title: Enhancement of inhibitory neurotransmission by GABAA receptors having α2,3-subunits ameliorates behavioral deficits in a mouse model of autism.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may arise from increased ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. Many pharmacological treatments have been tested in ASD, but only limited success has been achieved. Here we report that BTBR T(+)Itpr3(tf)/J (BTBR) mice, a model of idiopathic autism, have reduced spontaneous GABAergic neurotransmission. Treatment with low nonsedating/nonanxiolytic doses of benzodiazepines, which increase inhibitory neurotransmission through positive allosteric modulation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors, improved deficits in social interaction, repetitive behavior, and spatial learning. Moreover, negative allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors impaired social behavior in C57BL/6J and 129SvJ wild-type mice, suggesting that reduced inhibitory neurotransmission may contribute to social and cognitive deficits. The dramatic behavioral improvement after low-dose benzodiazepine treatment was subunit specific-the α2,3-subunit-selective positive allosteric modulator L-838,417 was effective, but the α1-subunit-selective drug zolpidem exacerbated social deficits. Impaired GABAergic neurotransmission may contribute to ASD, and α2,3-subunit-selective positive GABAA receptor modulation may be an effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7280, USA.
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7280, USA.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7280, USA.
authors.forename: Christina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7280, USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scheuer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7280, USA. Electronic address: wcatt@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Catterall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012919:Social Behavior; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011725:Pyridines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D014230:Triazoles; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077334:Zolpidem; C409903:L 838,417