Decreased Number and Expression of nNOS-Positive Interneurons in Basolateral Amygdala in Two Mouse Models of Autism

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Xiaona WangYinbo Gao

Abstract

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) controls socio-emotional behaviors and is involved in the etiology of autism. We have recently shown that virtually every neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) positive cell is a GABAergic inhibitory interneuron in the mouse BLA. Here, stereology was used to quantify the number of nNOS-expressing interneurons in valproic acid (VPA)-exposed C57BL/6J (B6) and BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice models of autism. Additionally, the protein and mRNA levels of nNOS in the BLA were quantitatively assessed by western blot and qRT-PCR analysis, respectively. Our results showed the decreased number of nNOS interneurons in the BLA of animal models relative to autism. Consistently, nNOS was significantly reduced in the VPA-exposed and BTBR mice at both protein and mRNA levels. Together, these preliminary findings suggest that down-regulation of nNOS may be an attractive target for the pharmacological intervention in autism.

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Citations

Dec 26, 2018·Frontiers in Neurology·Xiaona WangYinsen Song
Oct 28, 2020·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Alinne Lorrany Gomes Dos SantosDaniel Guerreiro Diniz
Aug 3, 2021·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Xiaona WangQi Wang

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissector
electrophoresis

Software Mentioned

Image J
Stereo Investigator
GraphPad Prism
GraphPad

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