Early hyperactivity and precocious maturation of corticostriatal circuits in Shank3B(-/-) mice.

ABSTRACT: Some autistic individuals exhibit abnormal development of the caudate nucleus and associative cortical areas, suggesting potential dysfunction of cortico-basal ganglia (BG) circuits. Using optogenetic and electrophysiological approaches in mice, we identified a narrow postnatal period that is characterized by extensive glutamatergic synaptogenesis in striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) and a concomitant increase in corticostriatal circuit activity. SPNs during early development have high intrinsic excitability and respond strongly to cortical afferents despite sparse excitatory inputs. As a result, striatum and corticostriatal connectivity are highly sensitive to acute and chronic changes in cortical activity, suggesting that early imbalances in cortical function alter BG development.

SUBMITTER: Peixoto RT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4846490 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature