Reversible GABAergic dysfunction involved in hippocampal hyperactivity predicts early-stage Alzheimer disease in a mouse model

BACKGROUND: Neuronal hyperactivity related to β-amyloid (Aβ) is considered an early warning sign of Alzheimer disease (AD). Although increasing evidence supports this opinion, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. METHODS: Here, we recorded whole-cell synaptic currents and membrane potentials using patch clamping of acute hippocampal slices from human amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 transgenic (5XFAD) mice and their wild-type littermates. Biochemical methods, electron microscopic imaging, behavioral tests, and intraventricular drug delivery applied with osmotic pumps were used in this study. RESULTS: We confirmed hyperactivity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in 5XFAD mice using whole-cell electrophysiological recording at 2.5 months old, when local Aβ-positive plaques had not developed and only mild cognitive dysfunction occurred. We further discovered attenuated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and unchanged excitatory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons, in which the intrinsic excitability was unchanged. Moreover, the density of both γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA(A)) receptor subunits, α1 and γ2, was reduced in synapses of the hippocampus in transgenic mice. Intriguingly, early intervention with the GABA(A) receptor agonist gaboxadol reversed the hippocampal hyperactivity and modestly ameliorated cognitive performance in 5XFAD mice under our experimental conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory postsynaptic disruption critically contributes to abnormalities in the hippocampal network and cognition in 5XFAD mice and possibly in AD. Therefore, strengthening the GABAergic system could be a promising therapy for AD in the early stages. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-021-00859-8.