma (online-only Data Supplement), and it can act on all cell types of the brain virtually. Endogenous tPA has been involved in an ever-increasing number of brain functions, of which several are highly relevant during and after stroke. Importantly, knowledge on the mechanisms of action of endogenous tPA may hold true for recombinant tPA. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge on the enzymatic or cytokine-like effects of action of tPA in the CNS, its various molecular substrates or receptors, focusing on the processes occurring during and after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, including excitotoxicity, apoptosis, blood–brain barrier breakdown, inflammation, axonal damage, and demyelination. tPA is a mosaic protease of 527 amino acids consisting of 5 distinct modules: a Finger domain, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)–like domain, 2 kringle domains (K1 and K2), and a serine protease proteolytic domain. Through these domains, tPA can interact with a variety of binding proteins and receptors in the brain parenchyma, thus extending its functions above the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin (Figure 1). Figure 1. Main cellular and molecular targets of tissue-type plasminogen activator in the central nervous system. BBB indicates blood–brain barrier, EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; LRP, low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein; NMDAR, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors; and PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor. tPA is not fibrinolytic by itself. …

Src kinase as a mediator of convergent molecular abnormalities leading to NMDAR hypoactivity in schizophrenia.

Numerous investigations support decreased glutamatergic signaling as a pathogenic mechanism of schizophrenia: yet molecular underpinnings for such dysregulation are largely unknown. In the postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, we found striking decreases in tyrosine phosphorylation of N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2 (GluN2), which is critical for neuroplasticity. The decreased GluN2 activity in schizophrenia may not be due to downregulation of NMDA receptors since MK-801 binding and NMDA receptor complexes in the PSD were in fact increased in schizophrenia cases. At the post-receptor level, however, we found striking reductions in the protein kinase C, Pyk 2 and Src kinase activity, which in tandem can decrease GluN2 activation. Given that Src serves as a hub of various signaling mechanisms impacting GluN2 phosphorylation, we postulated that Src hypoactivity may result from convergent alterations of various schizophrenia susceptibility pathways and thus mediate their impacts on NMDA receptor signaling. Indeed, the DLPFC of schizophrenia cases exhibit increased PSD-95 and erbB4 and decreased RPTPa and dysbindin-1, each of which reduces Src activity via protein interaction with Src. To test genomic underpinnings for Src hypoactivity, we examined genome wide association study results, incorporating 13,394 cases and 34,676 controls, which yielded no significant association of individual variants of Src and its direct regulators with schizophrenia. However, a wider protein-protein interaction based network centered on Src, showed significant enrichment of gene-level associations with schizophrenia compared to other psychiatric illnesses. Our results together demonstrate striking decreases in NMDA receptor signaling at the post-receptor level and propose Src as a nodal point of convergent dysregulations impacting NMDA receptor pathway via protein-protein associations.

The Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 suppresses CREB signaling by targeting NMDA receptor function.

NMDA receptor signaling plays a complex role in CREB activation and CREB-mediated gene transcription, depending on the subcellular location of NMDA receptors, as well as how strongly they are activated. However, it is not known whether Rac1, the prototype of Rac GTPase, plays a role in neuronal CREB activation induced by NMDA receptor signaling. Here, we report that NSC23766, a widely used specific Rac1 inhibitor, inhibits basal CREB phosphorylation at S133 (pCREB) and antagonizes changes in pCREB levels induced by NMDA bath application in rat cortical neurons. Unexpectedly, we found that NSC23766 affects the levels of neuronal pCREB in a Rac1-independent manner. Instead, our results indicate that NSC23766 can directly regulate NMDA receptors as indicated by their strong effects on both exogenous and synaptically evoked NMDA receptor-mediated currents in mouse and rat neurons, respectively. Our findings strongly suggest that Rac1 does not affect pCREB signaling in cortical neurons and reveal that NSC23766 could be a novel NMDA receptor antagonist.

Recent genetic findings in schizophrenia and their therapeutic relevance.

