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Chen T, Meng H, Fang N, Shi P, Chen M, Liu Q, Lv L, Li W. Age-related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C-induced maternal immune activation in early gestation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38741390 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in poly I:C-treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C-induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function. CONCLUSION Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huadan Meng
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ni Fang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Peiling Shi
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mengxue Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorder, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Botsas G, Koidou E, Chatzinikolaou K, Grouios G. Environmental Influences on Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders with Special Emphasis on Seasonality: An Overview. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1851. [PMID: 38136053 PMCID: PMC10742301 DOI: 10.3390/children10121851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
This paper offers an in-depth exploration of the intricate relationship between environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a special emphasis on seasonality. It reviews existing research, providing a comprehensive summary of findings and highlighting the multifaceted dimensions of several environmental factors influencing the etiology of ASD. The discussion encompasses various elements, including birth months, maternal health, dietary choices, and vitamin D deficiency, delving into the intricate interplay of seasonality with environmental influences such as viral infections and solar radiation. The present study raises essential questions regarding the timing of environmental influences and the factors contributing to the rising prevalence of ASD. Ultimately, it underscores the need for future epidemiological research to incorporate more extensive investigations of environmental risk factors and employ advanced statistical analyses. This comprehensive overview contributes to a deeper understanding of how environmental factors, particularly seasonality, may be linked to the occurrence of ASD and its increasing prevalence, recognizing the multifaceted and diverse nature of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Botsas
- Department of Early Childhood and Care, School of Social Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Education, School of Education and Social Sciences, Frederick University, 3080 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Eirini Koidou
- Department of Human Performance, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.K.); (K.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Konstantinos Chatzinikolaou
- Department of Human Performance, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.K.); (K.C.); (G.G.)
| | - George Grouios
- Department of Human Performance, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.K.); (K.C.); (G.G.)
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Gouda B, Sinha SN, Chalamaiah M, Vakdevi V, Shashikala P, Veeresh B, Surekha VM, Kasturi V, Boiroju NK. Sex Differences in Animal Models of Sodium-Valproate-Induced Autism in Postnatal BALB/c Mice: Whole-Brain Histoarchitecture and 5-HT2A Receptor Biomarker Evidence. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11010079. [PMID: 35053076 PMCID: PMC8772829 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known antiepileptic medication and mood stabiliser that is frequently prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy, particularly in children, and has proven human teratogenic activity. VPA inhibits histone deacetylase, which causes teratogenicity and cell toxicity. VPA-induced autism in rodents during the pre- and postnatal periods has shown the development of an autism-like phenotype. In mice, the 14th postnatal day is thought to correspond to the third trimester of human development; it is an important period in which neuronal migration, differentiation, myelination, synaptogenesis and gliogenesis occur in the cerebellum, striatum and hippocampus. Therefore, we exposed postnatal day 14 (PND 14) mice to VPA, which resulted in autistic-like behaviours manifested as reduced social interaction, increased repetitive stereotyped behaviour and anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, lowered sensitivity to pain and neurodevelopmental delay. BALB/c mice were used in this work because they are less reactive to social contact in VPA-induced autism than many other inbred mouse strains, such as C57/129 mice. In humans, two to three times more men are affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than women, and, for this reason, the current study compares the histopathological changes and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor protein expression in the brain tissue of male and female animals with VPA-induced autism. Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by problems with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviour. In mice, the 14th postnatal day is believed to correspond to the third trimester of human embryonic development and is considered a vital period for central nervous system development. It has been shown that ASD affects 2 to 3 times more male than female individuals. In the present study, ASD was induced in 14 postnatal day (PND) BALB/c mice using valproic acid (VPA). VPA administration brought about substantial differences in the histoarchitecture of the brain in both male and female mice, linked to behavioural deficits. We observed that both male and female mice showed similar morphological changes in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and Purkinje cells. We also observed hair loss from PND 17 to 25, which was again similar between male and female mice. However, there were higher rates of change in the cerebral cortex, frontal cortex and temporal lobe and hippocampus in VPA-treated male animals. With respect to the cerebellum, we did not observe any alterations by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, but detailed morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a higher rate of phenotype changes in VPA-treated male animals. Moreover, 5-HT2A receptor protein levels were upregulated in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and Purkinje cells in VPA-treated male mice compared with control animals and VPA-treated female mice, as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. Based on all these findings, we conclude that male animals are more susceptible to VPA-induced ASD than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Gouda
- Division of Food Safety, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India; (B.G.); (V.V.); (V.K.)
| | - Sukesh Narayan Sinha
- Division of Food Safety, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India; (B.G.); (V.V.); (V.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-40-27197405
| | - Meram Chalamaiah
- Drug Safety Division, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India;
| | - Validandi Vakdevi
- Division of Food Safety, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India; (B.G.); (V.V.); (V.K.)
| | - Patangay Shashikala
- Department of Pharmacy, University College of Technology, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500027, India;
| | - Bantal Veeresh
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500028, India;
| | - Venkata Mullapudi Surekha
- Division of Pathology and Microbiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India;
| | - Vasudev Kasturi
- Division of Food Safety, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad 500007, India; (B.G.); (V.V.); (V.K.)
| | - Naveen Kumar Boiroju
- Division of Biostatistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Nutrition, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India;
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Hsu CC, Madsen TE, O'Gorman E, Gourley SL, Rainnie DG. Reward-related dynamical coupling between basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1873-1888. [PMID: 32556583 PMCID: PMC7405940 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02099-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing reward-related stimuli is crucial for survival. Neuronal projections from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) play an important role in processing reward-related cues. Previous studies revealed synchronization between distant brain regions in reward-sensitive neurocircuits; however, whether the NAc synchronizes with the BLA is unknown. Here, we recorded local field potentials simultaneously from the BLA and NAc of rats during social preference tests and an appetitive conditioning test in which explicit stimuli were associated with food. BLA-NAc coherence in the theta band (5-8 Hz) increased in response to food-associated cues. Meanwhile, the modulatory strength of theta-high gamma (50-110 Hz) phase-amplitude cross-frequency coupling (PAC) in the NAc decreased. Importantly, both of these neuromodulations disappeared upon extinction. In contrast, both theta and gamma power oscillations in each region increased in the presence of social conspecifics or contexts associated with conspecifics, but coherence did not change. To potentially disrupt behavior and associated neural activity, a subgroup of rats was exposed prenatally to valproic acid (VPA), which has been shown to disrupt transcriptome and excitatory/inhibitory balance in the amygdala. VPA-exposed rats demonstrated impulsive-like behavior, but VPA did not affect BLA-NAc coherence. These findings reveal changes in BLA-NAc coherence in response to select reward-related stimuli (i.e., food-predictive cues); the differences between the tasks used here could shed light onto the functional nature of BLA-NAc coherence and are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chun Hsu
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Teresa E Madsen
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Shannon L Gourley
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
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Konishi H, Kiyama H, Ueno M. Dual functions of microglia in the formation and refinement of neural circuits during development. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 77:18-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Konishi
- Department of Functional Anatomy and NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoya466‐8550Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyama
- Department of Functional Anatomy and NeuroscienceNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineNagoya466‐8550Japan
| | - Masaki Ueno
- Department of System Pathology for Neurological DisordersBrain Research InstituteNiigata UniversityNiigata951‐8585Japan
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Preventing childhood and lifelong disability: Maternal dietary supplementation for perinatal brain injury. Pharmacol Res 2018; 139:228-242. [PMID: 30227261 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The majority of brain injuries that lead to cerebral palsy, developmental disability, and mental health disorders have their onset in utero. These lifelong conditions come with great economic and emotional burden as they impact function in nearly all domains of affected individuals' lives. Unfortunately, current therapeutic options are limited. There remains a focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and regeneration after the injury has occurred, rather than aiming to prevent the initial injury. Prevention would imply treating the mother during pregnancy to alter the fetal environment and in turn, treat the fetus. Fear of harming the developing fetus remains as a result of errors of the past such as the release of thalidomide. In this review, we outline evidence from animal studies and clinical trials that have explored maternal dietary supplementation with natural health products (including nutraceuticals and functional foods) for perinatal brain injury prevention. Namely, we discuss magnesium sulphate, creatine, choline, melatonin, resveratrol and broccoli sprouts/sulforaphane. Although clinical trials have only been completed in this realm for magnesium sulphate, results in animal models have been promising, suggesting that this is a productive avenue for further research. Natural health products may provide safe, effective, affordable, and easily accessible prevention of fetal brain injury and resulting lifelong disabilities.
