Impaired Dendritic Expression and Plasticity Of H-Channels in the fmr1(-/Y) Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome

Abstract

Despite extensive research into both synaptic and morphological changes, surprisingly little is known about dendritic function in fragile X syndrome (FXS). We found that the dendritic input resistance of CA1 neurons was significantly lower in fmr1(-/y) versus wild-type mice. Consistent with elevated dendritic I-h, voltage sag, rebound, and resonance frequency were significantly higher and temporal summation was lower in the dendrites of fmr1(-/y) mice. Dendritic expression of the h-channel subunit HCN1, but not HCN2, was higher in the CA1 region of fmr1(-/y) mice. Interestingly, whereas mGluR-mediated persistent decreases in Ih occurred in both wildtype and fmr1(-/y) mice, persistent increases in Ih that occurred after LTP induction in wild-type mice were absent in fmr1(-/y) mice. Thus, chronic upregulation of dendritic Ih in conjunction with impairment of homeostatic h-channel plasticity represents a dendritic channelopathy in this model of mental retardation and may provide a mechanism for the cognitive impairment associated with FXS.