Over 100 loci are now associated with schizophrenia risk as identified by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genome-wide association studies. These findings mean that ‘genes for schizophrenia’ have unquestionably been found. However, many questions remain unanswered, including several which affect their therapeutic significance. The SNPs individually have minor effects, and even cumulatively explain only a modest fraction of the genetic predisposition. The remainder likely results from many more loci, from rare variants, and from gene–gene and gene–environment interactions. The risk SNPs are almost all non-coding, meaning that their biological significance is unclear; probably their effects are mediated via an influence on gene regulation, and emerging evidence suggests that some key molecular events occur during early brain development. The loci include novel genes of unknown function as well as genes and pathways previously implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, e.g. NMDA receptor signalling. Genes in the latter category have the clearer therapeutic potential, although even this will be a challenging process because of the many complexities concerning the genetic architecture and mediating mechanisms. This review summarises recent schizophrenia genetic findings and some key issues they raise, particularly with regard to their implications for identifying and validating novel drug targets.

Zinc deficiency in rats is associated with up-regulation of hippocampal NMDA receptor.

Data indicated that zinc deficiency may contribute to the development of depression; however changes induced by zinc deficiency are not fully described. In the present paper we tested whether the dietary zinc restriction in rats causes alterations in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits in brain regions that are relevant to depression. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a zinc adequate diet (ZnA, 50 mg Zn/kg) or a zinc deficient diet (ZnD, 3 mg Zn/kg) for 4 or 6weeks. Then, the behavior of the rats was examined in the forced swim test, sucrose intake test and social interaction test. Western blot assays were used to study the alterations in NMDAR subunits GluN2A and GluN2B and proteins associated with NMDAR signaling in the hippocampus (Hp) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Following 4 or 6 weeks of zinc restriction, behavioral despair, anhedonia and a reduction of social behavior occurred in rats with concomitant increased expression of GluN2A and GluN2B and decreased expression of the PSD-95, p-CREB and BDNF protein levels in the Hp. The up-regulation of GluN2A protein was also found in the PFC, but only after prolonged (6 weeks) zinc deprivation. The procedure of zinc restriction in rats causes behavioral changes that share some similarities to the pathophysiology of depression. Obtained data indicated that depressive-like behavior induced by zinc deficiency is associated with the changes in NMDAR signaling pathway.

Learned stressor resistance requires extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the prefrontal cortex.

Behaviorally controllable stressors confer protection from the neurochemical and behavioral consequences of future uncontrollable stressors, a phenomenon termed “behavioral immunization”. Recent data implicate protein synthesis within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as critical to behavioral immunization. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a series of controllable tailshocks and 1 week later to uncontrollable tailshocks, followed 24 h later by social exploration and shuttlebox escape tests. To test the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade in behavioral immunization, either D-AP5 or the MEK inhibitor U0126 was injected to the prelimbic (PL) or infralimbic (IL) mPFC prior to controllable stress exposure. Phosphorylated ERK and P70S6K, regulators of transcription and translation, were quantified by Western blot or immunohistochemistry after controllable or uncontrollable tailshocks. Prior controllable stress prevented the social exploration and shuttlebox performance deficits caused by the later uncontrollable stressor, and this effect was blocked by injections of D-AP5 into mPFC. A significant increase in phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2, but not P70S6K, occurred within the PL and IL in rats exposed to controllable stress, but not to uncontrollable stress. However, U0126 only prevented behavioral immunization when injected to the PL. We provide evidence that NMDAR and ERK dependent signaling within the PL region is required for behavioral immunization, a learned form of stressor resistance.

