Alterations in AMPA receptor subunit expression in cortical inhibitory interneurons in the epileptic stargazer mutant mouse

Absence seizures arise from disturbances within the corticothalamocortical network, however the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying seizure generation arising from different genetic backgrounds are not fully understood. While recent experimental evidence suggests that changes in inhibitory microcircuits in the cortex may contribute to generation of the hallmark spike-wave discharges, it is still unclear if altered cortical inhibition is a result of interneuron dysfunction due to compromised glutamatergic excitation and/or changes in cortical interneuron number. The stargazer mouse model of absence epilepsy presents with a genetic deficit in stargazin, which is predominantly expressed in cortical parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, and involved in the trafficking of glutamatergic AMPA receptors. Hence, in this study we examine changes in (1) the subunit-specific expression of AMPA receptors which could potentially result in a loss of excitation onto cortical PV+ interneurons, and (2) PV+ neuron density that could additionally impair cortical inhibition. Using Western blot analysis we found subunit-specific alterations in AMPA receptor expression in the stargazer somatosensory cortex. Further analysis using confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed that although there are no changes in cortical PV+ interneuron number, there is a predominant loss of GluA1 and 4 containing AMPA receptors in PV+ neurons in stargazers compared to non-epileptic controls. Taken together, these data suggest that the loss of AMPA receptors in PV+ neurons could impair their feed-forward inhibitory output, ultimately altering cortical network oscillations, and contribute to seizure generation in stargazers. As such the feed-forward inhibitory interneurons could be potential targets for future therapeutic intervention for some absence epilepsy patients.