title: Enhanced synapse remodelling as a common phenotype in mouse models of autism.
abstract: Developmental deficits in neuronal connectivity are considered to be present in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Here we examine this possibility by using in vivo spine imaging in the early postnatal cortex of ASD mouse models. Spines are classified by the presence of either the excitatory postsynaptic marker PSD-95 or the inhibitory postsynaptic marker gephyrin. ASD mouse models show consistent upregulation in the dynamics of PSD-95-positive spines, which may subsequently contribute to stable synaptic connectivity. In contrast, spines receiving inputs from the thalamus, detected by the presence of gephyrin clusters, are larger, highly stable and unaffected in ASD mouse models. Importantly, two distinct mouse models, human 15q11-13 duplication and neuroligin-3 R451C point mutation, show highly similar phenotypes in spine dynamics. This selective impairment in dynamics of PSD-95-positive spines receiving intracortical projections may be a core component of early pathological changes and be a potential target of early intervention.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan [2].
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isshiki
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan [2].
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Kagawa 769-2193, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuriu
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan [2] PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.affiliation: 1] RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan [2] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D051528:Guanylate Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D057907:Post-Synaptic Density; D011247:Pregnancy; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501447:Dlg4 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C073441:gephyrin; C098004:neuroligin 3; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D051528:Guanylate Kinases