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Spencer M, Takahashi N, Chakraborty S, Miles J, Shyu CR. Heritable genotype contrast mining reveals novel gene associations specific to autism subgroups. J Biomed Inform 2018; 77:50-61. [PMID: 29197649 PMCID: PMC5788310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2017.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Though the genetic etiology of autism is complex, our understanding can be improved by identifying genes and gene-gene interactions that contribute to the development of specific autism subtypes. Identifying such gene groupings will allow individuals to be diagnosed and treated according to their precise characteristics. To this end, we developed a method to associate gene combinations with groups with shared autism traits, targeting genetic elements that distinguish patient populations with opposing phenotypes. Our computational method prioritizes genetic variants for genome-wide association, then utilizes Frequent Pattern Mining to highlight potential interactions between variants. We introduce a novel genotype assessment metric, the Unique Inherited Combination support, which accounts for inheritance patterns observed in the nuclear family while estimating the impact of genetic variation on phenotype manifestation at the individual level. High-contrast variant combinations are tested for significant subgroup associations. We apply this method by contrasting autism subgroups defined by severe or mild manifestations of a phenotype. Significant associations connected 286 genes to the subgroups, including 193 novel autism candidates. 71 pairs of genes have joint associations with subgroups, presenting opportunities to investigate interacting functions. This study analyzed 12 autism subgroups, but our informatics method can explore other meaningful divisions of autism patients, and can further be applied to reveal precise genetic associations within other phenotypically heterogeneous disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Spencer
- Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, 241 Naka Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Nicole Takahashi
- Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, 205 Portland St, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Sounak Chakraborty
- Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, 146 Middlebush Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Judith Miles
- Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, 205 Portland St, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Child Health, School of Medicine, MA204 Medical Sciences Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
| | - Chi-Ren Shyu
- Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, 241 Naka Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, 201 Naka Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; School of Medicine, University of Missouri, MA204 Medical Sciences Building, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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Aavani T, Rana SA, Hawkes R, Pittman QJ. Maternal immune activation produces cerebellar hyperplasia and alterations in motor and social behaviors in male and female mice. THE CEREBELLUM 2016; 14:491-505. [PMID: 25863812 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-015-0669-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There have been suggestions that maternal immune activation is associated with alterations in motor behavior in offspring. To explore this further, we treated pregnant mice with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a viral mimetic that activates the innate immune system, or saline on embryonic days 13-15. At postnatal day (P) 18, offspring cerebella were collected from perfused brains and immunostained as whole-mounts for zebrin II. Measurements of zebrin II+/- stripes in both sexes indicated that prenatal poly(I:C)-exposed offspring had significantly wider stripes; this difference was also seen in similarly treated offspring in adulthood (~P120). When sagittal sections of the cerebellum were immunostained for calbindin and Purkinje cell numbers were counted, we observed greater numbers of Purkinje cells in poly(I:C) offspring at both P18 and ~ P120. In adolescence (~P40), both male and female prenatal poly(I:C)-exposed offspring exhibited poorer performance on the rotarod and ladder rung tests; deficits in performance on the latter test persisted into adulthood. Offspring of both sexes from poly(I:C) dams also exhibited impaired social interaction in adolescence, but this difference was no longer apparent in adulthood. Our results suggest that maternal immune exposure at a critical time of cerebellum development can enhance neuronal survival or impair normal programmed cell death of Purkinje cells, with lasting consequences on cerebellar morphology and a variety of motor and non-motor behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooka Aavani
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shadna A Rana
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Genes & Development Research Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Quentin J Pittman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada.
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Strifert K. The link between oral contraceptive use and prevalence in autism spectrum disorder. Med Hypotheses 2014; 83:718-25. [PMID: 25459142 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that include full syndrome autism, Asperger's syndrome, and other pervasive developmental disorders. The identified prevalence of ASD has increased in a short time period across multiple studies causing some to conclude that it has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. Many possible explanations for the rise in numbers of individuals diagnosed with ASD have been offered and yet, causes and contributing factors for ASD are inadequately understood. Current evidence suggests that both genetics and environment play a part in causing ASD. One possible risk factor for the increase in prevalence has been profoundly overlooked in the existing biomedical and epidemiologic literature. As the prevalence of ASD has risen in the last sixty years, so has the prevalence of the usage of the oral contraceptives and other modern hormonal delivery methods. In 1960 about one million American women were using oral contraceptives, today close to 11 million women in the U.S. use oral contraceptives. Eighty-two percent of sexually active women in the U.S. have used oral contraceptives at some point during their reproductive years. Thus, the growth in use of progesterone/estrogen-based contraceptives in the United State has reached near-ubiquitous levels among women in the child-bearing age range. The suppression of ovulation produced by estrogen-progesterone is an indisputable abnormality. It is logical to consider the outcome of the ovum that would have been normally released from the ovary during ovulation. To date there is no comprehensive research into the potential neurodevelopmental effects of oral contraceptive use on progeny. The issue has been only sparsely considered in the biomedical literature. This article hypothesizes that the compounds, estrogen and progesterone, used in oral contraceptives modify the condition of the oocyte and give rise to a potent risk factor that helps explain the recent increase in the prevalence of ASD's. This hypothesis does not propose to delineate the cause of autism. Rather, it attempts to explain the recent dramatic increase in prevalence and point the way for further study that will lead to causal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Strifert
- Graduate School at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB School of Public Health, 1665 University Blvd. # Rpjb22a, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States.
