Involvement of Epigenetic Modifications of GABAergic Interneurons in Basolateral Amygdala in Anxiety-like Phenotype of Prenatally Stressed Mice

BACKGROUND: Prenatal stress is considered a risk factor for anxiety disorder. Downregulation in the expression of GABAergic gene, that is, glutamic acid decarboxylase 67, associated with DNA methyltransferase overexpression in GABAergic neurons has been regarded as a characteristic component of anxiety disorder. Prenatal stress has an adverse effect on the development of the basolateral amygdala, which is a key region in anxiety regulation. The aim of this study is to analyze the possibility of epigenetic alterations of GABAergic neurons in the basolateral amygdala participating in prenatal stress-induced anxiety. METHODS: Behavioral tests were used to explore the prenatal stress-induced anxiety behaviors of female adult mice. Real-time RT-PCR, western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and electrophysiological analysis were employed to detect epigenetic changes of GABAergic system in the basolateral amygdala. RESULTS: Prenatal stress mice developed an anxiety-like phenotype accompanied by a significant increase of DNA methyltransferase 1 and a reduced expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 in the basolateral amygdala. Prenatal stress mice also showed the increased binding of DNA methyltransferase 1 and methyl CpG binding protein 2 to glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 promoter region. The decrease of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 transcript was paralleled by an enrichment of 5-methylcytosine in glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 promoter regions. Electrophysiological study revealed the increase of postsynaptic neuronal excitability in the cortical-basolateral amygdala synaptic transmission of prenatal stress mice. 5-Aza-deoxycytidine treatment restored the increased synaptic transmission and anxiety-like behaviors in prenatal stress mice via improving GABAergic system. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that DNA epigenetic modifications of GABAergic interneurons in the basolateral amygdala participate in the etiology of anxiety-like phenotype in prenatal stress mice.