title: Reduced susceptibility to induced seizures in the Neuroligin-3(R451C) mouse model of autism.
abstract: Epilepsy is a common comorbidity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and several gene mutations are associated with both of these disorders. In order to determine whether a point mutation in the gene for the synaptic protein, Neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3, R451C), identified in patients with ASD alters seizure susceptibility, we administered the proconvulsant pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to adult male Neuroligin-3(R451C) (NL3(R451C)) and wild type (WT) mice. It has previously been reported that NL3(R451C) mice show altered inhibitory GABAergic activity in brain regions relevant to epilepsy, including the hippocampus and somatosensory cortex. PTZ administration induces absence-seizures at low dose, and generalised convulsive seizures at higher dose. Susceptibility to absence seizures was examined by analysing the frequency and duration of spike-and-wave discharge (SWD) events and accompanying motor seizure activity induced by subcutaneous administration of low dosage (20 or 30mg/kg) PTZ. Susceptibility to generalised convulsive seizures was tested by measuring the response to high dosage (60mg/kg) PTZ using a modified Racine scale. There was no change in the number of SWD events exhibited by NL3(R451C) compared to WT mice following administration of both 20mg/kg PTZ (1.17±0.31 compared to 16.0±11.16 events/30min, NL3(R451C) versus WT, respectively) and 30mg/kg PTZ (7.5±6.54 compared with 27.8±19.9 events/30min, NL3(R451C) versus WT, respectively). NL3(R451C) mice were seizure resistant to generalised convulsive seizures induced by high dose PTZ compared to WT littermates (median latency to first >3s duration clonic seizure; 14.5min versus 7.25min, 95% CI: 1.625-2.375, p=0.0009, NL3(R451C) versus WT, respectively). These results indicate that the R451C mutation in the Nlgn3 gene, associated with ASD in humans, confers resistance to induced seizures, suggesting dysfunction of PTZ-sensitive GABAergic signalling in this mouse model of ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia. Electronic address: elhill@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Elisa L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hill-Yardin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argyropoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rind
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville 3010, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Terence J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C093438:neuroligin 1; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole
keywords: Autism; Epilepsy; Mice; Pentylenetetrazole; Seizures; Tonic–clonic