Cited by 322Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

The Number of Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons Is Decreased in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Autism

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Hashemi, Ezzat, Ariza, Jeanelle, Rogers, Haille, Noctor, Stephen C., Martínez-Cerdeño, Verónica·2016·Cerebral Cortex

Abstract

The cognitive phenotype of autism has been correlated with an altered balance of excitation to inhibition in the cerebral cortex, which could result from a change in the number, function, or morphology of GABA-expressing interneurons. The number of GABAergic interneuron subtypes has not been quantified in the autistic cerebral cortex. We classified interneurons into 3 subpopulations based on expression of the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, or calretinin. We quantified the number of each interneuron subtype in postmortem neocortical tissue from 11 autistic cases and 10 control cases. Prefrontal Brodmann Areas (BA) BA46, BA47, and BA9 in autism and age-matched controls were analyzed by blinded researchers. We show that the number of parvalbumin+ interneurons in these 3 cortical areas-BA46, BA47, and BA9-is significantly reduced in autism compared with controls. The number of calbindin+ and calretinin+ interneurons did not differ in the cortical areas examined. Parvalbumin+ interneurons are fast-spiking cells that synchronize the activity of pyramidal cells through perisomatic and axo-axonic inhibition. The reduced number of parvalbumin+ interneurons could disrupt the balance of excitation/inhibition and alter gamma wave oscillations in the cerebral cortex of autistic subjects. These data will allow development of novel treatments specifically targeting parvalbumin interneurons.

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  • The number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive interneurons, but not calbindin- or calretinin-expressing ones, is decreased in the medial PFC in ASD, and this decrease is due to fewer chandelier interneurons.

    “The number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive interneurons, but not those expressing calbindin or calretinin, is decreased in the medial PFC [148], which was recently confirmed to be due to fewer chandelier interneurons [12].”

    From Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models (2017) · cites this paper as [148]

  • PVI circuits are altered in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder despite heterogeneity in etiology.

    “Despite heterogeneity in the etiology across schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, PVI circuits are altered in these psychiatric disorders.”

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1 of the 113 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. von Economo C. 1929. The cytoarchitectonics of the human cerebral cortex. London: Humphrey Milford -Oxford University.

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Authors
Hashemi, E., Ariza, J., Rogers, H., Noctor, S. C., & Martínez-Cerdeño, V.
Affiliations
  • Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California (US)
  • University of California Davis Medical Center (US)
Venue
Cerebral Cortex
Published
2016-02-27
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
bhw021
ISSN
  • 1047-3211 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2199
OpenAlex
W2294392975
Cited by
322
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 7
FWCI
21.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cerebral Cortex (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute for Mental Health (MH094681 and MH101188)
  • MIND Institute (U54 HD079125)
  • Shriners Hospitals, and the Pathology Department at UCD
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, parvalbumin interneurons, GABAergic interneurons, medial prefrontal cortex, excitation-inhibition balance, interneuron subtypes, calbindin, calretinin, fast-spiking interneurons, gamma oscillations, postmortem brain
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Cell Count, Child, Female, Humans, Interneurons, Male, Middle Aged, Parvalbumins, Calbindins, Calbindin 2

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