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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Jan 9.
Published in final edited form as: J Neurosci. 2008 Jul 9;28(28):7137–7142. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1345-08.2008

Mecp2 organizes juvenile social behavior in a sex-specific manner

Joseph R Kurian 1, Meaghan E Bychowski 2, Robin M Forbes-Lorman 1, Catherine J Auger 1,2, Anthony P Auger 1,2
PMCID: PMC2569867  NIHMSID: NIHMS67721  PMID: 18614683

Abstract

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) binds methylated DNA and recruits co-repressor proteins to modify chromatin and alter gene transcription. Mutations of the MECP2 gene can cause Rett syndrome (RTT), while subtle reductions of MeCP2 expression may be associated with male dominated social and neurodevelopmental disorders. We report that transiently decreased amygdala Mecp2 expression during a sensitive period of brain sexual differentiation disrupts the organization of sex differences in juvenile social play behavior. Interestingly, neonatal treatment with Mecp2 siRNA within the developing amygdala reduced juvenile social play behavior in males but not females. Reduced Mecp2 expression did not change juvenile sociability or anxiety-like behavior, suggesting this disruption is associated with subtle behavioral modification. This suggests Mecp2 may have an overlooked role in the organization of sexually dimorphic behaviors and that male juvenile behavior is particularly sensitive to Mecp2 disruption during this period of development.

Keywords: Mecp2, siRNA, amygdala, sex-difference, behavior, epigenetic

INTRODUCTION

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) is an X-linked gene with a protein product (MeCP2) that alters gene expression through several mechanisms. MeCP2 is primarily considered a methylated cytosine binding protein that recruits chromatin modifying factors, such as Sin3A and histone deactylases, to repress gene transcription(Nan et al., 1998). More importantly, mutations of the MeCP2 protein cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a progressive neurological disorder occurring primarily in girls that is associated with loss of verbal language and motor control, such as stereotypical hand movements, and sometimes autistic-like behaviors(Amir et al., 1999;Chahrour and Zoghbi, 2007;Samaco et al., 2005). As the MeCP2 gene is located on the X chromosome, females with RTT can have a mosaic pattern of Mecp2 expression due to X-inactivation. This results in varied expression of functional MeCP2 protein and a consequential continuum of phenotypic severity. In contrast, mutations in the coding region of the MeCP2 gene are severe and usually lethal in males(Villard, 2007).

RTT is one of five related pervasive developmental disorders, which also include autism, Aspergers’ syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Of these disorders, only RTT has a known genetic cause with mutations in MeCP2 associated with the majority of RTT cases. However, not all MECP2 mutations result in classic RTT pathology, but may be related to disorders with phenotypic similarity. For example, variations of a highly conserved region of the MECP2 3′-UTR, which is important for transcript stability, were found in autistic individuals(Shibayama et al., 2004). Significantly reduced MeCP2 expression was also found in frontal cortex samples of individuals with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Nagarajan et al., 2006). Therefore, while mutations dramatically affecting MeCP2 activity cause RTT, it is possible that mutations or conditions that subtly alter levels of MeCP2 expression may be related to other neurodevelopmental disorders.

With emerging associations between reduced MeCP2 expression and male dominated neurodevelopmental disorders, we recently questioned if a sex difference in Mecp2 expression existed during brain development. We found that during rat development males express less Mecp2 than females, and that this sexual dimorphism exhibited spatial and temporal specificity(Kurian et al., 2007). Specifically, Mecp2 expression was lower in males on post-natal day one in the amygdala and ventromedial hypothalamus; but these differences no longer exist at post-natal day ten, a time-point beyond the steroid sensitive period of sexual differentiation of the rat brain. Further, no expression differences were found at any time-point or in any region tested for Methyl CpG binding domain protein 2 (mbd2), which has similar function to Mecp2. Therefore, we predicted Mecp2 had a specific role in sexual differentiation of the rat brain, and considering the regional specificity further predicted that sexually dimorphic behaviors, particularly juvenile social behavior organized during amygdala development, would be sensitive to disruption of Mecp2 expression. Consequently, we examined the impact of brief Mecp2 disruption within the developing amygdala of males and females and determined the impact on social behavior development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pup selection and pre-weaning environment

Adult female Sprague Dawley rats (Charles River Laboratories, Inc., Wilmington, Massachusets, USA) were mated in our animal facility and allowed to deliver normally. Cages were checked regularly to determine the day of birth. On the day of birth, 60 pups were collected from five dams (12 from each dam consisting of six males and six females). Animals were separated into groups such that each dam contributed two pups to each siRNA treatment group (male control, male Mecp2, female control, female Mecp2) and 4 more pups (two male and two female) to a no treatment group. Therefore, experimental groups consequently totaled 10 pups, evenly collected from the five dams. After the initial siRNA treatment, two pups from each pooled group were returned to one of the five dams so that each group was represented equally in each litter for the remainder of pre-weaning development. Pups receiving no treatment were included in pre-weaning litters and later participated in play groups and served as novel peer social stimulus animals in the three chambered sociability test.

Mecp2 disruption with siRNA

Mecp2 (cat no. sc-35893, Santa Cruz biotechnology) and control siRNA (cat no. sc-37007, Santa Cruz biotechnology) were resuspended to 100 μM in the supplied siRNA diluent with Lipofectamine™ LTX reagent (lipofectamine:DNA was 1 μl:500 ng; Invitrogen) (Nagai et al., 2005). Infusions were done with a stereotaxic device modified to accommodate neonatal rats and coordinates from center and Bregma suture lines were empirically determined for direct infusion to the amygdala (1 mm lateral and 2 mm caudal, 5.5 mm ventral from the pial surface at our nose cone angle). After cold anesthetization, rats were bilaterally infused with one μl (100 nmols) of either Mecp2 or control siRNA and allowed to recover under a warm lamp before being returned to the dam. Each animal received three infusions twenty-four hours apart on post-natal days 0 through 2 (PN0-PN2). Animals were then allowed to develop typically with the dam until weaning at PN21. This research was approved by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Animal Care and Use Committee.

Western immunoblotting

Snap frozen micro-dissected amygdala and adjacent regions were homogenized after adding 300μL ice-cold lysis buffer consisting of 50 mM Tris-HCl, 1% Na-deoxycholate, 0.25% Nonidet P-40, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (P-8340, as directed; Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA) and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail (P-2850, as directed, Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA). In order to remove cellular debris and nuclei, the samples were centrifuged at 14000 r.p.m. for 10 min at 4 °C. The supernatant was collected and protein concentration determined by a Lowery assay. Fifteen micrograms of total protein from each animal were gel electrophoresed using a precast SDS-PAGE 4–20% Tris Glycine gel (Cat# 58645, Cambrex Bio Science Rockland, Inc., Rockland, ME, USA) and transferred to a polyvinyl difluoride membrane (Immobilon-P; Cat# IPVH20200 Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). Membranes were blocked for 1 h in 0.1 M TBS containing 5% nonfat dry milk with constant agitation at room temperature. Membranes were then incubated overnight at 4 °C with agitation in TBS containing 0.05% Tween-20 (TBS-T) and 2% nonfat dry milk with an antibody that recognizes the C-terminus of human MeCP2 (amino acids 465–478), a sequence conserved in rat and mouse (rabbit polyclonal, M9317; 1 : 2000 dilution, Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA). The next day, the membranes were given three quick washes and then four 5 min washes in TBS-T. Following washes, membranes were incubated in a goat anti-rabbit horseradish peroxidase-linked secondary antibody (Cat# 7074, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Beverly, MA, USA, 1 : 3000 dilution) and horseradish peroxidase conjugated anti-biotin antibody (Cat# 7075, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Beverly, MA, USA, 1 : 5000 dilution) for 30 min at room temperature with agitation and washed three times for 5 min each with TBS-T and twice for 5 min each with TBS. Immunoreactive bands were detected using a chemiluminisense kit (Ca# 7003, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Beverly, MA, USA) and exposed to X-ray film (Cat #178 8207, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA). To correct for total protein concentration, membranes were incubated in Ponceau S solution (P-7170, Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA), which binds protein nonspecifically, for 5 min at room temperature with agitation and washed twice for 2 min each in distilled water. Ponceau S staining has been shown to correlate well with blotting for β-actin and allows for accurate quantification of the amount of total protein bound to a membrane(Klein et al., 1995). Because the protein band appearing at approximately 45 kDa contains all proteins potentially ranging from 43–47 kDa, normalizing to this band takes into account a multitude of proteins. The analysis of multiple proteins reduces the possibility of confounds due to sex differences in GAPDH (Perrot-Sinal et al., 2001), actin(Stanley and Fink, 1986) or hormonal regulation of GAPDH(Funabashi et al., 1994) and β-actin(Matsumoto, 1997). Ponceau S stained membranes and the immunoblot films were digitized using a scanner and analyzed using the western blot macro gel plot 2 within the Scion Image program. Ratios of mecp2 immunoreative protein to the nonspecific protein band were obtained for each animal and analysed with a two-tailed Student’s t-test.

