Sex Differences in Dopamine Receptor Signaling in Fmr1 Knockout Mice: A Pilot Study

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an X-chromosome-linked dominant genetic disorder that causes a variable degree of cognitive dysfunction and developmental disability. Current treatment is symptomatic and no existing medications target the specific cause of FXS. As with other X-linked disorders, FXS manifests differently in males and females, including abnormalities in the dopamine system that are also seen in Fmr1-knockout (KO) mice. We investigated sex differences in dopamine signaling in Fmr1-KO mice in response to L-stepholidine, a dopamine D1 receptor agonist and D2 receptor antagonist. We found significant sex differences in basal levels of phosphorylated protein kinase A (p-PKA) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 beta in wild type mice that were absent in Fmr1-KO mice. In wild-type mice, L-stepholidine increased p-PKA in males but not female mice, decreased p-GSK-3 in female mice and increased p-GSK-3 in male mice. Conversely, in Fmr1-KO mice, L-stepholidine increased p-PKA and p-GSK-3 beta in females, and decreased p-PKA and p-GSK-3 beta in males.

Automated summary

Fragile X syndrome is characterized by varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction and developmental disability, with differences in dopamine signaling between males and females. Male and female wild-type mice show significant sex differences in phosphorylated protein levels, a difference that is absent in Fmr1-KO mice.