Persistent Disruptions in Prefrontal Connectivity Despite Behavioral Rescue by Environmental Enrichment in a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the MECP2 gene, is characterized by severe motor, cognitive, and emotional impairments. Some of the deficits may result from changes in cortical connections, especially downstream projections of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which may also be targets of restoration following rearing conditions such as environmental enrichment that alleviate specific symptoms. Here, using a heterozygous Mecp2^+/- female mouse model closely analogous to human Rett syndrome, we investigated the impact of early environmental enrichment on behavioral deficits and PFC connectivity. Behavioral analyses revealed that enriched housing rescued fine motor deficits and reduced anxiety, with enrichment-housed Mecp2^+/-

SUBMITTER: Ahrlund-Richter S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12269803 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature