Early postnatal development of the MDGA2 mouse model of synaptic dysfunction.

Synaptic dysfunction underlies many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The membrane-associated mucin domain-containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor proteins (MDGAs) regulate synaptic development by modulating neurexin-neuroligin complex formation. Since understanding the neurodevelopmental profile and the sex-based differences in the manifestation of the symptoms of NDDs is important for their early diagnosis, we tested a mouse model haploinsufficient for MDGA2 (MDGA2) on a neurodevelopmental test battery, containing sensory, motor, and cognitive measures, as well as ultrasonic vocalizations.

The effect of background strain on the behavioral phenotypes of the MDGA2 mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.

The membrane-associated mucin (MAM) domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 2 protein single knock-out mice (MDGA2 ) are models of ASD. We examined the behavioral phenotypes of male and female MDGA2 and wildtype mice on C57BL6/NJ and C57BL6/N backgrounds at 2 months of age and measured MDGA2, neuroligin 1 and neuroligin 2 levels at 7 months. Mice on the C57BL6/NJ background performed better than those on the C57BL6/N background in visual ability and in learning and memory performance in the Morris water maze and differed in measures of motor behavior and anxiety.