Inhibition of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons results in complex behavioral changes

Reduced expression of the GAD1 gene-encoded 67-kD protein isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) is a hallmark of the schizophrenia. GAD67 downregulation occurs in multiple interneuronal subpopulations, including the parvalbumin positive (PVALB+) cells. To investigate the role of the PV-positive GABA-ergic interneurons in behavioral and molecular processes, we knocked down the Gad1 transcript using a miRNA engineered to specifically target Gad1 mRNA under the control of Pvalb bacterial artificial chromosome. Verification of construct expression was performed by immunohistochemistry. Follow-up electrophysiological studies revealed a significant reduction in GABA release probability without alterations in postsynaptic membrane properties or changes in glutamatergic release probability in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons. Behavioral characterization of our transgenic mice uncovered that the Pvalb/Gad1 Tg mice have pronounced sensorimotor gating deficits, increased novelty seeking and reduced fear extinction. Furthermore, NMDA receptor antagonism by ketamine had an opposing dose-dependent effect, suggesting that the differential dosage of ketamine might have divergent effects on behavioral processes. All behavioral studies were validated using a second cohort of animals. Our results suggest that reduction of GABA-ergic transmission from PVALB+ interneurons primarily impacts behavioral domains related to fear and novelty seeking and that these alterations might be related to the behavioral phenotype observed in schizophrenia.