Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Mar 2019)

Altered Behaviors and Impaired Synaptic Function in a Novel Rat Model With a Complete Shank3 Deletion

  • Tian-Jia Song,
  • Tian-Jia Song,
  • Tian-Jia Song,
  • Xing-Yu Lan,
  • Xing-Yu Lan,
  • Xing-Yu Lan,
  • Meng-Ping Wei,
  • Meng-Ping Wei,
  • Fu-Jun Zhai,
  • Fu-Jun Zhai,
  • Fu-Jun Zhai,
  • Tobias M. Boeckers,
  • Jia-Nan Wang,
  • Jia-Nan Wang,
  • Jia-Nan Wang,
  • Shuo Yuan,
  • Shuo Yuan,
  • Shuo Yuan,
  • Meng-Ying Jin,
  • Meng-Ying Jin,
  • Meng-Ying Jin,
  • Yu-Fei Xie,
  • Yu-Fei Xie,
  • Yu-Fei Xie,
  • Wan-Wen Dang,
  • Wan-Wen Dang,
  • Wan-Wen Dang,
  • Chen Zhang,
  • Chen Zhang,
  • Michael Schön,
  • Pei-Wen Song,
  • Mei-Hong Qiu,
  • Ya-Yue Song,
  • Song-Ping Han,
  • Ji-Sheng Han,
  • Ji-Sheng Han,
  • Ji-Sheng Han,
  • Rong Zhang,
  • Rong Zhang,
  • Rong Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00111
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

Mutations within the Shank3 gene, which encodes a key postsynaptic density (PSD) protein at glutamatergic synapses, contribute to the genetic etiology of defined autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) and intellectual disabilities (ID). Although there are a series of genetic mouse models to study Shank3 gene in ASDs, there are few rat models with species-specific advantages. In this study, we established and characterized a novel rat model with a deletion spanning exons 11–21 of Shank3, leading to a complete loss of the major SHANK3 isoforms. Synaptic function and plasticity of Shank3-deficient rats were impaired detected by biochemical and electrophysiological analyses. Shank3-depleted rats showed impaired social memory but not impaired social interaction behaviors. In addition, impaired learning and memory, increased anxiety-like behavior, increased mechanical pain threshold and decreased thermal sensation were observed in Shank3-deficient rats. It is worth to note that Shank3-deficient rats had nearly normal levels of the endogenous social neurohormones oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP). This new rat model will help to further investigate the etiology and assess potential therapeutic target and strategy for Shank3-related neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords