Dysregulation of GABAA Receptor-Mediated Neurotransmission during the Auditory Cortex Critical Period in the Fragile X Syndrome Mouse Model

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading monogenic form of intellectual disability and autism, with patients exhibiting numerous auditory-related phenotypes during their developmental period, including communication, language development, and auditory processing deficits. Despite FXS studies describing excitatory-inhibitory (E-I) imbalance in the auditory circuit and an impaired auditory critical period, evaluation of E-I circuitry maturation in the auditory cortex of FXS models remains limited. Here, we examined GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission within the auditory cortex, characterizing normal intracortical circuit development patterns in wild-type (WT) mice and examining their dysregulation in developing Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice. Electrophysiological recordings revealed gradual developmental shifts in WT L4-L2/3 connectivity, where circuit excitability significantly increased after critical period onset. KO mice exhibited accelerated developmental shifts related to aberrant GABAergic signaling. Specifically, Fmr1 KO L2/3 pyramidal neurons have enhanced developmental sensitivity to pharmacological GABAAR modulators, altered maturation of GABAAR voltage-dependent conductance, with additional presynaptic GABA release alterations. These differences are further accompanied by alterations in developmental long-term potentiation. Together, our results suggest that altered GABAergic signaling within developing Fmr1 KOs impairs the normal patterning of E-I circuit and synaptic plasticity maturation to contribute to the impaired auditory cortex critical period and functional auditory deficits in FXS.

Keywords: Fragile X; GABA inhibition; auditory cortex; critical period; plasticity.