Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited form of intellectual disability caused by the absence or reduction of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) encoded by the FMR1 gene. In humans, one symptom of FXS is hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, including touch. We used a mouse model of FXS (Fmr1 KO) to study sensory processing of tactile information conveyed via the whisker system. In vivo electrophysiological recordings in somatosensory barrel cortex showed layer-specific broadening of the receptive fields at the level of layer 2/3 but not layer 4, in response to whisker stimulation. Furthermore, the encoding of tactile stimuli at different frequencies was severely affected in layer 2/3. The behavioral effect of this broadening of the receptive fields was tested in the gap-crossing task, a whisker-dependent behavioral paradigm. In this task the Fmr1 KO mice showed differences in the number of whisker contacts with platforms, decrease in the whisker sampling duration and reduction in the whisker touch-time while performing the task. We propose that the increased excitability in the somatosensory barrel cortex upon whisker stimulation may contribute to changes in the whisking strategy as well as to other observed behavioral phenotypes related to tactile processing in Fmr1 KO mice. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Juczewski, K., von Richthofen, H., Bagni, C., Celikel, T., Fisone, G., Krieger, P. (2016). Somatosensory map expansion and altered processing of tactile inputs in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE, 96, 201-215 [10.1016/j.nbd.2016.09.007].

Somatosensory map expansion and altered processing of tactile inputs in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome

Bagni C.
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited form of intellectual disability caused by the absence or reduction of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) encoded by the FMR1 gene. In humans, one symptom of FXS is hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, including touch. We used a mouse model of FXS (Fmr1 KO) to study sensory processing of tactile information conveyed via the whisker system. In vivo electrophysiological recordings in somatosensory barrel cortex showed layer-specific broadening of the receptive fields at the level of layer 2/3 but not layer 4, in response to whisker stimulation. Furthermore, the encoding of tactile stimuli at different frequencies was severely affected in layer 2/3. The behavioral effect of this broadening of the receptive fields was tested in the gap-crossing task, a whisker-dependent behavioral paradigm. In this task the Fmr1 KO mice showed differences in the number of whisker contacts with platforms, decrease in the whisker sampling duration and reduction in the whisker touch-time while performing the task. We propose that the increased excitability in the somatosensory barrel cortex upon whisker stimulation may contribute to changes in the whisking strategy as well as to other observed behavioral phenotypes related to tactile processing in Fmr1 KO mice. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
2016
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore BIO/13 - BIOLOGIA APPLICATA
English
Barrel cortex; Behavior; FMRP; Fmr1 KO; Fragile X syndrome; Gap-crossing task; Hyperexcitation; In vivo electrophysiology; Sensory processing; Whisker system; Afferent Pathways; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein; Fragile X Syndrome; Humans; Locomotion; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Reaction Time; Somatosensory Cortex; Touch; Vibrissae
Juczewski, K., von Richthofen, H., Bagni, C., Celikel, T., Fisone, G., Krieger, P. (2016). Somatosensory map expansion and altered processing of tactile inputs in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE, 96, 201-215 [10.1016/j.nbd.2016.09.007].
Juczewski, K; von Richthofen, H; Bagni, C; Celikel, T; Fisone, G; Krieger, P
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/244781
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