GPR110 modulates anxiety-like behaviors and memory function in mice potentially through neuronal and neuroimmune alterations during neurodevelopment

Authors

• M Melkumyan
• J Toro
• B Huang
• HY Kim

Abstract

GPR110, an adhesion G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), is widely expressed in developing brains but diminishes in adult stage except in the hippocampus, a region involved in learning and memory. Ligand-induced GPR110 signaling stimulates neurogenesis and synaptogenesis during development, and the absence of the ligand-induced signaling causes object recognition and spatial memory deficits in adulthood and increased neuroinflammatory responses. Nevertheless, the role of GPR110 signaling in behavioral consequences has not been fully explored.
This study aimed to understand the effects of GPR110 on mouse behaviors in relation to neurodevelopmental and neuroimmune gene and protein expression. Anxiety and memory function were tested using both male and female mice at 5-6 month of age. GPR110 knockout (KO) mice displayed trends for increased anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze test and in the open field test. Memory tests, including the novel object test and the radial 8-arm maze showed worsened spatial and reference memory in the GPR110 KO mice compared to wildtype mice. The y-maze showed a significant sex by genotype interactions with GPR110 KO male mice having increased number of correct alterations and errors, while the GPR110 KO females had fewer correct alterations and errors.
RNAseq data indicated significantly impaired developmental gene expression for neuronal differentiation, axonogenesis, and synaptogenesis, as well as altered neuroinflammatory marker expression in GPR110 KO mouse brains. Further studies exploring the protein expression and neural activity of these mouse brain will give insight on the mechanism underlying the behavioral consequences associated with the GPR110 receptor.

Scientific Focus Area: Neuroscience

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