Corticostriatal dysfunction and social interaction deficits in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter.

ABSTRACT: The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system x_c^- represents an important source of extracellular glutamate in the central nervous system, with potential impact on excitatory neurotransmission. Yet, its function and importance in brain physiology remain incompletely understood. Employing slice electrophysiology and mice with a genetic deletion of the specific subunit of system x_c^-, xCT (xCT^-/- mice), we uncovered decreased neurotransmission at corticostriatal synapses. This effect was partly mitigated by replenishing extracellular glutamate levels, indicating a defect linked with decreased extracellular glutamate availability. We observed no changes in the morphology of striatal medium spiny neurons, the density of dendritic spine

SUBMITTER: Bentea E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7609546 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature