Maternal behaviours disrupted by Gprasp2 deletion modulate neurodevelopmental trajectory in progeny

Abstract

Abstract Background Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are known to present sex-specific differences. Understanding how maternal behaviours are affected by pathogenic mutations is crucial to translate research efforts, since rearing may recursively modulate neurodevelopment phenotype of the progeny. In this work, we focused on the effects Gprasp2 deletion in females and its impact in progeny care and development. Methods Female mice, wild-type (WT), Gprasp2+/- (HET) or Gprasp2-/- (KO) mutants and their progeny were used. Behavioural paradigms targeting anxiety, memory, maternal care, and other social behaviours were performed. Analysis of communication was carried out through daily recordings of ultrasonic vocalizations in isolated pups. Cross-fostering experiments were performed to understand the effect of maternal genotype in pup development. Results We found that Gprasp2-/- females presented striking impairments in social and working memory. Females also showed disruptions in maternal care, as well as physiological and molecular alterations in the reproductive system and hypothalamus, such as the structure of the mammary gland and the expression levels of oxytocin receptor (OxtR) in nulliparous versus primiparous females. We observed alterations in pup communication, particularly a reduced number of calls in Gprasp2 KO pups, which resulted from an interaction effect of the dam and pup genotype. Cross-fostering mutant pups with wild-type dams rescued some of the early defects shown in vocalizations. This effect was not bidirectional, as rearing WT pups with Gprasp2-/- dams was not sufficient to induce significant phenotypical alterations. Conclusions Our results suggest Gprasp2 mutations perturb social and working memory in a sex-independent manner, but impact female-specific behaviours towards progeny care, female physiology, and gene expression. These changes in mutant dams contribute to a disruption in early stages of progeny development. More generally, our results highlight the need to better understand GxE interactions in the context of ASDs, when female behaviour may present a contributing factor in postnatal neurodevelopmental trajectory.