Neonatal CX26 removal impairs neocortical development and leads to elevated anxiety.

ABSTRACT: Electrical coupling between excitatory neurons in the neocortex is developmentally regulated. It is initially prominent but eliminated at later developmental stages when chemical synapses emerge. However, it remains largely unclear whether early electrical coupling networks broadly contribute to neocortical circuit formation and animal behavior. Here, we report that neonatal electrical coupling between neocortical excitatory neurons is critical for proper neuronal development, synapse formation, and animal behavior. Conditional deletion of Connexin 26 (CX26) in the superficial layer excitatory neurons of the mouse neocortex around birth significantly reduces spontaneous firing activity and the frequency and size of spontaneous network oscillations at postnatal day 5-6. Moreov

SUBMITTER: Su X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5373364 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature