A Schizophrenia-Related Deletion Leads to KCNQ2-Dependent Abnormal Dopaminergic Modulation of Prefrontal Cortical Interneuron Activity

Cereb Cortex. 2018 Jun 1;28(6):2175-2191. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx123.

Abstract

Altered prefrontal cortex function is implicated in schizophrenia (SCZ) pathophysiology and could arise from imbalance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) in local circuits. It remains unclear whether and how such imbalances relate to genetic etiologies. We used a mouse model of the SCZ-predisposing 22q11.2 deletion (Df(16)A+/- mice) to evaluate how this genetic lesion affects the excitability of layer V prefrontal pyramidal neurons and its modulation by dopamine (DA). Df(16)A+/- mice have normal balance between E/I at baseline but are unable to maintain it upon dopaminergic challenge. Specifically, in wild-type mice, D1 receptor (D1R) activation enhances excitability of layer V prefrontal pyramidal neurons and D2 receptor (D2R) activation reduces it. Whereas the excitatory effect upon D1R activation is enhanced in Df(16)A+/- mice, the inhibitory effect upon D2R activation is reduced. The latter is partly due to the inability of mutant mice to activate GABAergic parvalbumin (PV)+ interneurons through D2Rs. We further demonstrate that reduced KCNQ2 channel function in PV+ interneurons in Df(16)A+/- mice renders them less capable of inhibiting pyramidal neurons upon D2 modulation. Thus, DA modulation of PV+ interneurons and control of E/I are altered in Df(16)A+/- mice with a higher excitation and lower inhibition during dopaminergic modulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • KCNQ2 Potassium Channel / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology*

Substances

  • KCNQ2 Potassium Channel
  • Kcnq2 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Dopamine