Phenotypic profiling of mGlu7 knockout mice reveals new implications for neurodevelopmental disorders
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by deficits in communication, cognition, attention, social behavior and/or motor control. Previous studies have pointed to the involvement of genes that regulate synaptic structure and function in the pathogenesis of these disorders. One such gene, GRM7, encodes the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu7), a G protein‐coupled receptor that regulates presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Mutations and polymorphisms in GRM7 have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in clinical populations; however, limited preclinical studies have evaluated mGlu7 in the context of this specific disease class. Here, we show that the absence of mGlu7 in mice is sufficient to alter phenotypes within the domains of social behavior, associative learning, motor function, epilepsy and sleep. Moreover, Grm7 knockout mice exhibit an attenuated response to amphetamine. These findings provide rationale for further investigation of mGlu7 as a potential therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders such as idiopathic autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Rett syndrome.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 14, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1111/gbb.12654
Entities
People
- Aditi B. Buch
- Annah M. Moore
- Annalise J. Mcdonald
- Carrie K. Jones
- Colleen M. Niswender
- Craig W. Lindsley
- Hana Badivuku
- Matthew T. Jenkins
- Nicole M Fisher
- P. Jeffrey Conn
- Robert W. Gould
- Rocco G. Gogliotti
- Susmita Chennareddy
- W. Hudson Robb
Organizations
- Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
- Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Vanderbilt University