Cyfip1 haploinsufficient rats show white matter changes, myelin thinning, abnormal oligodendrocytes and behavioural inflexibility

Ana I. Silva, Josephine E. Haddon, Yasir Ahmed Syed, Simon Trent, Tzu Ching E. Lin, Yateen Patel, Jenny Carter, Niels Haan, Robert C. Honey, Trevor Humby, Yaniv Assaf, Michael J. Owen, David E.J. Linden, Jeremy Hall*, Lawrence S. Wilkinson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

The biological basis of the increased risk for psychiatric disorders seen in 15q11.2 copy number deletion is unknown. Previous work has shown disturbances in white matter tracts in human carriers of the deletion. Here, in a novel rat model, we recapitulated low dosage of the candidate risk gene CYFIP1 present within the 15q11.2 interval. Using diffusion tensor imaging, we first showed extensive white matter changes in Cyfip1 mutant rats, which were most pronounced in the corpus callosum and external capsule. Transmission electron microscopy showed that these changes were associated with thinning of the myelin sheath in the corpus callosum. Myelin thinning was independent of changes in axon number or diameter but was associated with effects on mature oligodendrocytes, including aberrant intracellular distribution of myelin basic protein. Finally, we demonstrated effects on cognitive phenotypes sensitive to both disruptions in myelin and callosal circuitry.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3455
JournalNature Communications
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2019

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