Serum response factor is essential for synaptic maturation in the hippocampus

摘要: Disturbances of gene expression patterns that occur during brain development can severely affect signal transmission, connectivity, and plasticity, key features underlie memory formation storage in neurons. Abnormalities at the molecular level manifest as changes structural functional plasticity dendritic spines harbor excitatory synapses. This lead to such developmental neuropsychiatric conditions Autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, schizophrenia. The present study investigated role major transcriptional regulator serum response factor (SRF) synapse maturation its impact on behavioral phenotypes. Using vitro vivo models early postnatal SRF deletion, we studied influence morphological physiological hallmarks spine development. elimination developing neurons resulted a phenotype immature impairments transmission. Moreover, using combination imaging techniques, showed SRF-depleted exhibited lower specific glutamate receptor mRNAs decrease their surface expression. Additionally, hippocampal CA1 caused immaturity social deficit is frequently observed autism patients. Altogether, our data suggest regulation begins stage transcription, which underpins crucial transcription factors SRF. disturbances translate adult animals.