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Pragnya B, Kameshwari JSL, Veeresh B. Ameliorating effect of piperine on behavioral abnormalities and oxidative markers in sodium valproate induced autism in BALB/C mice. Behav Brain Res 2014; 270:86-94. [PMID: 24803211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Post natal exposure to VPA (valproic acid) in mice induces behavioral deficits, abnormal sensitivity to sensory stimuli and self-injurious behavior, observed in autism. Piperine has been reported to have protective effect on brain. The present study aimed at evaluating effect of piperine on VPA induced neurobehavioral and biochemical alterations in BALB/c mice. Young BALB/c mice 13 days old were procured from five different litters and segregated into five groups (n=6; 3 male, 3 female) i.e., Group I served as control group, received physiological saline on PND (Post natal day) 14 & Tween 80 p.o. from PND13-40. Group II served as normal treated group and received piperine (20mg/kg p.o.) from PND 13-40 and saline s.c. on PND 14. Group III served as valproate treated group received VPA (400mg/kg s.c.) on PND 14 and Tween 80 p.o. from PND 13-40. Group IV & V served as disease treated group received VPA (400mg/kg s.c.) on PND 14 & piperine (5 & 20mg/kg p.o.) from PND 13-40 respectively. BALB/c mice pups were subjected to behavioral testing to assess motor skill development, nociceptive response, locomotion, anxiety, and cognition on various postnatal days up to PND 40. At the end of behavioral evaluation, mice were sacrificed; brain was isolated for biochemical estimations (serotonin, glutathione, MDA and nitric oxide) and histopathological examination. Our study revealed that treatment with piperine significantly improved behavioral alterations, lowered oxidative stress markers, and restored histoarchitecture of cerebellum. This ameliorating effect of piperine is attributed to its anti-oxidant activity, cognition enhancing and neuroprotective activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Pragnya
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India.
| | - J S L Kameshwari
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India
| | - B Veeresh
- Department of Pharmacology, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500027, India
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Loveland KA, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Chen Z, Bressler J, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Bloom K, Pearson DA, Lalor GC, Boerwinkle E. Seafood consumption and blood mercury concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Neurotox Res 2013; 23:22-38. [PMID: 22488160 PMCID: PMC3969434 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-012-9321-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic metal shown to have harmful effects on human health. Several studies have reported high blood mercury concentrations as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), while other studies have reported no such association. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between blood mercury concentrations in children and ASDs. Moreover, we investigated the role of seafood consumption in relation to blood mercury concentrations in Jamaican children. Based on data for 65 sex- and age-matched pairs (2-8 years), we used a General Linear Model to test whether there is an association between blood mercury concentrations and ASDs. After controlling for the child's frequency of seafood consumption, maternal age, and parental education, we did not find a significant difference (P = 0.61) between blood mercury concentrations and ASDs. However, in both cases and control groups, children who ate certain types of seafood (i.e., salt water fish, sardine, or mackerel fish) had significantly higher (all P < 0.05) geometric means blood mercury concentration which were about 3.5 times that of children living in the US or Canada. Our findings also indicate that Jamaican children with parents who both had education up to high school are at a higher risk of exposure to mercury compared to children with at least one parent who had education beyond high school. Based on our findings, we recommend additional education to Jamaican parents regarding potential hazards of elevated blood mercury concentrations, and its association with seafood consumption and type of seafood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences/Center of Excellence on Development and Psychopathology, and Changing Lives Through Autism Spectrum Services (C.L.A.S.S.) Clinic, UTHealth Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.48, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongxue Chen
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.30, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Megan L. Grove
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kari Bloom
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.08, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Deborah A. Pearson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gerald C. Lalor
- International Centre for Environmental Nuclear Science, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Rana SA, Aavani T, Pittman QJ. Sex effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes of innate immune activation during prenatal and neonatal life. Horm Behav 2012; 62:228-36. [PMID: 22516179 PMCID: PMC3522744 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Revised: 03/25/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to potentially harmful agents (bacteria, viruses, toxins) throughout our lifespan; the consequences of such exposure can alter central nervous system development. Exposure to immunogens during pregnancy increases the risk of developing neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Further, sex hormones, such as estrogen, have strong modulatory effects on immune function and have also been implicated in the development of neuropathologies (e.g., schizophrenia and depression). Similarly, animal studies have demonstrated that immunogen exposure in utero or during the neonatal period, at a time when the brain is undergoing maturation, can induce changes in learning and memory, as well as dopamine-mediated behaviors in a sex-specific manner. Literature that covers the effects of immunogens on innate immune activation and ultimately the development of the adult brain and behavior is riddled with contradictory findings, and the addition of sex as a factor only adds to the complexity. This review provides evidence that innate immune activation during critical periods of development may have effects on the adult brain in a sex-specific manner. Issues regarding sex bias in research as well as variability in animal models of immune function are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Quentin J. Pittman
- Corresponding author at: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Fax: +1 403 283 2700. (Q.J. Pittman)
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13
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Asiaei M, Solati J, Salari AA. Prenatal exposure to lps leads to long-lasting physiological consequences in male offspring. Dev Psychobiol 2011; 53:828-38. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.20568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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15
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Differential development of central dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice. Brain Res 2010; 1349:97-104. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Revised: 05/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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16
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Yochum CL, Bhattacharya P, Patti L, Mirochnitchenko O, Wagner GC. Animal model of autism using GSTM1 knockout mice and early post-natal sodium valproate treatment. Behav Brain Res 2010; 210:202-10. [PMID: 20178820 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2009] [Revised: 02/15/2010] [Accepted: 02/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined developmental disorder with unknown etiology but thought to be the result of environmental insult acting upon the developing brain of a genetically susceptible individual. Approximately 30% of individuals with autism have normal development up to the age of about 30 months after which they experience behavioral regression and lose previously acquired motor, cognitive and social skills. Early post-natal toxicant administration to mice has been used to model autistic regression. To test the hypothesis that genetically altered mice might be more sensitive to toxicant exposure early in life, mice with a deletion of glutathione-S-transferaseM1 (GSTM1; a gene associated with increased risk of autism that codes for an enzyme involved in the management of toxicant-induced oxidative stress) and wild-type controls were exposed to valproic acid (VPA; a toxicant known to cause autism-like behavioral deficits that, in part, are mediated through oxidative stress) on post-natal day 14. VPA treatment caused significant increases in apoptosis in granule cells of the hippocampus and cerebellum. There was a genotype by treatment by sex interaction with wild-type females exhibiting significantly fewer apoptotic cells in these regions compared to all other groups. VPA treatment also resulted in long-lasting deficits in social behaviors and significant alterations in brain chemistry. VPA-treated GSTM1 knockout animals performed significantly fewer crawl-under behaviors compared to saline-treated knockout animals as well as wild-type controls receiving either treatment. Collectively, these studies indicate that VPA-treatment causes cerebellar and hippocampal apoptosis and that having the wild-type GSTM1 genotype may confer protection against VPA-induced neuronal death in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie L Yochum
- Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute, UMDNJ/RWJMS, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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17
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Meyer U, Nyffeler M, Schwendener S, Knuesel I, Yee BK, Feldon J. Relative prenatal and postnatal maternal contributions to schizophrenia-related neurochemical dysfunction after in utero immune challenge. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008; 33:441-56. [PMID: 17443130 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infections represents a risk factor for the emergence of neuropsychiatric disorders in later life, including schizophrenia and autism. However, it remains essentially unknown whether this association is primarily attributable to prenatal and/or postnatal maternal effects on the offspring. Here, we addressed this issue by dissecting the relative contributions of prenatal inflammatory events and postnatal maternal factors in an animal model of prenatal viral-like infection. Pregnant mice were exposed to the inflammatory agent polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (PolyI:C; 5 mg/kg, i.v.) or vehicle treatment on gestation day 9, and offspring born to PolyI:C- and vehicle-treated dams were cross fostered to surrogate rearing mothers that had either experienced inflammatory or sham treatment during pregnancy. We demonstrate that a variety of dopamine- and glutamate-related pharmacological and neuroanatomical disturbances emerge after prenatal immune challenge regardless of whether neonates were raised by vehicle- or PolyI:C-exposed surrogate mothers. However, the adoption of prenatal control animals to immune-challenged surrogate mothers was also sufficient to induce specific pharmacological and neuroanatomical abnormalities in the fostered offspring. Multiple schizophrenia-related dysfunctions emerging after prenatal immune challenge are thus mediated by prenatal but not postnatal maternal effects on the offspring, but immunological stress during pregnancy may affect postpartum maternal factors in such a way that being reared by an immune-challenged surrogate mother can confer risk for distinct forms of psychopathology in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urs Meyer
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neurobiology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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Güçlü B, Tanidir C, Mukaddes NM, Unal F. Tactile sensitivity of normal and autistic children. Somatosens Mot Res 2007; 24:21-33. [PMID: 17558920 DOI: 10.1080/08990220601179418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Many children with autistic spectrum disorders have unusual reactions to certain sensory stimuli. These reactions vary along a hyper- to hypo-responsivity continuum. For example, some children overreact to weak sensory input, but others do not respond negatively to even strong stimuli. It is typically assumed that this deviant responsivity is linked to sensitivity, although the particular stage of sensory processing affected is not known. Psychophysical vibrotactile thresholds of six male children (age: 8-12) who were diagnosed to have autistic spectrum disorders and six normal male children (age: 7-11) were measured by using a two-alternative forced-choice task. The tactile stimuli were sinusoidal displacements and they were applied on the terminal phalanx of the left middle finger of each subject. By using a forward-masking paradigm, 40- and 250-Hz thresholds of the Pacinian tactile channel and 40-Hz threshold of the Non-Pacinian I tactile channel were determined. There was no significant difference between the thresholds of autistic and normal children, and the autistic children had the same detection and masking mechanisms as the normal children. The sensory responsivity of each subject was tested by clinical questionnaires, which showed again no difference between the two subject groups. Furthermore, no significant correlations could be found between the questionnaire data and the psychophysical thresholds. However, there was a high correlation between the data from the tactile and emotional subsets of the questionnaires. These results support the hypothesis that the hyper- and hypo-responsivity to touch, which is sometimes observed in autistic spectrum disorders, is not a perceptual sensory problem, but may probably be emotional in origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burak Güçlü
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Sullivan R, Wilson DA, Feldon J, Yee BK, Meyer U, Richter-Levin G, Avi A, Michael T, Gruss M, Bock J, Helmeke C, Braun K. The International Society for Developmental Psychobiology annual meeting symposium: Impact of early life experiences on brain and behavioral development. Dev Psychobiol 2006; 48:583-602. [PMID: 17016842 PMCID: PMC1952656 DOI: 10.1002/dev.20170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research in the area of developmental psychobiology have shown that early life experience alters behavioral and brain development, which canalizes development to suit different environments. Recent methodological advances have begun to identify the mechanisms by which early life experiences cause these diverse adult outcomes. Here we present four different research programs that demonstrate the intricacies of early environmental influences on behavioral and brain development in both pathological and normal development. First, an animal model of schizophrenia is presented that suggests prenatal immune stimulation influences the postpubertal emergence of psychosis-related behavior in mice. Second, we describe a research program on infant rats that demonstrates how early odor learning has unique characteristics due to the unique functioning of the infant limbic system. Third, we present work on the rodent Octodon degus, which shows that early paternal and/or maternal deprivation alters development of limbic system synaptic density that corresponds to heightened emotionality. Fourth, a juvenile model of stress is presented that suggests this developmental period is important in determining adulthood emotional well being. The approach of each research program is strikingly different, yet all succeed in delineating a specific aspect of early development and its effects on infant and adult outcome that expands our understanding of the developmental impact of infant experiences on emotional and limbic system development. Together, these research programs suggest that the developing organism's developmental trajectory is influenced by environmental factors beginning in the fetus and extending through adolescence, although the specific timing and nature of the environmental influence has unique impact on adult mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Sullivan
- Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA.
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Windham GC, Zhang L, Gunier R, Croen LA, Grether JK. Autism spectrum disorders in relation to distribution of hazardous air pollutants in the san francisco bay area. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2006; 114:1438-44. [PMID: 16966102 PMCID: PMC1570060 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore possible associations between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and environmental exposures, we linked the California autism surveillance system to estimated hazardous air pollutant (HAP) concentrations compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. METHODS Subjects included 284 children with ASD and 657 controls, born in 1994 in the San Francisco Bay area. We assigned exposure level by census tract of birth residence for 19 chemicals we identified as potential neurotoxicants, developmental toxicants, and/or endocrine disruptors from the 1996 HAPs database. Because concentrations of many of these were highly correlated, we combined the chemicals into mechanistic and structural groups, calculating summary index scores. We calculated ASD risk in the upper quartiles of these group scores or individual chemical concentrations compared with below the median, adjusting for demographic factors. RESULTS The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were elevated by 50% in the top quartile of chlorinated solvents and heavy metals [95% confidence intervals (CIs) , 1.1-2.1], but not for aromatic solvents. Adjusting for these three groups simultaneously led to decreased risks for the solvents and increased risk for metals (AORs for metals: fourth quartile = 1.7 ; 95% CI, 1.0-3.0 ; third quartile = 1.95 ; 95% CI, 1.2-3.1) . The individual compounds that contributed most to these associations included mercury, cadmium, nickel, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a potential association between autism and estimated metal concentrations, and possibly solvents, in ambient air around the birth residence, requiring confirmation and more refined exposure assessment in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle C Windham
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Richmond, California, USA.
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Hertz-Picciotto I, Croen LA, Hansen R, Jones CR, van de Water J, Pessah IN. The CHARGE study: an epidemiologic investigation of genetic and environmental factors contributing to autism. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2006; 114:1119-25. [PMID: 16835068 PMCID: PMC1513329 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Causes and contributing factors for autism are poorly understood. Evidence suggests that prevalence is rising, but the extent to which diagnostic changes and improvements in ascertainment contribute to this increase is unclear. Both genetic and environmental factors are likely to contribute etiologically. Evidence from twin, family, and genetic studies supports a role for an inherited predisposition to the development of autism. Nonetheless, clinical, neuroanatomic, neurophysiologic, and epidemiologic studies suggest that gene penetrance and expression may be influenced, in some cases strongly, by the prenatal and early postnatal environmental milieu. Sporadic studies link autism to xenobiotic chemicals and/or viruses, but few methodologically rigorous investigations have been undertaken. In light of major gaps in understanding of autism, a large case-control investigation of underlying environmental and genetic causes for autism and triggers of regression has been launched. The CHARGE (Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) study will address a wide spectrum of chemical and biologic exposures, susceptibility factors, and their interactions. Phenotypic variation among children with autism will be explored, as will similarities and differences with developmental delay. The CHARGE study infrastructure includes detailed developmental assessments, medical information, questionnaire data, and biologic specimens. The CHARGE study is linked to University of California-Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health laboratories in immunology, xenobiotic measurement, cell signaling, genomics, and proteomics. The goals, study design, and data collection protocols are described, as well as preliminary demographic data on study participants and on diagnoses of those recruited through the California Department of Developmental Services Regional Center System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, and Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA.
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Shi L, Tu N, Patterson PH. Maternal influenza infection is likely to alter fetal brain development indirectly: the virus is not detected in the fetus. Int J Dev Neurosci 2005; 23:299-305. [PMID: 15749254 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2004] [Revised: 05/18/2004] [Accepted: 05/19/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown that maternal infection can increase the risk for mental illness in the offspring. In a mouse model of maternal respiratory infection with influenza virus, the adult offspring display striking behavioral, pharmacological and histological abnormalities. Although influenza primarily infects the respiratory system, there are reports of viral mRNA and protein in the fetus of infected pregnant animals. To determine the extent of viral spread following maternal respiratory infection, we used RT-PCR to assay various maternal and fetal tissues for influenza A mRNAs coding for neuraminidase, non-structural protein 2, nuclear protein and matrix protein. While infected maternal lungs exhibit uniformly very strong signals, placentae are only rarely positive, and viral RNAs are not detectable in fetal brains from infected mothers. Thus, the effects of maternal infection on fetal brain development are likely to be indirect, probably involving the maternal inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Shi
- Biology Division, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS We conducted a large case-control study nested within the cohort of singleton term infants born between 1995 and 1998 at a northern California Kaiser Permanente hospital. Case subjects (n = 338) were children with an ASD diagnosis recorded in Kaiser Permanente outpatient databases; control subjects (n = 1817) were children without an ASD diagnosis, who were randomly sampled and frequency-matched to case subjects according to gender, birth year, and birth hospital. RESULTS Approximately 28% of case and control subjects received > or =1 bilirubin test in the first 30 days of life. No case-control differences were observed for maximal bilirubin levels of > or =15 mg/dL (10.1% vs 12.1%), > or =20 mg/dL (2.1% vs 2.5%), or > or =25 mg/dL (0.3% vs 0.2%). Compared with children whose maximal neonatal bilirubin levels were <15 mg/dL or not measured, children with any degree of bilirubin level elevation were not at increased risk of ASD, after adjustment for gender, birth facility, maternal age, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal education, and gestational age (for bilirubin levels of 15-19.9 mg/dL: odds ratio: 0.7; 95% confidence interval: 0.5-1.2; for bilirubin levels of 20-24.9 mg/dL: odds ratio: 0.7; 95% confidence interval: 0.3-1.6; for bilirubin levels of > or =25 mg/dL: odds ratio: 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-11.2). CONCLUSION These data suggest that neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is not a risk factor for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Croen
- Kaiser Permanente, Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
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DeStefano F, Bhasin TK, Thompson WW, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Boyle C. Age at first measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in children with autism and school-matched control subjects: a population-based study in metropolitan atlanta. Pediatrics 2004; 113:259-66. [PMID: 14754936 DOI: 10.1542/peds.113.2.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare ages at first measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination between children with autism and children who did not have autism in the total population and in selected subgroups, including children with regression in development. METHODS A case-control study was conducted in metropolitan Atlanta. Case children (N = 624) were identified from multiple sources and matched to control children (N = 1824) on age, gender, and school. Vaccination data were abstracted from immunization forms required for school entry. Records of children who were born in Georgia were linked to Georgia birth certificates for information on maternal and birth factors. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS The overall distribution of ages at MMR vaccination among children with autism was similar to that of matched control children; most case (70.5%) and control children (67.5%) were vaccinated between 12 and 17 months of age. Similar proportions of case and control children had been vaccinated before 18 or before 24 months. No significant associations for either of these age cutoffs were found for specific case subgroups, including those with evidence of developmental regression. More case (93.4%) than control children (90.6%) were vaccinated before 36 months (OR: 1.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.14 in the total sample; OR: 1.23; 95% confidence interval: 0.64-2.36 in the birth certificate sample). This association was strongest in the 3- to 5-year age group. CONCLUSIONS Similar proportions of case and control children were vaccinated by the recommended age or shortly after (ie, before 18 months) and before the age by which atypical development is usually recognized in children with autism (ie, 24 months). Vaccination before 36 months was more common among case children than control children, especially among children 3 to 5 years of age, likely reflecting immunization requirements for enrollment in early intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank DeStefano
- National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
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Folstein SE, Rosen-Sheidley B. Genetics of autism: complex aetiology for a heterogeneous disorder. Nat Rev Genet 2001; 2:943-55. [PMID: 11733747 DOI: 10.1038/35103559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 567] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Since autism was first recognized as a disorder in 1943, speculation about its aetiology has ranged from biological to psychological and back again. After twin studies during the 1970s and 1980s yielded unequivocal evidence for a genetic component, aetiological research in autism began to focus primarily on uncovering the genetic mechanisms involved. The identification of chromosomal abnormalities and Mendelian syndromes among individuals with autism, in conjunction with data from genome screens and candidate-gene studies, has helped to refine the view of the complex genetics that underlies autism spectrum conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Folstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- F DeStefano
