Loss of Cntnap2 Causes Axonal Excitability Deficits, Developmental Delay in Cortical Myelination, and Abnormal Stereotyped Motor Behavior

Cereb Cortex. 2019 Feb 1;29(2):586-597. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx341.

Abstract

Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) is found at the nodes of Ranvier and has been associated with physiological properties of white matter conductivity. Genetic variation in CNTNAP2, the gene encoding Caspr2, has been linked to several neurodevelopmental conditions, yet pathophysiological effects of CNTNAP2 mutations on axonal physiology and brain myelination are unknown. Here, we have investigated mouse mutants for Cntnap2 and found profound deficiencies in the clustering of Kv1-family potassium channels in the juxtaparanodes of brain myelinated axons. These deficits are associated with a change in the waveform of axonal action potentials and increases in postsynaptic excitatory responses. We also observed that the normal process of myelination is delayed in Cntnap2 mutant mice. This later phenotype is a likely modulator of the developmental expressivity of the stereotyped motor behaviors that characterize Cntnap2 mutant mice. Altogether, our results reveal a mechanism linked to white matter conductivity through which mutation of CNTNAP2 may affect neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Axons / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / growth & development
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Corpus Callosum / growth & development
  • Corpus Callosum / metabolism
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics
  • Developmental Disabilities / metabolism*
  • Developmental Disabilities / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism*
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder / genetics
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder / metabolism*
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder / pathology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • CNTNAP2 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins