mGluR5 knockout mice display increased dendritic spine densities

Alterations in dendritic spine densities and morphologies have been correlated with the abnormal functioning of the synapse. Specifically the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been implicated in dendrogenesis and spineogenesis, since its activation triggers various signaling cascades that have been demonstrated to play roles in synaptic maturation and plasticity. Here we used the Golgi impregnation technique to analyze the dendritic spines of mGluR5−/− knockout mice in comparison to their heterozygote mGluR5+/− littermates. mGluR5−/− mice had elevated spine densities irrespective of spine type or location along their dendritic trees in comparison to mGluR5+/− animals. Such anatomical changes may underlie the hyperexcitability observed in mGluR5 total knockout mice.

► mGluR5−/− mice show overall elevated spine densities in their somatosensory cortex. ► mGluR5−/− mice display increases in spine density for every morphological phenotype. ► This elevated spine density is observed in both distal and proximal sections of the dendrite.