Enhanced synaptic plasticity and spatial memory in female but not male FLRT2-haplodeficient mice

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 27;8(1):3703. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22030-4.

Abstract

The Fibronectin Leucine-Rich Transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) has been implicated in several hormone -and sex-dependent physiological and pathological processes (including chondrogenesis, menarche and breast cancer); is known to regulate developmental synapses formation, and is expressed in the hippocampus, a brain structure central for learning and memory. However, the role of FLRT2 in the adult hippocampus and its relevance in sex-dependent brain functions remains unknown. We here used adult single-allele FLRT2 knockout (FLRT2+/-) mice and behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular/biological assays to examine the effects of FLRT2 haplodeficiency on synaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Female and male FLRT2+/- mice presented morphological features (including body masses, brain shapes/weights, and brain macroscopic cytoarchitectonic organization), indistinguishable from their wild type counterparts. However, in vivo examinations unveiled enhanced hippocampus-dependent spatial memory recall in female FLRT2+/- animals, concomitant with augmented hippocampal synaptic plasticity and decreased levels of the glutamate transporter EAAT2 and beta estrogen receptors. In contrast, male FLRT2+/- animals exhibited deficient memory recall and decreased alpha estrogen receptor levels. These observations propose that FLRT2 can regulate memory functions in the adulthood in a sex-specific manner and might thus contribute to further research on the mechanisms linking sexual dimorphism and cognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / metabolism
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
  • Female
  • Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuronal Plasticity / genetics
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Spatial Memory / physiology*

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
  • FLRT2 protein, mouse
  • Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • SLC1A2 protein, human