Visual sensorial impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders: evidence for a retinal phenotype in Fragile X Syndrome

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 25;9(8):e105996. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105996. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Visual sensory impairments are common in Mental Deficiency (MD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These defects are linked to cerebral dysfunction in the visual cortical area characterized by the deregulation of axon growth/guidance and dendrite spine immaturity of neurons. However, visual perception had not been addressed, although the retina is part of the central nervous system with a common embryonic origin. Therefore, we investigated retinal perception, the first event of vision, in a murine model of MD with autistic features. We document that retinal function is altered in Fmr1 KO mice, a model of human Fragile X Syndrome. Indeed, In Fmr1 KO mice had a lower retinal function characterized by a decreased photoreceptors neuron response, due to a 40% decrease in Rhodopsin content and to Rod Outer Segment destabilization. In addition, we observed an alteration of the visual signal transmission between photoreceptors and the inner retina which could be attributed to deregulations of pre- and post- synaptic proteins resulting in retinal neurons synaptic destabilization and to retinal neurons immaturity. Thus, for the first time, we demonstrated that retinal perception is altered in a murine model of MD with autistic features and that there are strong similarities between cerebral and retinal cellular and molecular defects. Our results suggest that both visual perception and integration must be taken into account in assessing visual sensory impairments in MD and ASD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / genetics
  • Fragile X Syndrome / metabolism
  • Fragile X Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phenotype
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retina / physiopathology*
  • Rhodopsin / genetics*
  • Rhodopsin / metabolism
  • Visual Perception / physiology*

Substances

  • Fmr1 protein, mouse
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • Rhodopsin

Grants and funding

Research was supported by CNRS, Regional Hospital of Orléans, University of Orléans, FEDER 35106, and FRAXA Research Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.