Autism-Related Gene Dlgap2 Mutant Mice Display Abnormal Olfactory

• Main Authors: Yuh-Tarng Chen, 陳郁唐
• Other Authors: Li-Jen Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/58124332086904159186

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 腦與心智科學研究所 === 101 === The olfactory system, a relatively primitive system in the brain, plays an important role in the establishment of social behaviors in mammals. However, the molecular mechanisms regarding olfaction and social behavior are still largely unclear.Clinical research has suggested an association between DLGAP2, encoding a postsynaptic protein, and impaired social performance in patients of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is clear that Dlgap2 is highly expressed in the olfactory system in rodents, the roles of Dlgap2 in olfaction and social behavior can thus be elucidated. Using the cre/lox system, exon 6 of Dlgap2 gene was deleted and Dlgap2 knockout (KO) mice were subsequently generated. The structure and function of the olfactory system were examined with biochemical, morphological and behavioral means. In Dlgap2 KO mice, olfactory detection and discrimination were comparable to those in wildtype (WT) littermates. However, they demonstrated hyperactivity towards social odors. Compared with WT mice, the expression of GulR1, a key component of AMPA receptor, was increased in the olfactory bulb of Dlgap2 KO mice. In the morphological aspect, the dendritic length was longer and number of segments was increased in superficial pyramidal cells of the piriform cortex in Dlgap2 KO mice while the spine density was reduced. Changes of synaptic proteins in the olfactory bulb and altered dendritic structures in the olfactory cortex might contribute to the disturbance of detection or interpretation of social signals which might account for social odor-induced hyperactivity in Dlgap2 KO mice.