Cited by 477Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Autism-associated neuroligin-3 mutations commonly impair striatal circuits to boost repetitive behaviors

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Rothwell, Patrick E., Fuccillo, Marc V., Maxeiner, Stephan, Hayton, Scott J., Gokce, Ozgun, Lim, Byung Kook, Fowler, Stephen C., Malenka, Robert C. +1 more·2014·Cell

Abstract

In humans, neuroligin-3 mutations are associated with autism, whereas in mice, the corresponding mutations produce robust synaptic and behavioral changes. However, different neuroligin-3 mutations cause largely distinct phenotypes in mice, and no causal relationship links a specific synaptic dysfunction to a behavioral change. Using rotarod motor learning as a proxy for acquired repetitive behaviors in mice, we found that different neuroligin-3 mutations uniformly enhanced formation of repetitive motor routines. Surprisingly, neuroligin-3 mutations caused this phenotype not via changes in the cerebellum or dorsal striatum but via a selective synaptic impairment in the nucleus accumbens/ventral striatum. Here, neuroligin-3 mutations increased rotarod learning by specifically impeding synaptic inhibition onto D1-dopamine receptor-expressing but not D2-dopamine receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons. Our data thus suggest that different autism-associated neuroligin-3 mutations cause a common increase in acquired repetitive behaviors by impairing a specific striatal synapse and thereby provide a plausible circuit substrate for autism pathophysiology.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2014.04.045

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Authors
Rothwell, P. E., Fuccillo, M. V., Maxeiner, S., Hayton, S. J., Gokce, O., Lim, B. K., Fowler, S. C., Malenka, R. C., & Südhof, T. C.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • University of Kansas (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Malenka, Robert C.
  • Südhof, Thomas C.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-07
Volume
158
Issue
1
Pages
198-212
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2057250808
Cited by
477
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 7
FWCI
28.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • KU ScholarWorks (The University of Kansas) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Simons Foundation
  • National Institute of Mental Health (F32MH096491, P50MH086403, K99MH099243)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
neuroligin-3, autism spectrum disorder, repetitive behavior, nucleus accumbens, ventral striatum, medium spiny neurons, dopamine D1 receptor, dopamine D2 receptor, synaptic inhibition, striatal circuits, mouse models of autism, synaptic dysfunction
MeSH terms
Animals, Autistic Disorder, Basal Ganglia, Humans, Membrane Proteins, Mutation, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Nucleus Accumbens, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, Mice, Knockout, Rotarod Performance Test, Mice

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