Prefrontal inhibition of neuronal K_v 7 channels enhances prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle reflex and resistance to hypofrontality.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in the cognitive deficits in neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, characterized by deficient neurotransmission known as NMDA receptor hypofrontality. Thus, enhancing prefrontal activity may alleviate hypofrontality-induced cognitive deficits. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of forebrain-specific suppression or pharmacological inhibition of native K_v 7/KCNQ/M-current on glutamatergic hypofrontality induced by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801.

Experimental approach

The forebrain-specific inhibition of native M-current was generated by transgenic expression, in mice, of a dominant-negative pore mutant G279S of K_v 7.2/KCNQ2 channels that suppres

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7520443 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature