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Kane MJ, Angoa-Peréz M, Briggs DI, Sykes CE, Francescutti DM, Rosenberg DR, Kuhn DM. Mice genetically depleted of brain serotonin display social impairments, communication deficits and repetitive behaviors: possible relevance to autism. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48975. [PMID: 23139830 PMCID: PMC3490915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired reciprocal social interaction, communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. A very large number of genes have been linked to autism, many of which encode proteins involved in the development and function of synaptic circuitry. However, the manner in which these mutated genes might participate, either individually or together, to cause autism is not understood. One factor known to exert extremely broad influence on brain development and network formation, and which has been linked to autism, is the neurotransmitter serotonin. Unfortunately, very little is known about how alterations in serotonin neuronal function might contribute to autism. To test the hypothesis that serotonin dysfunction can contribute to the core symptoms of autism, we analyzed mice lacking brain serotonin (via a null mutation in the gene for tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2)) for behaviors that are relevant to this disorder. Mice lacking brain serotonin (TPH2-/-) showed substantial deficits in numerous validated tests of social interaction and communication. These mice also display highly repetitive and compulsive behaviors. Newborn TPH2-/- mutant mice show delays in the expression of key developmental milestones and their diminished preference for maternal scents over the scent of an unrelated female is a forerunner of more severe socialization deficits that emerge in weanlings and persist into adulthood. Taken together, these results indicate that a hypo-serotonin condition can lead to behavioral traits that are highly characteristic of autism. Our findings should stimulate new studies that focus on determining how brain hyposerotonemia during critical neurodevelopmental periods can alter the maturation of synaptic circuits known to be mis-wired in autism and how prevention of such deficits might prevent this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Kane
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mariana Angoa-Peréz
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Denise I. Briggs
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Catherine E. Sykes
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Dina M. Francescutti
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - David R. Rosenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Kuhn
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
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Baharnoori M, Bhardwaj SK, Srivastava LK. Neonatal behavioral changes in rats with gestational exposure to lipopolysaccharide: a prenatal infection model for developmental neuropsychiatric disorders. Schizophr Bull 2012; 38:444-56. [PMID: 20805287 PMCID: PMC3329978 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbq098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal infections has been widely associated with the increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders of developmental origin such as schizophrenia and autism. Although several behavioral and cognitive deficits have been detected during adulthood in rodent models of prenatal infections, early behavioral changes have not been well characterized. In a prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model, we have previously observed significant alterations in the neuronal cytoarchitecture during early postnatal life. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential effects of prenatal immune activation on early neurophenotypic presentations using a set of behavioral test battery. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with 100 μg/kg LPS (intraperitoneally) at gestational days 15 and 16. During the first postnatal week, we found no significant effect on maternal behavior or mother-pup interaction by this treatment. Also, no major changes in physical developmental milestones of pups were noted from postnatal (P) days P6 to P16. Importantly, prenatal LPS-exposed pups had a significant decrease in the number and duration of ultrasonic vocalization calls at P3 and P5. Prenatal LPS treatment also led to impairments in nest-seeking behavior and odor-stroke associative learning in neonatal rats at P8 and P9. At the molecular level, we detected significant decrease in the expression of cortical 5HT1A and 5HT1B messenger RNA at P3. These data suggest that prenatal exposure to an immune activator can significantly impair the social/communicative behavior in the neonate offspring, which may be relevant to childhood and premorbid abnormalities reported in autism and schizophrenia subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lalit K. Srivastava
- To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +514-761-6131, fax: +514-762-3034, e-mail:
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Wang L, Angley MT, Gerber JP, Sorich MJ. A review of candidate urinary biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder. Biomarkers 2012; 16:537-52. [PMID: 22022826 DOI: 10.3109/1354750x.2011.598564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Autism is a complex, heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component potentially impacted by various environmental factors influencing susceptibility. There are no reliable laboratory tests available to confirm an autism diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To examine the published literature and identify putative urinary biomarkers of autism. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic bibliographic databases. RESULTS Putative autism biomarkers were identified that could be categorized according to the key theories that exist regarding the etiology of autism: gastrointestinal factors, immune dysregulation, heavy metal toxicity, neurotransmitter abnormalities, and oxidative stress. CONCLUSION There is scope for specific urinary biomarkers to be useful for identification of autistic metabolic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lv Wang
- Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide
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Azmitia EC, Singh JS, Whitaker-Azmitia PM. Increased serotonin axons (immunoreactive to 5-HT transporter) in postmortem brains from young autism donors. Neuropharmacology 2011; 60:1347-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Revised: 11/04/2010] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Canitano R, Scandurra V. Psychopharmacology in autism: an update. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:18-28. [PMID: 21034789 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Revised: 10/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by impairment in social reciprocity, disturbances in language and communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors of various types, as defined by the DSM-IV. The neurobiological bases of these disorders are poorly understood, although several abnormalities have been found. Pharmacotherapy in autism spectrum disorders lacks a solid, reliable neurobiological basis and at present it is mainly directed at the so-called associated behavioral symptoms, with limited relevance to core symptoms. Atypical neuroleptics, especially risperidone, have been shown to be useful in the treatment of behavioral symptoms in autism. Recent trials with SSRIs did not show remarkable results, in spite of their promising potential role. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder medications may be useful for counteracting the additional features of hyperactivity and short attention span. Antiepileptics have shown promising results but there are no specific indications for them as of yet. Research is now directed at evaluating novel treatments and combined behavioral and pharmacologic treatments, since behavioral interventions are the mainstay of the early treatment of autism. An update of currently available pharmacological treatments is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Canitano
- Division of Child Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, Viale Bracci 14, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Prostaglandin E2 and misoprostol induce neurite retraction in Neuro-2a cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 398:450-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.06.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Staging perspectives in neurodevelopmental aspects of neuropsychiatry: agents, phases and ages at expression. Neurotox Res 2010; 18:287-305. [PMID: 20237881 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-010-9162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 02/08/2010] [Accepted: 02/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental risk factors have assumed a critical role in prevailing notions concerning the etiopathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Staging, diagnostic elements at which phase of disease is determined, provides a means of conceptualizing the degree and extent of factors affecting brain development trajectories, but is concurrently specified through the particular interactions of genes and environment unique to each individual case. For present purposes, staging perspectives in neurodevelopmental aspects of the disease processes are considered from conditions giving rise to neurodevelopmental staging in affective states, adolescence, dopamine disease states, and autism spectrum disorders. Three major aspects influencing the eventual course of individual developmental trajectories appear to possess an essential determinant influence upon outcome: (i) the type of agent that interferes with brain development, whether chemical, immune system activating or absent (anoxia/hypoxia), (ii) the phase of brain development at which the agent exerts disruption, whether prenatal, postnatal, or adolescent, and (iii) the age of expression of structural and functional abnormalities. Clinical staging may be assumed at any or each developmental phase. The present perspective offers both a challenge to bring further order to diagnosis, intervention, and prognosis and a statement regarding the extreme complexities and interwoven intricacies of epigenetic factors, biomarkers, and neurobehavioral entities that aggravate currents notions of the neuropsychiatric disorders.
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