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Vorhees CV, Weisenburger WP, Minck DR. Neurobehavioral teratogenic effects of thalidomide in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2001; 23:255-64. [PMID: 11418267 DOI: 10.1016/s0892-0362(01)00140-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thalidomide-induced embryopathy has been known for four decades, however, the drug has been reintroduced for human use in a number of countries, including the United States. In utero thalidomide exposure in humans is associated with central nervous system (CNS) effects in addition to the well-known limb, ear and other malformations. Despite knowledge of these CNS effects, not a single experimental study could be found that examined thalidomide for possible developmental neurobehavioral effects. In the present experiment, gravid Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either thalidomide (100 mg/kg by gavage) or vehicle (propylene glycol) on embryonic days E7-18 and allowed to deliver and raise their own offspring. The offspring were evaluated in a series of neurobehavioral tests (reflexes, locomotor activity, startle reactivity and learning in the Morris and Cincinnati water mazes). There was a small reduction in maternal weight among thalidomide-treated dams during midgestation. Thalidomide offspring showed increased preweaning mortality and male-specific, late onset reduction in growth that persisted until the end of the study. Male thalidomide offspring showed significant increases in errors and latency in the multiple-T Cincinnati water maze. Although rats are refractory to thalidomide-induced teratogenesis, the present results suggest that thalidomide selectively impairs offspring survival and growth and at least one type of learning among male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- C V Vorhees
- Division of Developmental Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
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Halsey NA, Hyman SL. Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autistic spectrum disorder: report from the New Challenges in Childhood Immunizations Conference convened in Oak Brook, Illinois, June 12-13, 2000. Pediatrics 2001; 107:E84. [PMID: 11331734 DOI: 10.1542/peds.107.5.e84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents and physicians are understandably concerned about the causes and treatment of autism, a devastating disease that affects the entire family. Although much has been learned about autism, there are many gaps in our knowledge about what causes the disorder and how it can be prevented. Autistic symptoms occur along a spectrum, often referred to as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Concern has been raised about a possible association between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ASD, especially autism with regression. Also, increased requests for educational services related to ASD have raised concerns about possible increases in the incidence of ASD. METHODS On June 12-13, 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) convened a conference titled "New Challenges in Childhood Immunizations" in Oak Brook, Illinois. At this conference, parents, practitioners, and scientists presented information and research on MMR vaccine and ASD. Attendees included representatives from select AAP committees and sections as well as federal and other organizations that address related issues. The multidisciplinary panel of experts reviewed data on what is known about the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and genetics of ASD and the available data on hypothesized associations with IBD, measles, and MMR vaccine. Supplemental information was requested from authors who have proposed the hypotheses and other experts in relevant areas. RESULTS Autism is a complex disorder of uncertain and probably multiple etiologies. Genetic predisposition to ASD may involve as many as 10 genes. Many experts believe that the abnormal brain development in autism occurs before 30 weeks' gestation in most instances. In utero rubella is a known cause of autism. Animal model data support the biologic plausibility that exposure to yet unrecognized infectious or other environmental agents could cause ASD. Several factors may contribute to apparent increases in incidence of ASD in recent years. Most data indicate increased recognition and reporting as primary factors, but the epidemiologic data are insufficient to determine if there has been a true increase in the incidence of ASD. Increased reporting of ASD in recent years has occurred long after the introduction of MMR vaccine in the United States in 1971 and widespread use of this vaccine in the 1970s for routine immunization of children at 12 to 15 months of age. Appropriate detailed studies are needed to define the true incidence and prevalence of ASD. Epidemiologic studies in Europe indicate no association between MMR vaccine and ASD. Some children with ASD have gastrointestinal symptoms, but an increased rate of any specific gastrointestinal disorder in children with ASD has not been established. Studies to detect evidence of measles virus in intestinal tissue specimens from patients with IBD or autism with gastrointestinal symptoms have not used uniform techniques. Several laboratories have found no evidence of measles viruses in tissue specimens from patients with IBD, but 2 groups have found evidence of measles virus using different techniques. A group that found evidence of measles virus in affected tissue specimens from patients with IBD has also reported detecting portions of measles virus in peripheral blood lymphocytes and intestinal tissue specimens from patients with autism and gastrointestinal disorders. Finding a portion of a virus using molecular techniques does not constitute evidence for a causal relationship, because some viruses persist in unaffected hosts. Additional controlled studies in several laboratories are needed to determine if portions of measles virus persist in intestinal and other tissues of people with and without gastrointestinal disease and/or ASD. CONCLUSIONS Although the possible association with MMR vaccine has received much public and political attention and there are many who have derived their own conclusions based on personal experiences, the available evidence does not support the hypothesis that MMR vaccine causes autism or associated disorders or IBD. Separate administration of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines to children provides no benefit over administration of the combination MMR vaccine and would result in delayed or missed immunizations. Pediatricians need to work with families to ensure that children are protected early in the second year of life from these preventable diseases. Continued scientific efforts need to be directed to the identification of the causes of ASD.
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The cognitive and neural basis of autism: A disorder of complex information processing and dysfunction of neocortical systems. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2000. [DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7750(00)80008-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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Stodgell CJ, Ingram JL, Hyman SL. The role of candidate genes in unraveling the genetics of autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2000. [DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7750(00)80006-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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