Reduced sociability and social agency encoding in adult Shank3-mutant mice are restored through gene re-expression in real time

Nat Neurosci. 2021 Sep;24(9):1243-1255. doi: 10.1038/s41593-021-00888-4. Epub 2021 Jul 12.

Abstract

Despite a growing understanding of the molecular and developmental basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), how the neuronal encoding of social information is disrupted in ASD and whether it contributes to abnormal social behavior remains unclear. Here, we disrupted and then restored expression of the ASD-associated gene Shank3 in adult male mice while tracking the encoding dynamics of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) over weeks. We find that Shank3 disruption led to a reduction of neurons encoding the experience of other mice and an increase in neurons encoding the animal's own experience. This shift was associated with a loss of ability by neurons to distinguish other from self and, therefore, the inability to encode social agency. Restoration of Shank3 expression in the mPFC reversed this encoding imbalance and increased sociability over 5-8 weeks. These findings reveal a neuronal-encoding process that is necessary for social behavior and that may be disrupted in ASD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / genetics*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Social Behavior*

Substances

  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Shank3 protein, mouse