Behavioral testing and statistical analysis

All behavioral tests were performed under dim red light and began one to two hours after the dark phase of the light cycle began. Each animal was tested in all paradigms but was not repeat tested in any task. Each behavior was videorecorded with the exception of the light-dark chamber, which was scored in real time. DVD recorded material was converted to MPEG format using VideoWave® Professional (Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions, Novato CA) and then analyzed by a trained technician blind to all treatments using The Observer® (Noldus Information Technologies, Wageningen, The Netherlands). Behavioral data from each social test were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA (sex by siRNA treatment) with repeated measures as necessary in the sociability task (chamber durations as a within subjects variable). Student-Newman-Keuls or Tukey post hoc comparison tests were done based on significant findings in ANOVA tests. Behavioral data for anxiety tests for each sex were analyzed separately using Students’ t-tests, due to the hormone manipulation necessary for standardized female anxiety-like behavior measurements. Mecp2 knockdown efficacy by Mecp2 siRNA versus control siRNA was analyzed with a Students’ t-test. All reported measures are listed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM)

Play behavior

The social play behavior paradigm was adapted from previously reported methods(Casto et al., 2003;Meaney and McEwen, 1986;Olesen et al., 2005). Animals were weaned on PN21 and housed in groups of six containing animals from each treatment condition (male control, male Mecp2 knock-down, female control and female Mecp2 knock-down) and two (male and female) unrelated age matched animals. Animals were tailmarked and videorecorded in their home cages twice a day (1 and 3 hours after lights-off) for 4 minute trials over 5 days (PN25–29) for a total observation time of 40 minutes per animal. Behavior was scored by an observer blind to the treatment groups. The play behavior scores were calculated by summing each animal’s play-initiating behaviors (biting, chasing, pouncing and pinning) over the entire observation time; group means were calculated based on summed individual total play initiating behaviors. Play behaviors were scored using the following criteria adapted from previously reported methods(Casto et al., 2003;Meaney and McEwen, 1986) 1) biting: one rat biting another; 2) chasing: one rat chases another; 3) pouncing: one rat pounces or lunges at another; and 4) pinning: one rat standing over another, with its forepaws on the ventral surface of the opposing rat.

Sociability

Sociability was measured with an adaptation of the social approach task(Crawley, 2004;Crawley, 2007). An apparatus was split into three equally sized chambers with dividers that had sliding doors. Test animals were single housed for 18 hours and then placed in the center chamber for a five minute acclimation period. After these five minutes, social and non social stimuli were placed in opposing outside chambers and the dividing doors were opened, allowing the test animal to freely move between all chambers. The social stimulus was an age and sex matched novel rat held in a perforated plastic container (7cm high × 7cm wide × 16 cm wide) that permitted sight, sound, scent and minimal tactile contact. The non-social stimulus was an empty identical perforated plastic container. The stimulus animal had been habituated to this container and generally remained inactive during the test. Housing the stimulus in this container controlled the social interactions such that interactions were only initiated by the test animal. Time spent in each chamber and the numbers of crossings into each chamber were recorded for ten minutes.

