Conservation of human NMDA receptor subunits and disease variants in zebrafish.

Background: NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are widely expressed, glutamate-gated ion channels that play key roles in brain development and function. Variants have been identified in the genes encoding NMDAR subunits that are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, among other manifestations. Zebrafish are a powerful model to study brain development and function given their rapid development and ease of genetic manipulation.

Behavioral Assays Dissecting NMDA Receptor Function in Zebrafish.

Zebrafish are a powerful system to study brain development and to dissect the activity of complex circuits. One advantage is that they display complex behaviors, including prey capture, learning, responses to photic and acoustic stimuli, and social interaction (Dreosti et al., Front Neural Circuits 9:39, 2015; Bruckner et al.

Developmental loss of NMDA receptors results in supernumerary forebrain neurons through delayed maturation of transit-amplifying neuroblasts.

Developmental neurogenesis is a tightly regulated spatiotemporal process with its dysregulation implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. NMDA receptors are glutamate-gated ion channels that are widely expressed in the early nervous system, yet their contribution to neurogenesis is poorly understood. Notably, a variety of mutations in genes encoding NMDA receptor subunits are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Negatively Impacts Prey Capture Capabilities in Larval Zebrafish.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in many industrial and domestic applications, which has resulted in unintentional human exposures and bioaccumulation in blood and other organs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is among the most prevalent PFAS in the environment and has been postulated to affect brain functions in exposed organisms. However, the impacts of PFOS in early neural development have not been well described.

Loss of NMDA receptor function during development results in decreased KCC2 expression and increased neurons in the zebrafish forebrain.

Developmental neurogenesis is a tightly regulated spatiotemporal process with its dysregulation implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. NMDA receptors are glutamate-gated ion channels that are widely expressed in the early nervous system, yet their contribution to neurogenesis is poorly understood. Notably, a variety of mutations in genes encoding NMDA receptor subunits are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B, encoded by GRIN2B. NMDARs are glutamate-gated ion channels with key synaptic functions in excitatory neurotransmission.

A Model to Study NMDA Receptors in Early Nervous System Development.

-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels that play critical roles in neuronal development and nervous system function. Here, we developed a model to study NMDARs in early development in zebrafish, by generating CRISPR-mediated lesions in the NMDAR genes, and , which encode the obligatory GluN1 subunits. While receptors containing or show high Ca permeability, like their mammalian counterpart, is expressed earlier and more broadly in development than Both and zebrafish are viable.