Developmental CA2 perineuronal net reduction restores social memory in <em>Shank3</em> mutant mice

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental conditions, like Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMDS), exhibit social recognition deficits. Shank3B&nbsp;knockout (KO) mice, a genetic model with relevance to ASD and PMDS, have deficits in social memory in adulthood, but the developmental mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain unknown. We found that Shank3B KOs have deficits in short-term social recognition during development that persist into adulthood, along with CA2 network aberrations. In CA2, perineuronal nets (PNNs), extracellular matrix structures, support social memory in adult mice. In developing CA2, we found excessive PNNs in KOs, greater sequestration of the guidance cue semaphorin-3A, and overgrowth of afferents. Reduction of PNN levels restored semaphorin-3A, afferent input to CA2, and social recognition, which persisted into adulthood and partially normalized CA2 network activity. These findings suggest that excess CA2 PNN formation impairs ..., , # Data from: Developmental CA2 perineuronal net reduction restores social memory in *Shank3* mutant mice ## Study Overview This dataset is from: \"Diethorn, E. J., Rathaur, A. B., Ruiz Lopez, B. R., Eke, C., & Gould, E. (2026). Developmental CA2 perineuronal net reduction restores social memory in Shank3 mutant mice. *Communications Biology.*\" Access this dataset on Dryad: DOI 10.5061/dryad.wm37pvn2t This study investigated how atypical development of perineuronal nets (PNNs) in hippocampal area CA2 contributes to impaired emergence of developmental social recognition abilities in Shank3B knockout (KO) mice. ## Contents This READ ME file includes the following information: 1. Acronyms and abbreviations 2. Explanation of files in the repository 3. Data acquisition parameters 4. Electrophysiology and codes 5. Animal information by figure 6. Confocal imaging settings and analysis notes 7. Research Resource Identification Numbers (RRIDs) 8. Other software 9. List of variables --- ##..., ,