Anxiety-like behavior tests and female preparation for testing

Under red light, two hours after the dark phase of light cycle began animals were run through a series of three five minute tests including an elevated plus maze followed by a light/dark chamber and finishing in an open field arena. Each animal (age 60–65 days) was tested in this order of paradigms and no repeat testing was performed. Because estrogens can modulate anxiety behavior it was necessary to control peripheral estrogen release, which could vary significantly between animals during the estrus cycle. All females were ovariectomized and allowed to recover for seven days. Endogenous estrogen should clear during this time; this allowed us to control total estrogen with a peripheral injection. Each female was given 10 μg of estradiol forty-eight hours prior to behavioral testing.

Elevated plus maze

The elevated plus maze is a plexiglass structure standing 50 cm off the floor and consisting of 2 opposing 100 cm runways that cross at the center. One runway is open while the other is closed with 39cm high plexiglass walls with an opening in the center to allow the other runway cross; this opening is referred to as the “center.” Rats were placed in the center of the maze facing an open arm; maze exploration was recorded for five minutes. Parameters quantified were entries into as well as time spent in the open and closed arms and the center chamber. An entry was counted when all four paws crossed into a certain portion of the maze.

Light/dark chamber

The light/dark chamber is one large plexiglass chamber split by an opaque plexiglass insert into two compartments, one large lit side (35×38×39cm) and one smaller dark side (25×38×39cm). An opening in the lower corner of the plexiglass insert (6×10cm) allows the animal to move freely between the light and dark chambers. The dark side of the chamber is entirely constructed of opaque plexiglass and equipped with an opaque lid. A white incandescent light is situated above the other chamber (light side), which is constructed of clear plexiglass. The animal was placed in the middle of the light side of the box facing toward the opening and observed for 5 minutes. A cross from one compartment to the other was recorded when all four paws were on one side. Total time in the light side was recorded.

Open Field Test

Rats were placed into a corner of an 80 cm square arena with opaque walls 40 cm high and allowed to move freely for five minutes. The arena floor had markings that divided it into 25 equal square (16cm × 16cm) divisions. The rats movement in the arena was scored as the number of squares traveled during the five minute testing period.

RESULTS

Mecp2 disruption with siRNA

Animals were bilaterally infused with 100 nmoles of Mecp2 or control siRNA. Confirmations of amygdala targeting were accomplished by infusing one μl of a dye followed by rapid brain dissection to determine the site of infusion. Mecp2 protein knockdown was confirmed for each sex (n≥6 for each group: control and Mecp2 siRNA) by western immunoblotting of homogenized, micro-dissected amygdala regions that had been infused on three consecutive days (PN0-N2) and dissected six hours past the final infusion (Figure 1 A & B). Mecp2 protein knockdown averaged 30–65 percent with greater siRNA effect in females, which may be related to higher basal expression of Mecp2 in female amygdala during this period of development. There was no effect of Mecp2 siRNA in adjacent hypothalamic sections that were collected with siRNA targeted amygdala regions, which indicates the regional specificity of Mecp2 knockdown and control of siRNA spread (Figure 1 C). The transient disruption of Mecp2 was also confirmed in a separate experiment by western immunoblotting of homogenized, micro-dissected amygdala regions seven days after the final infusion (Figure 1 D). Test animals received three infusions to maintain reduced expression over the first three days of postnatal life, after which Mecp2 levels were no longer experimentally manipulated. Animals recovered rapidly after each infusion under the warming light.

Figure 1. Mecp2 disruption with siRNA.