Effects of lurasidone on ketamine-induced joint visual attention dysfunction as a possible disease model of autism spectrum disorders in common marmosets

Infants with autism have difficulties performing joint visual attention (JVA), defined as following another person's pointing gesture and gaze. Some non-human primates (NHPs) can also perform JVA. Most preclinical research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has used rodents as animal models of this social interaction disorder. However, models using rodents fail to capture the complexity of social interactions that are disrupted in ASD. Therefore, JVA impairment in NHPs might be a more useful model of ASD. The aim of this study was to develop an appropriate and convenient ASD model with common marmosets. We first tested whether marmosets were capable of performing JVA. Subsequently, we administered ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, to induce JVA impairment and investigated the effects of lurasidone, a newer antipsychotic agent, on the JVA impairments. An apparatus was constructed using 4 white boxes, which were attached to the corners of a frame. All boxes had a hinged door, and marmosets could easily obtain a reward by pushing the door. An experimenter pointed and gazed at the boxes to inform the marmosets which box contained the reward. Their behavior was scored according to the number of incorrect choices. The JVA score was significantly higher in the cued vs. uncued tasks. Ketamine significantly decreased the JVA score, but lurasidone significantly reversed this effect. These findings suggest that this experimental system could be a useful animal model of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by NMDA-receptor signaling, including ASD, and that lurasidone might be effective for some aspects of ASD.

Pyramidal Cell Selective Ablation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor 1 Causes Increase in Cellular and Network Excitability

BackgroundNeuronal activity at gamma frequency is impaired in schizophrenia (SZ) and is considered critical for cognitive performance. Such impairments are thought to be due to reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated inhibition from parvalbumin interneurons, rather than a direct role of impaired NMDAR signaling on pyramidal neurons. However, recent studies suggest a direct role of pyramidal neurons in regulating gamma oscillations. In particular, a computational model has been proposed in which phasic currents from pyramidal cells could drive synchronized feedback inhibition from interneurons. As such, impairments in pyramidal neuron activity could lead to abnormal gamma oscillations. However, this computational model has not been tested experimentally and the molecular mechanisms underlying pyramidal neuron dysfunction in SZ remain unclear. MethodsIn the present study, we tested the hypothesis that SZ-related phenotypes could arise from reduced NMDAR signaling in pyramidal neurons using forebrain pyramidal neuron specific NMDA receptor 1 knockout mice. ResultsThe mice displayed increased baseline gamma power, as well as sociocognitive impairments. These phenotypes were associated with increased pyramidal cell excitability due to changes in inherent membrane properties. Interestingly, mutant mice showed decreased expression of GIRK2 channels, which has been linked to increased neuronal excitability. ConclusionsOur data demonstrate for the first time that NMDAR hypofunction in pyramidal cells is sufficient to cause electrophysiological, molecular, neuropathological, and behavioral changes related to SZ.

The upregulation of NR2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function by tyrosine phosphorylation of postsynaptic density 95 via facilitating Src/proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 activation.

The activation of postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is required for long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission. Postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95) serves as a scaffold protein that tethers NMDA receptor subunits, kinases, and signal molecules. Our previous study proves that PSD-95 is a substrate of Src/Fyn and identifies Y523 on PSD-95 as a principal phosphorylation site. In this paper, we try to define an involvement and molecular consequences of PSD-95 phosphorylation by Src in NMDA receptor regulation. We found that either NMDA or chemical LTP induction leads to rapid phosphorylation of PSD-95 by Src in cultured cortical neurons. The phosphorylation of Y523 on PSD-95 potentiates NR2A-containing NMDA receptor current amplitude, implying an important role of Src-mediated PSD-95 phosphorylation in NMDA receptor activation. Comparing to wild-type PSD-95, overexpression of nonphosphorylatable mutant PSD-95Y523F attenuated the NMDA-stimulated NR2A tyrosine phosphorylation that enhances electrophysiological responses of NMDA receptor channels, while did not affect the membrane localization of NR2A subunits. PSD-95Y523D, a phosphomimetic mutant of PSD-95, induced NR2A tyrosine phosphorylation even if there was no NMDA treatment. In addition, the deficiency of Y523 phosphorylation on PSD-95 impaired the facilitatory effect of PSD-95 on the activation of Src and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) and decreased the binding of Pyk2 with PSD-95. These results indicate that PSD-95 phosphorylation by Src facilitates the integration of Pyk2 to PSD-95 signal complex, the activation of Pyk2/Src, as well as the subsequent tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A, which ultimately results in the upregulation of NMDA receptor function and synaptic transmission.