Open AccessThe effect of background strain on the behavioral phenotypes of the MDGA2 +/− mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Author(s) -
Fertan Emre,
Wong Aimée A.,
Purdon Michaela K.,
Weaver Ian C. G.,
Brown Richard E.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
genes, brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1601-183X
pISSN - 1601-1848
DOI - 10.1111/gbb.12696
Subject(s) - neuroligin , autism spectrum disorder , autism , strain (injury) , phenotype , genotype , anxiety , psychology , morris water navigation task , elevated plus maze , wild type , developmental psychology , biology , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , gene , anatomy , psychiatry , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , hippocampal formation , mutant , excitatory postsynaptic potential
The membrane‐associated mucin (MAM) domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 2 protein single knock‐out mice (MDGA2 +/− ) are models of ASD. We examined the behavioral phenotypes of male and female MDGA2 +/− and wildtype mice on C57BL6/NJ and C57BL6/N backgrounds at 2 months of age and measured MDGA2, neuroligin 1 and neuroligin 2 levels at 7 months. Mice on the C57BL6/NJ background performed better than those on the C57BL6/N background in visual ability and in learning and memory performance in the Morris water maze and differed in measures of motor behavior and anxiety. Mice with the MDGA2 +/− genotype differed from WT mice in motor, social and repetitive behavior and anxiety, but most of these effects involved interactions between MDGA2 +/− genotype and background strain. The background strain also influenced MDGA2 levels and NLGN2 association in MDGA2 +/− mice. Our findings emphasize the importance of the background strain used in studies of genetically modified mice.