Figure 1

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Mecp2 siRNA effectively reduces Mecp2 protein expression at the site of infusion and allows recovery of typical Mecp2 expression with cessation of treatments. Bars represent means (n≥6 for all groups in each panel) and errors are SEM. Each panel includes a representative immunoblot for Mecp2 protein expression above a corresponding Ponceau S stained band, which is used as a loading control. siRNA=Mecp2 siRNA, con=Control siRNA. Panels (A) and (B) represent relative Mecp2 protein expression (mecp2/ponceau S band optical density) in the amygdala six hours after the final Mecp2 or control siRNA infusions in females and males on PN2, respectively. Panel (C) represents relative Mecp2 expression in the hypothalamic sections adjacent to the amygdala region represented in panel (A). Panel (D) represents Mecp2 relative expression in a separate experiment in which male amygdala were analyzed for Mecp2 expression seven days (PN9) after three infusions on PN0-PN2. This indicates Mecp2 disruption was not manipulated by siRNA beyond this period of development. (A) Females, Mecp2 siRNA (0.396 ± 0.085 (mean ± s.e.m.)) control siRNA (1.149 ± .029) *p=0.02. (B) Males, Mecp2 siRNA (1.000 ± 0.137) control siRNA (1.460 ± .172) *p=0.03. (C) Female hypothalamus, Mecp2 siRNA (0.557 ± 0.188) control siRNA (0.677 ± .109) p=0.592. (D) Male time course, Mecp2 siRNA (0.1.155 ± 0.050) control siRNA (1.151 ± .162) p=0.982.

Neonatal treatment with Mecp2 siRNA within the developing amygdala disrupts sex differences in juvenile social play behavior

Our data indicate that typical Mecp2 expression within the developing amygdala of male rats is important for the organization of sex differences in juvenile behavior. Juvenile social play behavior in rats is commonly regarded as sexually dimorphic with males engaging in this behavior more often than females(Meaney et al., 1983). We again report a sex difference in the initiation of play in the control infused animals (Figure 2). This is indication that our infusions did not significantly impair typical amygdala development, which is important for the organization of sexually dimorphic play behavior patterns(Meaney et al., 1981;Meaney and Stewart, 1981). Subtle Mecp2 disruption in females did not alter play behavior; however, male play behavior was significantly reduced in this condition (Figure 2). While Mecp2 disruption decreased male social play behavior, this reduction did not create an obvious hypoactive behavioral phenotype. Rather, these males exhibited levels of social play that resembled female typical play behavior. These data suggest typical Mecp2 expression in males contributes to the sexually dimorphic pattern of social play commonly found in juvenile rats.

Figure 2. Mecp2 and sexual differentiation of juvenile play behavior.

Figure 2

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Typical Mecp2 expression is necessary for the patterning of sexually dimorphic juvenile (PN25–29) play behavior. Bars represent the group means (n≥8 animals per group) of total initiated play behaviors within individuals. Error bars are SEM. A significant interaction was observed (treatment by sex, 2-way ANOVA, P=0.048) such that Mecp2 knockdown modified play behavior in males but not females. There were two main effects 1) control males initiated play more often than control females, this is the typical sex difference in play behavior (Tukey post hoc, p=0.013, denoted * in figure) and 2) Mecp2 knockdown decreased play initiation within males (Tukey post hoc, p=0.037, denoted # in figure) but did not change female play behavior (Tukey post hoc, P=0.484). Control male: 15.78 ± 3.18 (mean ± s.e.m.); Mecp2 siRNA male: 6.00 ± 3.17; Control female: 4.00 ± 3.18; Mecp2 siRNA female: 7.10 ± 3.01.

Neonatal treatment with Mecp2 siRNA within the developing amygdala does not disrupt juvenile sociability

All treatment groups showed normal levels of sociability with time spent in the social chamber predominating over time spent in the non-social and middle chambers (Figure 3). Control males (F =284.173, p < 0.001), Mecp2 siRNA-treated males (F =78.72, p < 0.001), control females (F =61.50, p < 0.001), and Mecp2 siRNA-treated females (F =56.12, p < 0.001). The total number of chamber crossings and side chamber entries serve as a means to evaluate general activity level. No differences were found for either measure between groups for sex (p≥0.3), treatment (p≥0.1) or a sex x treatment interaction (p≥0.8). Chamber crossings were: control male: 58.0±5.2; Mecp2 male: 48.9±4.8; control female: 52.4±4.6; Mecp2 female: 44.9±4.9 and side chamber entries were: control male: 29.0±2.6; Mecp2 male: 24.4±2.4; control female: 26.2±2.3; Mecp2 female: 22.4±2.4.

Figure 3. Mecp2 disruption and juvenile sociability.

Figure 3

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Transiently decreased Mecp2 expression in the developing amygdala did not disrupt sociability in juvenile (PN31–33) rats. All treatment groups showed normal levels of sociability with time spent in the social chamber predominating over time spent in the non-social and middle chambers. Bars represent mean time (n≥8 animals per group) spent in each chamber during a ten minute test with error bars representing SEM. *p < 0.05

Adult anxiety-like behaviors were not modified by neonatal amygdala Mecp2 disruption

We determined the specificity of behavioral disruption by measuring anxiety-like behavior with the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark chamber. We found no differences in anxiety-like behavior between conditions with either test (Table 1). While these findings do not eliminate the potential relationship between increased anxiety and atypical male juvenile behavior, it is evident that adult anxiety-like behavior organization was not disturbed by short term neonatal Mecp2 disruption as seen in male juvenile social behavior. Immediately following testing within the light/dark chamber, animals were placed in an open filed arena for another test of locomotor activity. No differences were found in locomotion through in the open field arena (Table 1).

Table 1. Adult anxiety-like behavior.

No differences in adult (PN60–65) anxiety-like behaviors were found with the brief neonatal disruption of amygdala Mecp2 expression. There was also no difference in locomotor activity in an open field arena. The first column represents group means (n≥8 animals per group for all tests) for total time spent (seconds) on the open arms of the elevated plus maze during a five minute test. Middle column represents group means for total time spent (seconds) on the lit side of the light/dark chamber during a five minute test and the final column represents total number of square crosses in an open field arena. Data presented as mean ± SEM.

Males
Elevated plus maze Light-dark chamber Open field crosses
Mecp2 siRNA 37.0 ± 8.9 13.4 ± 2.9 54.3 ± 12.8
Control siRNA 40.0 ± 9.7 12.3 ± 3.6 60.1 ± 15.8
Females
Elevated plus maze Light-dark chamber Open field crosses
Mecp2 siRNA 37.0 ± 8.7 11.4 ± 2.2 66.8 ± 12.5
Control siRNA 36.7 ± 10.9 15.9 ± 3.6 70.5 ± 15.7
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DISCUSSION

We previously reported that Mecp2 expression is sexually dimorphic in the developing rat brain, and this dimorphism exhibits temporal and regional patterns with males expressing less Mecp2 protein within the amygdala and ventromedial hypothalamus during the first week of postnatal life(Kurian et al., 2007). As reduced Mecp2 expression is suggested to occur in individuals with neurodevelopmental behavioral disorders with a male bias in diagnosis(Nagarajan et al., 2006), we questioned the susceptibility of male rats to behavioral modification after a brief developmental disruption of typical low Mecp2 expression. The use of siRNA enabled us to examine the effect of brief and subtle Mecp2 disruption within the developing amygdala and assess the enduring impact on juvenile social behavior organized by the amygdala. Unexpectedly, this disruption did not result in overt disordered behavior. We report that a subtle disruption of Mecp2 in the amygdala modified typical sex differences in juvenile social play behavior. Males engage in juvenile social play more often than females (Meaney et al., 1983). Mecp2 siRNA treatment reduced the frequency of juvenile social play behavior in males to female typical levels. Interestingly, females remained resilient to this disruption and exhibited no behavioral changes. Although neonatal treatment with Mecp2 siRNA dramatically altered the developmental organization of juvenile social play behavior in males, it did not disrupt juvenile sociability in males or females. These results suggest that male rats may be more sensitive to short term subtle decreases in typical Mecp2 expression and that Mecp2 may be involved in the organization of sexually dimorphic social behavior.

Our results are surprising in that a subtle and brief disruption of Mecp2 in the amygdala eliminates a typical sex difference in juvenile social play behavior and suggest a novel role for this protein in sexually differentiating brain and behavior. While our data indicate that Mecp2 siRNA reduced Mecp2 expression in both males and females, this disruption altered the development of juvenile social behavior only in males. It is not clear why Mecp2 siRNA females do not show a behavioral change in the social tasks examined. One possibility is that some genes on the X chromosome may exert a protective role during subtle decreases in Mecp2 expression during development, as X linked genes may contribute to sex differences (De Vries et al., 2002;Gatewood et al., 2006;Xu and Disteche, 2006). Alternatively, as females typically express more Mecp2 protein than males at this time point, our data may suggest that a critical level of Mecp2 protein is required for typical social development that is organized in the amygdala. In this case, it is reasonable to conclude that tight and critical regulation of Mecp2 expression is important for social development, and that males are particularly sensitive to Mecp2 disruption as they typically express less Mecp2 than females in this region and at this time point. A male sensitivity to Mecp2 disruption is an intriguing link to the observed male preponderance in neurodevelopmental social disorders associated with reduced Mecp2 expression. This link would suggest that understanding the regulation of Mecp2 expression or activity in the amygdala may provide evidence for factors that alter social development.

As Mecp2 exhibits sexually dimorphic expression, which is restricted to a steroid sensitive period for rat brain development(Kurian et al., 2007), it is an attractive hypothesis to implicate hormones in the regulation of Mecp2 expression. However, the factors that create this Mecp2 expression pattern remain unclear and complex, primarily because both hormones and non-hormonal pathways can contribute to sex differences in the brain (De Vries et al., 2002;Olesen et al., 2005). For example, while hormone manipulation during this period can eliminate the sex difference in juvenile play behavior as found with Mecp2 disruption(Beatty et al., 1981;Meaney et al., 1983;Meaney and McEwen, 1986;Olesen et al., 2005), other factors such as modified dopamine levels or activity can also have a similar impact (Olesen et al., 2005). It is also possible that chromosomal factors can organize Mecp2 expression patterns independent of hormone levels (De Vries et al., 2002;Dewing et al., 2006). Clearly, multiple pathways may regulate Mecp2 expression and clarification of the factors or combination of circumstances leading to altered Mecp2 expression should be considered with respect to their role in social behavior development.

As Mecp2 can function through methyl-DNA binding (Nan et al., 1998), the functional role of this protein in social organization may also be dictated by indirect circumstances. For example, DNA methylation patterns are sensitive to social and environmental factors; this suggests the intriguing possibility that Mecp2 controlled gene expression may be influenced, in part, by social and environmental stimuli(Weaver et al., 2004). It remains to be fully elucidated how methylation patterns direct Mecp2 activity; however, distinguishing molecular or environmentally dictated differences in DNA methylation and their relationship to Mecp2 activity may provide insight to the factors that participate in the organization of typical social behavioral patterns in males. Further, as Mecp2 disruption eliminates the generation of typical sex differences in social behavior, these environmental factors may be considered potential epigenetic contributors to the development or exacerbation of sexually dimorphic behavior patterns.

The present understanding of an association between an epigenetic protein and sexually dimorphic social behavior development is intriguing and underscores the importance of future work exploring the concept of the epigenetic determination of sex differences in behavior. This work may offer invaluable information regarding circumstances leading to the manifestation of gender and consequently provide insights for points of divergence in the development and presentation of sex biased behavioral disorders.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH grant R01MH072956. JRK was supported by NIH Roadmap Interdisciplinary Award T32 MH75880. The authors would like to thank Dr. Kris Olesen, Mira Kolodkin, and Jamie Kallan for technical assistance and Dr. Lauren Riters for assistance with statistical analyses.

Abbreviations

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

bdnf

brain-derived neurotrophic factor

mbd2

methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2

MeCP2

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2

PN1

post-natal day 1

PNX

post-natal day X

RTT

Rett syndrome

sry

testis-determining gene

ube3a

ubiquitin protein ligase E3A

VMH

ventromedial hypothalamus

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