Neurexin1⍺ differentially regulates synaptic efficacy within striatal circuits.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in genes essential for synaptic function, such as the presynaptic adhesion molecule Neurexin1α (Nrxn1α), are strongly implicated in neuropsychiatric pathophysiology. As the input nucleus of the basal ganglia, the striatum integrates diverse excitatory projections governing cognitive and motor control, and its impairment may represent a recurrent pathway to disease. Here, we test the functional relevance of Nrxn1α in striatal circuits by employing optogenetic-mediated afferent recruitment of dorsal prefrontal cortical (dPFC) and parafascicular thalamic connections onto dorsomedial striatal (DMS) spiny projection neurons (SPNs). For dPFC-DMS circuits, we find decreased synaptic strength specifically onto indirect pathway SPNs in both Nrxn1α^+/- and Nrxn1α^-/- mi

SUBMITTER: Davatolhagh MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8071350 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature