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Launay JM, Delorme R, Pagan C, Callebert J, Leboyer M, Vodovar N. Impact of IDO activation and alterations in the kynurenine pathway on hyperserotonemia, NAD + production, and AhR activation in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:380. [PMID: 38071324 PMCID: PMC10710433 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02687-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperserotonemia is the most replicated biochemical anomaly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has been reported in 35-46% of individuals with ASD. Serotonin is synthesised from the essential amino acid tryptophan (TRP). However, the main catabolic route of TRP is the kynurenine pathway (KP), which competes with serotonin synthesis when indoleamine dioxygenase (IDO) is activated. Using the same cohort of individuals with ASD, we used to report extensive studies of the serotonin/melatonin pathway, and found increased kynurenine (KYN), suggesting IDO activation in 58.7% of individuals with ASD (159/271), supported by a strong negative correlation between KYN/TRP ratio and miR-153-3p plasma levels, which negatively regulates IDO. IDO activation was associated with normoserotonemia, suggesting that IDO activation could mask hyperserotonemia which meant that hyperserotonemia, if not masked by IDO activation, could be present in ~94% of individuals with ASD. We also identified several KP alterations, independent of IDO status. We observed a decrease in the activity of 3-hydroxyanthranilate dioxygenase which translated into the accumulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) selective ligand cinnabarinic acid, itself strongly positively correlated with the AhR target stanniocalcin 2. We also found a deficit in NAD+ production, the end-product of the KP, which was strongly correlated with plasma levels of oxytocin used as a stereotypical neuropeptide, indicating that regulated neuropeptide secretion could be limiting. These results strongly suggest that individuals with ASD exhibit low-grade chronic inflammation that is mediated in most cases by chronic AhR activation that could be associated with the highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorders observed in ASD, and explained IDO activation in ~58% of the cases. Taken together, these results extend biochemical anomalies of TRP catabolism to KP and posit TRP catabolism as a possible major component of ASD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Delorme
- Université Paris Cité and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Pagan
- Service de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Jacques Callebert
- Université Paris Cité and Inserm UMR-S 942 MASCOT, Paris, France
- Department of Biochemistry, Hôpital Lariboisière - Fernand Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris Est Créteil and Inserm U955, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, Créteil, France
- AP-HP, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
- Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Nicolas Vodovar
- Université Paris Cité and Inserm UMR-S 942 MASCOT, Paris, France.
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Levitan RD, Sqapi M, Post M, Knight JA, Lye SJ, Matthews SG. Increasing maternal age predicts placental protein expression critical for fetal serotonin metabolism: Potential implications for neurodevelopmental research. Placenta 2022; 130:9-11. [PMID: 36343528 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
High fetal exposure to serotonin and increasing maternal age both contribute to the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. While identifying covariates for a study of placental protein expression, we found a significant negative correlation between maternal age and the expression of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), and a significant positive correlation between maternal age and the expression of the serotonin transporter SERT. MAOA and SERT play key roles in placental serotonin metabolism relevant to fetal neurodevelopment. These preliminary findings suggest that the effect of increasing maternal age on neurodevelopmental risk may be mediated in part by changes in placental protein expression relevant to fetal serotonin metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Levitan
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Maria Sqapi
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Post
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julia A Knight
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Novel role of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α in valproic acid rat model of autism: Mechanistic study of risperidone and metformin monotherapy versus combination. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 116:110522. [PMID: 35131336 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of heterogenous etiology exhibiting a challenge in understanding its exact neuro-pathophysiology. Recently, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-α activation was found to play a fundamental role in neuroprotection and improving autistic-like-behaviors in experimental animal models of ASD through alleviating neuroinflammation, oxidative-stress, astrocyte reactivity, tauopathy in addition to its favorable role in metabolic regulation, thus attracting attention as a possible target in treatment of ASD. This study aimed to investigate the role of PPAR-α, astrocytic dysfunction and tauopathy in ASD and detect the possible neuroprotective effects of metformin (MET), through PPAR-α activation, and risperidone (RIS) either monotherapy or in combination in alleviating autistic-like-changes at behavioral and neurobiological levels in male Wistar rats. Pregnant female Wistar rats received valproic-acid (VPA) to induce autistic-like-behavioral and neurobiological alterations in their offspring. Chronic intra-peritoneal MET (100 mg/kg/day) and RIS (1 mg/kg/day) either monotherapy or in combination started from postnatal day (PND) 24 till PND61 (38 days). Prenatal VPA exposure simulated the autistic core behaviors associated with neurochemical and histopathological neurodevelopmental degenerative changes. Both MET and RIS either monotherapy or in combination were able to reverse these changes. The effect of MET was comparable to RIS. Moreover, MET was able to alleviate the RIS induced weight gain and improve cognitive functions highlighting its promising adjunctive role in alleviating ASD pathophysiology. Our study highlighted the favorable effects of MET and RIS both in monotherapy and in combination in alleviating the autistic-like-changes and proposed PPAR-α activation along with restoring astrocytes homeostasis as promising targets in novel therapeutic strategies in ASD.
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Erden S, Nalbant K, Kılınç İ. Investigation of Relaxin-3 Serum Levels in terms of Social Interaction, Communication, and Appetite as a Biomarker in Children with Autism. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 20:135-142. [PMID: 35078956 PMCID: PMC8813315 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.1.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the possible relationship between relaxin-3 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Serum relaxin-3 was measured in 80 children (50 children diagnosed with ASD and 30 controls). Symptom severity in the ASD group was evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Behavioral and nutritional problems in the groups were evaluated using the Abnormal Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childrenʼs Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Results Our findings showed that serum relaxin-3 levels were higher in children with ASD than in the controls. The listening response sub-scale score of the CARS scale was found to decrease as the level of relaxin-3 increased. However, as relaxin-3 levels increased in children with ASD, it was found that the speech problem sub-scale score on the ABC scale and the desire to drink score on the CEBQ scale increased, but the satiety responsiveness and food fussiness scores decreased. Conclusion This study the first to investigate serum levels of relaxin-3, which has a role in regulating social behavior and nutritional behavior in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semih Erden
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Kevser Nalbant
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Kılınç
- Department of Biochemistry, Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
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5
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Prenatal Serotonin Fluctuation Affects Serotoninergic Development and Related Neural Circuits in Chicken Embryos. Neuroscience 2021; 473:66-80. [PMID: 34425158 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The placenta is the primary source of serotonin (5-HT) for fetal development, programming fetal neural wiring in humans and other mammals. The fluctuation in maternal 5-HT affects fetal neurogenesis with life-long consequences, however, its mechanisms have not been well known. The chicken embryo, independent of maternal neurohormonal influence, may offer an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of prenatal 5-HT exposure altering postnatal physiological homeostasis and behavioral exhibition. To investigate the fine-tuning of 5-HT to the early embryonic neurodevelopment, 10 µg and 20 µg 5-HT were secretively injected to chicken embryos before incubation. 5-HT exposure mainly affected the neural development in the pons and midbrain, altered the serotoninergic and dopaminergic (DAergic) neuronal morphology, nucleus distribution, and their metabolisms and related gene expressions. The comprehensive effect of 5-HT exposure was not dosage-dependent but the working pathways differed, 10 µg 5-HT exposure reduced 5-HT turnover rate, increased 5-HT 1a receptor expression, and facilitated the ventral tegmental area neuronal development; while 20 µg 5-HT exposure increased the serotoninergic and DAergic neurotransmission and enhanced serotoninergic regulation to the hypothalamus. These findings indicate that the 5-HT exposure effect can be achieved via different paths by modifying the embryonic serotonergic (5-HTergic) and DAergic systems and altering fetal 5-HTergic influence on the thalamocortical circuit and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. These results may offer a novel sight for understanding the function of 5-HT during neurodevelopment and raise the possibility for using selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors to regulate emotional and mental wellness during early pregnancy and possible risks of complications for babies.
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Gillera SEA, Marinello WP, Cao KT, Horman BM, Stapleton HM, Patisaul HB. Sex-specific Disruption of the Prairie Vole Hypothalamus by Developmental Exposure to a Flame Retardant Mixture. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6285199. [PMID: 34038511 PMCID: PMC8571712 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with social deficits is conspicuously rising, particularly in boys. Flame retardants (FRs) have long been associated with increased risk, and prior work by us and others in multiple species has shown that developmental exposure to the common FR mixture Firemaster 550 (FM 550) sex-specifically alters socioemotional behaviors including anxiety and pair bond formation. In rats, FRs have also been shown to impair aspects of osmoregulation. Because vasopressin (AVP) plays a role in both socioemotional behavior and osmotic balance we hypothesized that AVP and its related nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) would be vulnerable to developmental FM 550 exposure. We used the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaste) to test this because it is spontaneously prosocial. Using siblings of prairie voles used in a prior study that assessed behavioral deficits resulting from developmental FM 550 exposure across 3 doses, here we tested the hypothesis that FM 550 sex-specifically alters AVP and OT neuronal populations in critical nuclei, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), that coordinate those behaviors, as well as related dopaminergic (determined by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunolabeling) populations. Exposed females had fewer AVP neurons in the anterior PVN and more A13 TH neurons in the zona incerta than controls. By contrast, in FM 550 males, A13 TH neuron numbers in the zona incerta were decreased but only in 1 dose group. These results expand on previous work showing evidence of endocrine disruption of OT/AVP pathways, including to subpopulations of PVN AVP neurons that coordinate osmoregulatory functions in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William P Marinello
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Kevin T Cao
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Brian M Horman
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Levine Science Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State University, Raleigh NC 27695, USA
- Correspondence: Heather B Patisaul, Professor of Biological Sciences, NC State University, 127 David Clark Labs, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. E-mail:
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7
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Luhach K, Kulkarni GT, Singh VP, Sharma B. Effect of papaverine on developmental hyperserotonemia induced autism spectrum disorder related behavioural phenotypes by altering markers of neuronal function, inflammation, and oxidative stress in rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2021; 48:614-625. [PMID: 33480092 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hyperserotonemia, in the early developmental phase, generates a variety of behavioural and biochemical phenotypes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in rats. Papaverine is known to provide benefits in various brain conditions. We investigated the role of a selective phosphodiesterase-10A (PDE10A) inhibitor, papaverine on ASD related behavioural phenotypes (social behaviour deficits, repetitive behaviour, anxiety and hyperlocomotion) in developmental hyperserotonemia (DHS) rat model. Also, effects on important biochemical markers related with neuronal function (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-neuronal survival and phosphorylated-cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB)-neuronal transcription factor), brain inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and brain oxidative stress (TBARS and GSH) were studied in important brain areas (frontal cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and striatum). Administration of a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, such as 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT) to rats prenatally (gestational day 12 - day of parturition) and during early stages (postnatal day (PND) 0 -PND20) of development, resulted in impaired behaviour and brain biochemistry. Administration of papaverine (15/30 mg/kg ip) to 5-MT administered rats from PND21 to PND48, resulted in improvement of behavioural deficits. Also, papaverine administration significantly increased the levels of BDNF, pCREB/CREB, IL-10, GSH and significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and TBARS levels in different brain areas. Papaverine, in both doses rectified important behavioural phenotypes related with ASD, the higher dose (30 mg/kg ip) showed significantly greater improvement than 15 mg/kg ip, possibly by improving neuronal function, brain inflammation and brain oxidative stress. Thus, PDE10A could be a probable target for pharmacological interventions and furthering our understanding of ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanishk Luhach
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Giriraj T Kulkarni
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Vijay P Singh
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, Academy of scientific and Innovative research, New Delhi, India
| | - Bhupesh Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India.,CNS and CVS Pharmacology, Conscience Research, Delhi, India
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8
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Su T, Pei L. Acupuncture and oxytocinergic system: The promising treatment for autism. Transl Neurosci 2021; 12:96-102. [PMID: 33633868 PMCID: PMC7896431 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2021-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments activities without efficient pharmacological therapies in social interaction, speech and stereotypic patterns. Clinical studies have shown the efficacy of acupuncture as an alternative therapy for autism. The effectiveness of acupuncture as an alternative treatment for autism has been demonstrated through clinical trials. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these effects remain unclear. Due to its profound pro-social, anxiolytic, stress management effects, and its potential use for the treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with altered socioemotional competence, oxytocin (OT) released from the hypothalamus has attracted considerable interest. In the past decade, a number of clinical and animal studies have shown that OT administration effectively reduces core symptoms of ASD, especially social behavior deficits. Recently, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a promising target for the treatment of autism. OT was found to facilitate the endocannabinoid-mediated social reward processes in the nucleus accumbens of the mouse brain. Furthermore, serotonin and dopamine are involved in the reward response mediated by OT. In view of these findings, we conclude that acupuncture may produce therapeutic effects on autism by triggering the hypothalamic oxytocin system, which in turn activates the release of neurotransmitters such as endocannabinoids, dopamine and serotonin. This would be a valuable guide for further research on the mechanism of treatment of autism with acupuncture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangfeng Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Lei Pei
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Institute for Brain Research (IBR), Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Southey BR, Zhang P, Keever MR, Rymut HE, Johnson RW, Sweedler JV, Rodriguez-Zas SL. Effects of maternal immune activation in porcine transcript isoforms of neuropeptide and receptor genes. J Integr Neurosci 2021; 20:21-31. [PMID: 33834688 PMCID: PMC8103820 DOI: 10.31083/j.jin.2021.01.332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The prolonged effects of maternal immune activation in response stressors during gestation on the offspring's molecular pathways after birth are beginning to be understood. An association between maternal immune activation and neurodevelopmental and behavior disorders such as autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders has been detected in long-term gene dysregulation. The incidence of alternative splicing among neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptor genes, critical cell-cell signaling molecules, associated with behavior may compromise the replicability of reported maternal immune activation effects at the gene level. This study aims to advance the understanding of the effect of maternal immune activation on transcript isoforms of the neuropeptide system (including neuropeptide, receptor and connecting pathway genes) underlying behavior disorders later in life. Recognizing the wide range of bioactive peptides and functional receptors stemming from alternative splicing, we studied the effects of maternal immune activation at the transcript isoform level on the hippocampus and amygdala of three-week-old pigs exposed to maternal immune activation due to viral infection during gestation. In the hippocampus and amygdala, 29 and 9 transcript isoforms, respectively, had maternal immune activation effects (P-value < 0.01). We demonstrated that the study of the effect of maternal immune activation on neuropeptide systems at the isoform level is necessary to expose opposite effects among transcript isoforms from the same gene. Genes were maternal immune activation effects have also been associated with neurodevelopmental and behavior disorders. The characterization of maternal immune activation effects at the transcript isoform level advances the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and identifies precise therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce R Southey
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Pan Zhang
- Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Marissa R Keever
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Haley E Rymut
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Rodney W Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA.,Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
| | - Sandra L Rodriguez-Zas
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA.,Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA.,Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA.,Department of Statistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801 IL, USA
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10
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Serotonin transporter availability in adults with autism-a positron emission tomography study. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1647-1658. [PMID: 32848204 PMCID: PMC8159737 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Impairments in social interaction and communication, in combination with restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests, define the neurodevelopmental diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The biological underpinnings of ASD are not well known, but the hypothesis of serotonin (5-HT) involvement in the neurodevelopment of ASD is one of the longest standing. Reuptake through the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) is the main pathway decreasing extracellular 5-HT in the brain and a marker for the 5-HT system, but in vivo investigations of the 5-HTT and the 5-HT system in ASD are scarce and so far inconclusive. To quantify possible alterations in the 5-HT system in ASD, we used positron emission tomography and the radioligand [11C]MADAM to measure 5-HTT availability in the brain of 15 adults with ASD and 15 controls. Moreover, we examined correlations between regional 5-HTT availability and behavioral phenotype assessments regarding ASD core symptoms. In the ASD group, we found significantly lower 5-HTT availability in total gray matter, brainstem, and 9 of 18 examined subregions of gray matter. In addition, several correlations between regional 5-HTT availability and social cognitive test performance were found. The results confirm the hypothesis that 5-HTT availability is lower in the brain of adult individuals with ASD, and are consistent with the theory of 5-HT involvement in ASD neurodevelopment. The findings endorse the central role of 5-HT in the physiology of ASD, and confirm the need for a continued investigation of the 5-HT system in order to disentangle the biology of ASD.
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11
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Lawrence RH, Palumbo MC, Freeman SM, Guoynes CD, Bales KL. Developmental Fluoxetine Exposure Alters Behavior and Neuropeptide Receptors in the Prairie Vole. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:584731. [PMID: 33304247 PMCID: PMC7701284 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.584731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) increases the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, the underlying neurobiology of this effect is not fully understood. Here we used the socially monogamous prairie vole as a translational model of developmental SSRI exposure. Paired female prairie voles (n = 20) were treated with 5 mg/kg subcutaneous fluoxetine (FLX) or saline (SAL) daily from birth of the second litter until the day of birth of the 4th litter. This design created three cohorts of FLX exposure: postnatal exposure in litter 2, both prenatal and postnatal exposure in litter 3, and prenatal exposure in litter 4. Post-weaning, subjects underwent behavioral testing to detect changes in sociality, repetitive behavior, pair-bond formation, and anxiety-like behavior. Quantitative receptor autoradiography was performed for oxytocin, vasopressin 1a, and serotonin 1a receptor density in a subset of brains. We observed increased anxiety-like behavior and reduced sociality in developmentally FLX exposed adults. FLX exposure decreased oxytocin receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens core and central amygdala, and vasopressin 1a receptor binding in the medial amygdala. FLX exposure did not affect serotonin 1A receptor binding in any areas examined. Changes to oxytocin and vasopressin receptors may underlie the behavioral changes observed and have translational implications for the mechanism of the increased risk of ASD subsequent to prenatal SSRI exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H Lawrence
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Michelle C Palumbo
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Sara M Freeman
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Caleigh D Guoynes
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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12
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Chruścicka B, Cowan CSM, Wallace Fitzsimons SE, Borroto-Escuela DO, Druelle CM, Stamou P, Bergmann CA, Dinan TG, Slattery DA, Fuxe K, Cryan JF, Schellekens H. Molecular, biochemical and behavioural evidence for a novel oxytocin receptor and serotonin 2C receptor heterocomplex. Neuropharmacology 2020; 183:108394. [PMID: 33188842 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of oxytocin-mediated functions is strongly associated with its modulatory effects on other neurotransmission systems, including the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system. Signalling between oxytocin (OT) and 5-HT has been demonstrated during neurodevelopment and in the regulation of specific emotion-based behaviours. It is suggested that crosstalk between neurotransmitters is driven by interaction between their specific receptors, particularly the oxytocin receptor (OTR) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptor (5-HTR2C), but evidence for this and the downstream signalling consequences that follow are lacking. Considering the overlapping central expression profiles and shared involvement of OTR and 5-HTR2C in certain endocrine functions and behaviours, including eating behaviour, social interaction and locomotor activity, we investigated the existence of functionally active OTR/5-HTR2C heterocomplexes. Here, we demonstrate evidence for a potential physical interaction between OTR and 5-HTR2Cin vitro in a cellular expression system using flow cytometry-based FRET (fcFRET). We could recapitulate this finding under endogenous expression levels of both receptors via in silico analysis of single cell transcriptomic data and ex vivo proximity ligation assay (PLA). Next, we show that co-expression of the OTR/5-HTR2C pair resulted in a significant depletion of OTR-mediated Gαq-signalling and significant changes in receptor trafficking. Of note, attenuation of OTR-mediated downstream signalling was restored following pharmacological blockade of the 5-HTR2C. Finally, we demonstrated a functional relevance of this novel heterocomplex, in vivo, as 5-HTR2C antagonism increased OT-mediated hypoactivity in mice. Overall, we provide compelling evidence for the formation of functionally active OTR/5-HTR2C heterocomplexes, adding another level of complexity to OTR and 5-HTR2C signalling functionality. This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Chruścicka
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Timothy G Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Harriët Schellekens
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Hernández-Carballo G, Ruíz-Luna EA, López-López G, Manjarrez E, Flores-Hernández J. Changes in Serotonin Modulation of Glutamate Currents in Pyramidal Offspring Cells of Rats Treated With 5-MT during Gestation. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E221. [PMID: 32276365 PMCID: PMC7225987 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in stimuli and feeding in pregnant mothers alter the behavior of offspring. Since behavior is mediated by brain activity, it is expected that postnatal changes occur at the level of currents, receptors or soma and dendrites structure and modulation. In this work, we explore at the mechanism level the effects on Sprague-Dawley rat offspring following the administration of serotonin (5-HT) agonist 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT). We analyzed whether 5-HT affects the glutamate-activated (IGlut) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-activated currents (IGlut, INMDA) in dissociated pyramidal neurons from the prefrontal cortex (PFC). For this purpose, we performed voltage-clamp experiments on pyramidal neurons from layers V-VI of the PFC of 40-day-old offspring born from 5-MT-treated mothers at the gestational days (GD) 11 to 21. We found that the pyramidal-neurons from the PFC of offspring of mothers treated with 5-MT exhibit a significant increased reduction in both the IGlut and INMDA when 5-HT was administered. Our results suggest that the concentration increase of a neuromodulator during the gestation induces changes in its modulatory action over the offspring ionic currents during the adulthood thus contributing to possible psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Hernández-Carballo
- Instituto de Fisiología Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla C.P.72570, Mexico; (G.H.-C.); (E.A.R.-L.); (E.M.)
| | - Evelyn A. Ruíz-Luna
- Instituto de Fisiología Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla C.P.72570, Mexico; (G.H.-C.); (E.A.R.-L.); (E.M.)
| | - Gustavo López-López
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla C.P.72570, Mexico;
| | - Elias Manjarrez
- Instituto de Fisiología Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla C.P.72570, Mexico; (G.H.-C.); (E.A.R.-L.); (E.M.)
| | - Jorge Flores-Hernández
- Instituto de Fisiología Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla C.P.72570, Mexico; (G.H.-C.); (E.A.R.-L.); (E.M.)
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Social Stimuli Induce Activation of Oxytocin Neurons Within the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus to Promote Social Behavior in Male Mice. J Neurosci 2020; 40:2282-2295. [PMID: 32024781 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1515-18.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is critical for the expression of social behavior across a wide array of species; however, the role of this system in the encoding of socially relevant information is not well understood. In the present study, we show that chemogenetic activation of OT neurons within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) of male mice (OT-Ires-Cre) enhanced social investigation during a social choice test, while chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons abolished typical social preferences. These data suggest that activation of the OT system is necessary to direct behavior preferentially toward social stimuli. To determine whether the presence of a social stimulus is sufficient to induce activation of PVH-OT neurons, we performed the first definitive recording of OT neurons in awake mice using two-photon calcium imaging. These recordings demonstrate that social stimuli activate PVH-OT neurons and that these neurons differentially encode social and nonsocial stimuli, suggesting that PVH-OT neurons may act to convey social salience of environmental stimuli. Finally, an attenuation of social salience is associated with social disorders, such as autism. We therefore also examined possible OT system dysfunction in a mouse model of autism, Shank3b knock-out (KO) mice. Male Shank3b KO mice showed a marked reduction in PVH-OT neuron number and administration of an OT receptor agonist improved social deficits. Overall, these data suggest that the presence of a social stimulus induces activation of the PVH-OT neurons to promote adaptive social behavior responses.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although the oxytocin (OT) system is well known to regulate a diverse array of social behaviors, the mechanism in which OT acts to promote the appropriate social response is poorly understood. One hypothesis is that the presence of social conspecifics activates the OT system to generate an adaptive social response. Here, we selectively recorded from OT neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) to show that social stimulus exposure indeed induces activation of the OT system. We also show that activation of the OT system is necessary to promote social behavior and that mice with abnormal social behavior have reduced numbers of PVH-OT neurons. Finally, aberrant social behavior in these mice was rescued by administration of an OT receptor agonist.
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Zaccarelli-Magalhães J, Amato Santoro M, de Abreu GR, Lopes Ricci E, Rinaldi Fukushima A, Kirsten TB, Faria Waziry PA, de Souza Spinosa H. Exposure of dams to fluoxetine during lactation disturbs maternal behavior but had no effect on the offspring behavior. Behav Brain Res 2019; 377:112246. [PMID: 31539576 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fluoxetine is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for treatment of depression during pregnancy as well as postpartum. Nevertheless, fluoxetine can cross the placental barrier and/or be secreted through breastmilk and questions remain unanswered regarding safety of the unborn and/or nursing infant. Passive administration of antidepressants to infants can cause neurological developmental delay and/or dysfunction. To date, there are limited studies on neurobehavioral effects due to passive administration of fluoxetine in nursing animals. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of fluoxetine exposure on the behavior of lactating dams and their offspring. Dams received either 1, 10 or 20 mg/kg fluoxetine via oral gavage (controls received water alone) from lactating day (LD) 1 to 21. Maternal behavioral studies were conducted from LD5 to LD7 and offspring studies were conducted from LD2 to LD60. Results showed dysfunction in maternal behavior, both in direct and indirect behavior, but there were no differences and/or deficiencies observed in offspring behavior. These data suggest that the impairment of dams maternal behavior combined with the amount of fluoxetine that the offspring received through breast milk during lactation did not alter their social behavior in infancy and/or adulthood, suggesting no neurodevelopmental damage associated with maternal use of fluoxetine. This study contributes to the field of human psychiatric diseases by further elucidating the effects of antidepressant medications on the health of mothers as well as children who were passively exposed to drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Zaccarelli-Magalhães
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Maysa Amato Santoro
- Health Science Institute, Presbiterian Mackenzie University, Rua da Consolação, 930, 01302-907, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel Ramos de Abreu
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Esther Lopes Ricci
- Health Science Institute, Presbiterian Mackenzie University, Rua da Consolação, 930, 01302-907, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - André Rinaldi Fukushima
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Thiago Berti Kirsten
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, 04026-002, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Paula A Faria Waziry
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tampa Bay Regional Campus, Nova Southeastern University, 98-148 Damascus Rd, Clearwater, FL, 33759, United States.
| | - Helenice de Souza Spinosa
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Chruścicka B, Wallace Fitzsimons SE, Borroto-Escuela DO, Druelle C, Stamou P, Nally K, Dinan TG, Cryan JF, Fuxe K, Schellekens H. Attenuation of Oxytocin and Serotonin 2A Receptor Signaling through Novel Heteroreceptor Formation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3225-3240. [PMID: 31038917 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The oxytocin receptor (OTR) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HTR2A) are expressed in similar brain regions modulating central pathways critical for social and cognition-related behaviors. Signaling crosstalk between their endogenous ligands, oxytocin (OT) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), highlights the complex interplay between these two neurotransmitter systems and may be indicative of the formation of heteroreceptor complexes with subsequent downstream signaling changes. In this study, we assess the possible formation of OTR-5HTR2A heteromers in living cells and the functional downstream consequences of this receptor-receptor interaction. First, we demonstrated the existence of a physical interaction between the OTR and 5-HTR2A in vitro, using a flow cytometry-based FRET approach and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, we investigated the formation of this specific heteroreceptor complex ex vivo in the brain sections using the Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA). The OTR-5HTR2A heteroreceptor complexes were identified in limbic regions (including hippocampus, cingulate cortex, and nucleus accumbens), key regions associated with cognition and social-related behaviors. Next, functional cellular-based assays to assess the OTR-5HTR2A downstream signaling crosstalk showed a reduction in potency and efficacy of OT and OTR synthetic agonists, carbetocin and WAY267464, on OTR-mediated Gαq signaling. Similarly, the activation of 5-HTR2A by the endogenous agonist, 5-HT, also revealed attenuation in Gαq-mediated signaling. Finally, altered receptor trafficking within the cell was demonstrated, indicative of cotrafficking of the OTR/5-HTR2A pair. Overall, these results constitute a novel mechanism of specific interaction between the OT and 5-HT neurotransmitters via OTR-5HTR2A heteroreceptor formation and provide potential new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of social and cognition-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Chruścicka
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Shauna E. Wallace Fitzsimons
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Clémentine Druelle
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Kenneth Nally
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G. Dinan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F. Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Harriët Schellekens
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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17
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Stereological Investigation of the Rat Ventral Thalamic Nuclei Following Developmental Hyperserotonemia. Neuroscience 2019; 411:202-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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18
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Garbarino VR, Gilman TL, Daws LC, Gould GG. Extreme enhancement or depletion of serotonin transporter function and serotonin availability in autism spectrum disorder. Pharmacol Res 2019; 140:85-99. [PMID: 30009933 PMCID: PMC6345621 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A variety of human and animal studies support the hypothesis that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) system dysfunction is a contributing factor to the development of autism in some patients. However, many questions remain about how developmental manipulation of various components that influence 5-HT signaling (5-HT synthesis, transport, metabolism) persistently impair social behaviors. This review will summarize key aspects of central 5-HT function important for normal brain development, and review evidence implicating perinatal disruptions in 5-HT signaling in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder. We discuss the importance, and relative dearth, of studies that explore the possible correlation to autism in the interactions between important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may disrupt 5-HT homeostasis during development. In particular, we focus on exposure to 5-HT transport altering mechanisms such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or genetic polymorphisms in primary or auxiliary transporters of 5-HT, and how they relate to neurological stores of serotonin and its precursors. A deeper understanding of the many mechanisms by which 5-HT signaling can be disrupted, alone and in concert, may contribute to an improved understanding of the etiologies and heterogeneous nature of this disorder. We postulate that extreme bidirectional perturbations of these factors during development likely compound or synergize to facilitate enduring neurochemical changes resulting in insufficient or excessive 5-HT signaling, that could underlie the persistent behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina R Garbarino
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, United States.
| | - T Lee Gilman
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States.
| | - Lynette C Daws
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, United States; Department of Pharmacology, United States.
| | - Georgianna G Gould
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, United States; Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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Pinheiro IL, da Silva AI, Reginato A, da Silva Filho RC, Galindo LCM, Matos RJB, de Souza Ferraz JC, Toscano Meneses da Silva Castro AE, Milanski Ferreira M, Manhães de Castro R, de Souza SL. Neonatal fluoxetine exposure modulates serotonergic neurotransmission and disturb inhibitory action of serotonin on food intake. Behav Brain Res 2019; 357-358:65-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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20
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Edwards KA, Madden AM, Zup SL. Serotonin receptor regulation as a potential mechanism for sexually dimorphic oxytocin dysregulation in a model of Autism. Brain Res 2018; 1701:85-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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Gemmel M, Bögi E, Ragan C, Hazlett M, Dubovicky M, van den Hove DL, Oberlander TF, Charlier TD, Pawluski JL. Perinatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication (SSRI) effects on social behaviors, neurodevelopment and the epigenome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 85:102-116. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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22
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Forero A, Rivero O, Wäldchen S, Ku HP, Kiser DP, Gärtner Y, Pennington LS, Waider J, Gaspar P, Jansch C, Edenhofer F, Resink TJ, Blum R, Sauer M, Lesch KP. Cadherin-13 Deficiency Increases Dorsal Raphe 5-HT Neuron Density and Prefrontal Cortex Innervation in the Mouse Brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:307. [PMID: 29018333 PMCID: PMC5623013 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: During early prenatal stages of brain development, serotonin (5-HT)-specific neurons migrate through somal translocation to form the raphe nuclei and subsequently begin to project to their target regions. The rostral cluster of cells, comprising the median and dorsal raphe (DR), innervates anterior regions of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex. Differential analysis of the mouse 5-HT system transcriptome identified enrichment of cell adhesion molecules in 5-HT neurons of the DR. One of these molecules, cadherin-13 (Cdh13) has been shown to play a role in cell migration, axon pathfinding, and synaptogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of Cdh13 to the development of the murine brain 5-HT system. Methods: For detection of Cdh13 and components of the 5-HT system at different embryonic developmental stages of the mouse brain, we employed immunofluorescence protocols and imaging techniques, including epifluorescence, confocal and structured illumination microscopy. The consequence of CDH13 loss-of-function mutations on brain 5-HT system development was explored in a mouse model of Cdh13 deficiency. Results: Our data show that in murine embryonic brain Cdh13 is strongly expressed on 5-HT specific neurons of the DR and in radial glial cells (RGCs), which are critically involved in regulation of neuronal migration. We observed that 5-HT neurons are intertwined with these RGCs, suggesting that these neurons undergo RGC-guided migration. Cdh13 is present at points of intersection between these two cell types. Compared to wildtype controls, Cdh13-deficient mice display increased cell densities in the DR at embryonic stages E13.5, E17.5, and adulthood, and higher serotonergic innervation of the prefrontal cortex at E17.5. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence for a role of CDH13 in the development of the serotonergic system in early embryonic stages. Specifically, we indicate that Cdh13 deficiency affects the cell density of the developing DR and the posterior innervation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and therefore might be involved in the migration, axonal outgrowth and terminal target finding of DR 5-HT neurons. Dysregulation of CDH13 expression may thus contribute to alterations in this system of neurotransmission, impacting cognitive function, which is frequently impaired in neurodevelopmental disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Forero
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Olga Rivero
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sina Wäldchen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hsing-Ping Ku
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dominik P Kiser
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Gärtner
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Laura S Pennington
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Waider
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Gaspar
- Institut du Fer á Moulin, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR-S839, Paris, France
| | - Charline Jansch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biology and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thérèse J Resink
- Laboratory for Signal Transduction, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert Blum
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Long-term effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine on behaviour and monoaminergic stress response in stress-sensitive rats. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2017; 29:222-235. [PMID: 27819195 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2016.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although prescription rates of antidepressants for children and adolescents have increased, concerns have been raised regarding effects on neurodevelopment and long-term outcome. Using a genetic animal model of depression, this study investigated the long-term effects of pre-pubertal administration of fluoxetine (FLX) on depressive-like behaviour in early adulthood, as well as on central monoaminergic response to an acute stressor. We postulated that pre-pubertal FLX will have lasting effects on animal behaviour and monoaminergic stress responses in early adulthood. METHODS Flinders sensitive line (FSL) rats received 10 mg/kg/day FLX subcutaneously from postnatal day 21 (PnD21) to PnD34 (pre-pubertal). Thereafter, following normal housing, rats were either subjected to locomotor testing and the forced swim test (FST) on PnD60 (early adulthood), or underwent surgery for microdialysis, followed on PnD60 by exposure to acute swim stress and measurement of stressor-induced changes in plasma corticosterone and pre-frontal cortical monoamine concentrations. RESULTS Pre-pubertal FLX did not induce a late emergent effect on immobility in FSL rats on PnD60, whereas locomotor activity was significantly decreased. Acute swim stress on PnD60 significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels, and increased pre-frontal cortical norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations. Pre-pubertal FLX significantly blunted the pre-frontal cortical NE and 5-HIAA response following swim stress on PnD60. Baseline dopamine levels were significantly enhanced by pre-pubertal FLX, but no further changes were induced by swim stress. CONCLUSION Pre-pubertal FLX did not have lasting antidepressant-like behavioural effects in genetically susceptible, stress-sensitive FSL rats. However, such treatment reduced locomotor activity, abrogated noradrenergic and serotonergic stressor responses and elevated dopaminergic baseline levels in adulthood.
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Hirosawa T, Kikuchi M, Ouchi Y, Takahashi T, Yoshimura Y, Kosaka H, Furutani N, Hiraishi H, Fukai M, Yokokura M, Yoshikawa E, Bunai T, Minabe Y. A pilot study of serotonergic modulation after long‐term administration of oxytocin in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2017; 10:821-828. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.1761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tetsu Hirosawa
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyGraduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kikuchi
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyGraduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Yasuomi Ouchi
- Department of Biofunctional ImagingMedical Photonics Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of MedicineHamamatsu Japan
| | - Tetsuya Takahashi
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Yuko Yoshimura
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kosaka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui Japan
| | - Naoki Furutani
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyGraduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Hiraishi
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Mina Fukai
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyGraduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
| | - Masamichi Yokokura
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurologyHamamatsu University School of MedicineHamamatsu Japan
| | - Etsuji Yoshikawa
- Central Research LaboratoryHamamatsu Photonics KKHamamatsu Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Bunai
- Department of Biofunctional ImagingMedical Photonics Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of MedicineHamamatsu Japan
| | - Yoshio Minabe
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyGraduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
- Research Center for Child Mental DevelopmentKanazawa UniversityKanazawa Japan
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25
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Muller CL, Anacker AMJ, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. The serotonin system in autism spectrum disorder: From biomarker to animal models. Neuroscience 2016; 321:24-41. [PMID: 26577932 PMCID: PMC4824539 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Elevated whole blood serotonin, or hyperserotonemia, was the first biomarker identified in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is present in more than 25% of affected children. The serotonin system is a logical candidate for involvement in ASD due to its pleiotropic role across multiple brain systems both dynamically and across development. Tantalizing clues connect this peripheral biomarker with changes in brain and behavior in ASD, but the contribution of the serotonin system to ASD pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Studies of whole blood serotonin levels in ASD and in a large founder population indicate greater heritability than for the disorder itself and suggest an association with recurrence risk. Emerging data from both neuroimaging and postmortem samples also indicate changes in the brain serotonin system in ASD. Genetic linkage and association studies of both whole blood serotonin levels and of ASD risk point to the chromosomal region containing the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene in males but not in females. In ASD families with evidence of linkage to this region, multiple rare SERT amino acid variants lead to a convergent increase in serotonin uptake in cell models. A knock-in mouse model of one of these variants, SERT Gly56Ala, recapitulates the hyperserotonemia biomarker and shows increased brain serotonin clearance, increased serotonin receptor sensitivity, and altered social, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Data from other rodent models also suggest an important role for the serotonin system in social behavior, in cognitive flexibility, and in sensory development. Recent work indicates that reciprocal interactions between serotonin and other systems, such as oxytocin, may be particularly important for social behavior. Collectively, these data point to the serotonin system as a prime candidate for treatment development in a subgroup of children defined by a robust, heritable biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Muller
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - A M J Anacker
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Mail Unit 78, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - J Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University; Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, New York Presbyterian Hospital; New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Mail Unit 78, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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26
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Madden AMK, Paul AT, Pritchard RA, Michel R, Zup SL. Serotonin promotes feminization of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area, but not the calbindin cell group. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 76:1241-1253. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Revised: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. K. Madden
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
- Psychology Department; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
| | - Alexandria T. Paul
- Psychology Department; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
| | - Rory A. Pritchard
- Psychology Department; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
| | - Rebecca Michel
- Psychology Department; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
| | - Susan L. Zup
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
- Psychology Department; University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston Massachusetts 02125
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27
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Hough LH, Segal S. Effects of developmental hyperserotonemia on the morphology of rat dentate nuclear neurons. Neuroscience 2016; 322:178-94. [PMID: 26892293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social cognition, disordered communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Furthermore, abnormalities in basic motor control, skilled motor gestures, and motor learning, are common in ASD. These characteristics have been attributed to a possible defect in the pre- and postnatal development of specific neural networks including the dentate-thalamo-cortical pathway, which is involved in motor learning, automaticity of movements, and higher cognitive functions. The current study utilized custom diolistic labeling and unbiased stereology to characterize morphological alterations in neurons of the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum in developing rat pups exposed to abnormally high levels of the serotonergic agonist 5-methyloxytryptamine (5-MT) pre-and postnatally. Occurring in as many as 30% of autistic subjects, developmental hyperserotonemia (DHS) is the most consistent neurochemical finding reported in autism and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD. This exposure produced dramatic changes in dendritic architecture and synaptic features. We observed changes in the dendritic branching morphology which did not lead to significant differences (p>0.5) in total dendritic length. Instead, DHS groups presented with dendritic trees that display changes in arborescence, that appear to be short reaching with elaborately branched segments, presenting with significantly fewer (p>0.001) dendritic spines and a decrease in numeric density when compared to age-matched controls. These negative changes may be implicated in the neuropathological and functional/behavioral changes observed in ASD, such as delays in motor learning, difficulties in automaticity of movements, and deficits in higher cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H Hough
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA.
| | - S Segal
- Department of Surgery, Center for Anatomical Sciences and Education, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Mabunga DFN, Gonzales ELT, Kim JW, Kim KC, Shin CY. Exploring the Validity of Valproic Acid Animal Model of Autism. Exp Neurobiol 2015; 24:285-300. [PMID: 26713077 PMCID: PMC4688329 DOI: 10.5607/en.2015.24.4.285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The valproic acid (VPA) animal model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most widely used animal model in the field. Like any other disease models, it can't model the totality of the features seen in autism. Then, is it valid to model autism? This model demonstrates many of the structural and behavioral features that can be observed in individuals with autism. These similarities enable the model to define relevant pathways of developmental dysregulation resulting from environmental manipulation. The uncovering of these complex pathways resulted to the growing pool of potential therapeutic candidates addressing the core symptoms of ASD. Here, we summarize the validity points of VPA that may or may not qualify it as a valid animal model of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Froy N Mabunga
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, and Neuroscience Research Center, SMART-IABS and KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Edson Luck T Gonzales
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, and Neuroscience Research Center, SMART-IABS and KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Ji-Woon Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, and Neuroscience Research Center, SMART-IABS and KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Ki Chan Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, and Neuroscience Research Center, SMART-IABS and KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Chan Young Shin
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, and Neuroscience Research Center, SMART-IABS and KU Open Innovation Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea. ; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
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29
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Abstract
Network perspectives, in their emphasis on components and their interactions, might afford the best approach to the complexities of the ASD realm. Categorical approaches are unlikely to be fruitful as one should not expect to find a single or even predominant underlying cause of autism behavior across individuals. It is possible that the complex, highly interactive, heterogeneous and individualistic nature of the autism realm is intractable in terms of identifying clinically useful biomarker tests. It is hopeful from an emergenic perspective that small corrective changes in a single component of a deleterious network/configuration might have large beneficial consequences on developmental trajectories and in later treatment. It is suggested that the relationship between ASD and intellectual disability might be fundamentally different in single-gene versus nonsyndromic ASD. It is strongly stated that available biomarker "tests" for autism/ASD will do more harm than good. Finally, the serotonin-melatonin-oxidative stress-placental intersection might be an especially fruitful area of biological investigation.
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Tonacci A, Billeci L, Tartarisco G, Ruta L, Muratori F, Pioggia G, Gangemi S. [Formula: see text]Olfaction in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Child Neuropsychol 2015; 23:1-25. [PMID: 26340690 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1081678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory function is a well-known early biomarker for neurodegeneration and neural functioning in the adult population, being supported by a number of brain structures that could be dysfunctioning in neurodegenerative processes. Evidence has suggested that atypical sensory and, particularly, olfactory processing is present in several neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In this paper, we present data obtained by a systematic literature review, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, regarding the possible association between olfaction and ASDs, and analyze them critically in order to evaluate the occurrence of olfactory impairment in ASDs, as well as the possible usefulness of olfactory evaluation in such conditions. The results obtained in this analysis suggested a possible involvement of olfactory impairment in ASDs, underlining the importance of olfactory evaluation in the clinical assessment of ASDs. This assessment could be potentially included as a complementary evaluation in the diagnostic protocol of the condition. Methods for study selection and inclusion criteria were specified in advance and documented in PROSPERO protocol #CRD42014013939.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tonacci
- a National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Pisa Unit , Pisa , Italy
| | - Lucia Billeci
- a National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Pisa Unit , Pisa , Italy
| | - Gennaro Tartarisco
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy
| | - Liliana Ruta
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy.,c Department of Developmental Neuroscience , Stella Maris Scientific Institute , Calambrone, Pisa , Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- c Department of Developmental Neuroscience , Stella Maris Scientific Institute , Calambrone, Pisa , Italy
| | - Giovanni Pioggia
- b National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Clinical Physiology , IFC-CNR, Messina Unit , Messina , Italy
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- d Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , University Hospital "G. Martino" , Messina , Italy
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31
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Galindo LCM, Barros MDLD, Pinheiro IL, Santana RVDC, Matos RJB, Leandro CG, Souza SL, Castro RM. Neonatal serotonin reuptake inhibition reduces hypercaloric diet effects on fat mass and hypothalamic gene expression in adult rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 46:76-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuella da Luz Duarte Barros
- Master Student in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Phenotypic Plasticity, CAVFederal University of Pernambuco55608‐680VitóriaStoAntãoBrazil
| | - Isabeli Lins Pinheiro
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, CAVFederal University of Pernambuco55608‐680VitóriaStoAntãoBrazil
| | | | - Rhowena Jane Barbosa Matos
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, CAVFederal University of Pernambuco55608‐680VitóriaStoAntãoBrazil
| | - Carol Góis Leandro
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, CAVFederal University of Pernambuco55608‐680VitóriaStoAntãoBrazil
| | - Sandra Lopes Souza
- Department of AnatomyFederal University of Pernambuco50670‐901RecifePEBrazil
| | - Raul Manhães Castro
- Department of NutritionFederal University of Pernambuco50670‐901RecifeBrazil
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32
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Jaiswal P, Mohanakumar KP, Rajamma U. Serotonin mediated immunoregulation and neural functions: Complicity in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:413-31. [PMID: 26021727 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Serotonergic system has long been implicated in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), since platelet hyperserotonemia is consistently observed in a subset of autistic patients, who respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Apart from being a neurotransmitter, serotonin functions as a neurotrophic factor directing brain development and as an immunoregulator modulating immune responses. Serotonin transporter (SERT) regulates serotonin level in lymphoid tissues to ensure its proper functioning in innate and adaptive responses. Immunological molecules such as cytokines in turn regulate the transcription and activity of SERT. Dysregulation of serotonergic system could trigger signalling cascades that affect normal neural-immune interactions culminating in neurodevelopmental and neural connectivity defects precipitating behavioural abnormalities, or the disease phenotypes. Therefore, we suggest that a better understanding of the cross talk between serotonergic genes, immune systems and serotonergic neurotransmission will open wider avenues to develop pharmacological leads for addressing the core ASD behavioural deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Jaiswal
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector-J, EM Bypass, Kolkata 700 107, India
| | - Kochupurackal P Mohanakumar
- Division of Cell Biology & Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Usha Rajamma
- Manovikas Biomedical Research and Diagnostic Centre, Manovikas Kendra, 482 Madudah, Plot I-24, Sector-J, EM Bypass, Kolkata 700 107, India.
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33
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Zhang WQ, Smolik CM, Barba-Escobedo PA, Gamez M, Sanchez JJ, Javors MA, Daws LC, Gould GG. Acute dietary tryptophan manipulation differentially alters social behavior, brain serotonin and plasma corticosterone in three inbred mouse strains. Neuropharmacology 2015; 90:1-8. [PMID: 25445490 PMCID: PMC4276517 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Clinical evidence indicates brain serotonin (5-HT) stores and neurotransmission may be inadequate in subpopulations of individuals with autism, and this may contribute to characteristically impaired social behaviors. Findings that depletion of the 5-HT precursor tryptophan (TRP) worsens autism symptoms support this hypothesis. Yet dietetic studies show and parents report that many children with autism consume less TRP than peers. To measure the impact of dietary TRP content on social behavior, we administered either diets devoid of TRP, with standard TRP (0.2 g%), or with 1% added TRP (1.2 g%) overnight to three mouse strains. Of these, BTBRT(+)Itpr3(tf)/J and 129S1/SvImJ consistently exhibit low preference for social interaction relative to C57BL/6. We found that TRP depletion reduced C57BL/6 and 129S social interaction preference, while TRP enhancement improved BTBR sociability (p < 0.05; N = 8-10). Subsequent marble burying did not differ among diets or strains. After behavior tests, brain TRP levels and plasma corticosterone were higher in TRP enhanced C57BL/6 and BTBR, while 5-HT levels were reduced in all strains by TRP depletion (p < 0.05; N = 4-10). Relative hyperactivity of BTBR and hypoactivity of 129S, evident in self-grooming and chamber entries during sociability tests, were uninfluenced by dietary TRP. Our findings demonstrate mouse sociability and brain 5-HT turnover are reduced by acute TRP depletion, and can be enhanced by TRP supplementation. This outcome warrants further basic and clinical studies employing biomarker combinations such as TRP metabolism and 5-HT regulated hormones to characterize conditions wherein TRP supplementation may best ameliorate sociability deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wynne Q Zhang
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Corey M Smolik
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Priscilla A Barba-Escobedo
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Texas A&M University at San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
| | - Monica Gamez
- Texas A&M University at San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
| | - Jesus J Sanchez
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Martin A Javors
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Lynette C Daws
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Georgianna G Gould
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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34
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Kepser LJ, Homberg JR. The neurodevelopmental effects of serotonin: A behavioural perspective. Behav Brain Res 2015; 277:3-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 05/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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35
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Port RG, Gandal MJ, Roberts TPL, Siegel SJ, Carlson GC. Convergence of circuit dysfunction in ASD: a common bridge between diverse genetic and environmental risk factors and common clinical electrophysiology. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:414. [PMID: 25538564 PMCID: PMC4259121 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Most recent estimates indicate that 1 in 68 children are affected by an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Though decades of research have uncovered much about these disorders, the pathological mechanism remains unknown. Hampering efforts is the seeming inability to integrate findings over the micro to macro scales of study, from changes in molecular, synaptic and cellular function to large-scale brain dysfunction impacting sensory, communicative, motor and cognitive activity. In this review, we describe how studies focusing on neuronal circuit function provide unique context for identifying common neurobiological disease mechanisms of ASD. We discuss how recent EEG and MEG studies in subjects with ASD have repeatedly shown alterations in ensemble population recordings (both in simple evoked related potential latencies and specific frequency subcomponents). Because these disease-associated electrophysiological abnormalities have been recapitulated in rodent models, studying circuit differences in these models may provide access to abnormal circuit function found in ASD. We then identify emerging in vivo and ex vivo techniques, focusing on how these assays can characterize circuit level dysfunction and determine if these abnormalities underlie abnormal clinical electrophysiology. Such circuit level study in animal models may help us understand how diverse genetic and environmental risks can produce a common set of EEG, MEG and anatomical abnormalities found in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell G Port
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Timothy P L Roberts
- Bioengineering Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Steven J Siegel
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gregory C Carlson
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
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36
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Janušonis S. Serotonin dynamics in and around the central nervous system: is autism solvable without fundamental insights? Int J Dev Neurosci 2014; 39:9-15. [PMID: 24886833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling has been implicated in some developmental abnormalities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the presumed role of 5-HT in ASD raises new questions in fundamental neuroscience. Specifically, it is not clear if the current piecemeal approach to 5-HT signaling in the mammalian body is effective and whether new conceptual approaches may be required. This review briefly discusses 5-HT production and circulation in the central nervous system and outside of it, especially with regard to ASD, and proposes a more encompassing approach that questions the utility of the "neurotransmitter" concept. It then introduces the idea of a generalized 5-HT packet that may offer insights into possible links between serotonergic varicosities and blood platelets. These approaches have theoretical significance, but they are also well positioned to advance our understanding of some long-standing problems in autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skirmantas Janušonis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA.
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37
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Yang CJ, Liu CL, Sang B, Zhu XM, Du YJ. The combined role of serotonin and interleukin-6 as biomarker for autism. Neuroscience 2014; 284:290-296. [PMID: 25453766 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Diagnosis of autism is currently phenotype based with no reliable laboratory test available to assist clinicians. It has been shown that dysfunction of serotonin (5-HT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are involved in autism. The goal of this study was to evaluate the combined role of 5-HT and IL-6 as potential biomarkers for autism. The whole blood concentration of 5-HT and plasma concentration of IL-6 of individuals with autism were significantly elevated compared with the control group, and the concentration of 5-HT and IL-6 had positive correlations with the severity of autism. The results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the combination of 5-HT and IL-6 produced the best sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of autism. Therefore, the present study has revealed a simple clinical method with great potential for assisting the diagnosis of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-J Yang
- School of Preschool & Special Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - C-L Liu
- School of Preschool & Special Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - B Sang
- School of Preschool & Special Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - X-M Zhu
- Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Y-J Du
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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38
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Oxytocin and vasopressin support distinct configurations of social synchrony. Brain Res 2014; 1580:124-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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39
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Ciranna L, Catania MV. 5-HT7 receptors as modulators of neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission and plasticity: physiological role and possible implications in autism spectrum disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:250. [PMID: 25221471 PMCID: PMC4145633 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin type 7 receptors (5-HT7) are expressed in several brain areas, regulate brain development, synaptic transmission and plasticity, and therefore are involved in various brain functions such as learning and memory. A number of studies suggest that 5-HT7 receptors could be potential pharmacotherapeutic target for cognitive disorders. Several abnormalities of serotonergic system have been described in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including abnormal activity of 5-HT transporter, altered blood and brain 5-HT levels, reduced 5-HT synthesis and altered expression of 5-HT receptors in the brain. A specific role for 5-HT7 receptors in ASD has not yet been demonstrated but some evidence implicates their possible involvement. We have recently shown that 5-HT7 receptor activation rescues hippocampal synaptic plasticity in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome, a monogenic cause of autism. Several other studies have shown that 5-HT7 receptors modulate behavioral flexibility, exploratory behavior, mood disorders and epilepsy, which include core and co-morbid symptoms of ASD. These findings further suggest an involvement of 5-HT7 receptors in ASD. Here, we review the physiological roles of 5-HT7 receptors and their implications in Fragile X Syndrome and other ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Ciranna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Vincenza Catania
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) Catania, Italy ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, IRCCS Oasi Maria SS Troina, Italy
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40
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Yang CJ, Tan HP, Du YJ. The developmental disruptions of serotonin signaling may involved in autism during early brain development. Neuroscience 2014; 267:1-10. [PMID: 24583042 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a developmental disorder defined by the presence of a triad of communication, social and stereo typical behavioral characteristics with onset before 3years of age. In spite of the fact that there are potential environmental factors for autistic behavior, the dysfunction of serotonin during early development of the brain could be playing a role in this prevalence rise. Serotonin can modulate a number of developmental events, including cell division, neuronal migration, cell differentiation and synaptogenesis. Hyperserotonemia during fetal development results in the loss of serotonin terminals through negative feedback. The increased serotonin causes a decrease of oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and an increase in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the central nucleus of the amygdale, which are associated with social interactions and vital in autism. However, hyposerotonemia may be also relevant to the development of sensory as well as motor and cognitive faculties. And the paucity of placenta-derived serotonin should have potential importance when the pathogenesis of autism is considered. This review briefly summarized the developmental disruptions of serotonin signaling involved in the pathogenesis of autism during early development of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-J Yang
- School of Preschool & Special Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - H-P Tan
- School of Preschool & Special Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Y-J Du
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Smith CM, Walker AW, Hosken IT, Chua BE, Zhang C, Haidar M, Gundlach AL. Relaxin-3/RXFP3 networks: an emerging target for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases? Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:46. [PMID: 24711793 PMCID: PMC3968750 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal and clinical studies of gene-environment interactions have helped elucidate the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of several mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia; and have led to the discovery of improved treatments. The study of neuropeptides and their receptors is a parallel frontier of neuropsychopharmacology research and has revealed the involvement of several peptide systems in mental illnesses and identified novel targets for their treatment. Relaxin-3 is a newly discovered neuropeptide that binds, and activates the G-protein coupled receptor, RXFP3. Existing anatomical and functional evidence suggests relaxin-3 is an arousal transmitter which is highly responsive to environmental stimuli, particularly neurogenic stressors, and in turn modulates behavioral responses to these stressors and alters key neural processes, including hippocampal theta rhythm and associated learning and memory. Here, we review published experimental data on relaxin-3/RXFP3 systems in rodents, and attempt to highlight aspects that are relevant and/or potentially translatable to the etiology and treatment of major depression and anxiety. Evidence pertinent to autism spectrum and metabolism/eating disorders, or related psychiatric conditions, is also discussed. We also nominate some key experimental studies required to better establish the therapeutic potential of this intriguing neuromodulatory signaling system, including an examination of the impact of RXFP3 agonists and antagonists on the overall activity of distinct or common neural substrates and circuitry that are identified as dysfunctional in these debilitating brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig M Smith
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew W Walker
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Ihaia T Hosken
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Berenice E Chua
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Cary Zhang
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Mouna Haidar
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- Peptide Neurobiology Laboratory, Neuropeptides Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia ; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne VIC, Australia
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Lasting neurobehavioral abnormalities in rats after neonatal activation of serotonin 1A and 1B receptors: possible mechanisms for serotonin dysfunction in autistic spectrum disorders. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:1191-200. [PMID: 23975037 PMCID: PMC3933458 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Perinatal exposure of rats to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) produces sensory and social abnormalities paralleling those seen in autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, the possible mechanism(s) by which this exposure produces behavioral abnormalities is unclear. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the lasting effects of neonatal SSRI exposure are a consequence of abnormal stimulation of 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT1B receptors during brain development. We examined whether such stimulation would result in lasting sensory and social deficits in rats in a manner similar to SSRIs using both direct agonist stimulation of receptors as well as selective antagonism of these receptors during SSRI exposure. METHODS Male and female rat pups were treated from postnatal days 8 to 21. In Experiment 1, pups received citalopram (20 mg/kg/day), saline, (±)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT; 0.5 mg/kg/day) or 7-trifluoromethyl-4(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxaline dimaleate (CGS-12066B; 10 mg/kg/day). In Experiment 2, a separate cohort of pups received citalopram (20 mg/kg/day), or saline which was combined with either N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinylcyclo-hexanecarboxamide maleate (WAY-100635; 0.6 mg/kg/day) or N-[4-methoxy-3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]-2'-methyl-4'-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1-1'-biphenyl-4-carboxamide (GR-127935; 6 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. Rats were then tested in paradigms designed to assess sensory and social response behaviors at different time points during development. RESULTS Direct and indirect neonatal stimulation of 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptors disrupts sensory processing, produces neophobia, increases stereotypic activity, and impairs social interactions in manner analogous to that observed in ASD. CONCLUSION Increased stimulation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors plays a significant role in the production of lasting social and sensory deficits in adult animals exposed as neonates to SSRIs.
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Madden AMK, Zup SL. Effects of developmental hyperserotonemia on juvenile play behavior, oxytocin and serotonin receptor expression in the hypothalamus are age and sex dependent. Physiol Behav 2014; 128:260-9. [PMID: 24530263 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is a striking sex difference in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such that males are diagnosed more often than females, usually in early childhood. Given that recent research has implicated elevated blood serotonin (hyperserotonemia) in perinatal development as a potential factor in the pathogenesis of ASD, we sought to evaluate the effects of developmental hyperserotonemia on social behavior and relevant brain morphology in juvenile males and females. Administration of 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT) both pre- and postnatally was found to disrupt normal social play behavior in juveniles. In addition, alterations in the number of oxytocinergic cells in the lateral and medial paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were evident on postnatal day 18 (PND18) in 5-MT treated females, but not treated males. 5-MT treatment also changed the relative expression of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors in the PVN, in males at PND10 and in females at PND18. These data suggest that serotonin plays an organizing role in the development of the PVN in a sexually dimorphic fashion, and that elevated serotonin levels during perinatal development may disrupt normal organization, leading to neurochemical and behavioral changes. Importantly, these data also suggest that the inclusion of both juvenile males and females in studies will be necessary to fully understand the role of serotonin in development, especially in relation to ASD.
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MESH Headings
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/physiology
- Female
- Hypothalamus/drug effects
- Hypothalamus/metabolism
- Hypothalamus/physiology
- Male
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/drug effects
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiology
- Play and Playthings
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley/growth & development
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/biosynthesis
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/physiology
- Receptors, Oxytocin/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Oxytocin/physiology
- Receptors, Serotonin/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Serotonin/physiology
- Serotonin/blood
- Serotonin/pharmacology
- Sex Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M K Madden
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA; Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Susan L Zup
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA; Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
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Walker SC, McGlone FP. The social brain: neurobiological basis of affiliative behaviours and psychological well-being. Neuropeptides 2013; 47:379-93. [PMID: 24210942 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2013.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The social brain hypothesis proposes that the demands of the social environment provided the evolutionary pressure that led to the expansion of the primate brain. Consistent with this notion, that functioning in the social world is crucial to our survival, while close supportive relationships are known to enhance well-being, a range of social stressors such as abuse, discrimination and dysfunctional relationships can increase the risk of psychiatric disorders. The centrality of the social world to our everyday lives is further exemplified by the fact that abnormality in social behaviour is a salient feature of a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. This paper aims to provide a selective overview of current knowledge of the neurobiological basis of our ability to form and maintain close personal relationships, and of the benefits these relationships confer on our health. Focusing on neurochemical and neuroendocrine interactions within affective and motivational neural circuits, it highlights the specific importance of cutaneous somatosensation in affiliative behaviours and psychological well-being and reviews evidence, in support of the hypothesis, that a class of cutaneous unmyelinated, low threshold mechanosensitive nerves, named c-tactile afferents, have a direct and specific role in processing affiliative tactile stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Walker
- School of Natural Sciences & Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom.
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45
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Sørensen MJ, Grønborg TK, Christensen J, Parner ET, Vestergaard M, Schendel D, Pedersen LH. Antidepressant exposure in pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorders. Clin Epidemiol 2013; 5:449-59. [PMID: 24255601 PMCID: PMC3832387 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s53009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Both the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy and the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder have increased during recent years. A causal link has recently been suggested, but the association may be confounded by the underlying indication for antidepressant use. We investigated the association between maternal use of antidepressant medication in pregnancy and autism, controlling for potential confounding factors. Methods We identified all children born alive in Denmark 1996–2006 (n=668,468) and their parents in the Danish Civil Registration System. We obtained information on the mother’s prescriptions filled during pregnancy from the Danish National Prescription Registry, and on diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders in the children and diagnoses of psychiatric disorders in the parents from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. In a cohort analysis, we estimated hazard ratios of autism spectrum disorders in children exposed to antidepressant medication during pregnancy compared with children who were not exposed, using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Furthermore, we estimated the risk for autism spectrum disorder in a sibling design. Results Children exposed prenatally to antidepressants had an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–1.9) for autism spectrum disorder compared with unexposed children. Restricting the analysis to children of women with a diagnosis of affective disorder, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.2 (95% CI 0.7–2.1), and the risk was further reduced when exposed children were compared with their unexposed siblings (adjusted hazard ratio 1.1; 95% CI 0.5–2.3). Conclusion After controlling for important confounding factors, there was no significant association between prenatal exposure to antidepressant medication and autism spectrum disorders in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merete Juul Sørensen
- Regional Centre of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
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The disruption of Celf6, a gene identified by translational profiling of serotonergic neurons, results in autism-related behaviors. J Neurosci 2013; 33:2732-53. [PMID: 23407934 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4762-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The immense molecular diversity of neurons challenges our ability to understand the genetic and cellular etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Leveraging knowledge from neurobiology may help parse the genetic complexity: identifying genes important for a circuit that mediates a particular symptom of a disease may help identify polymorphisms that contribute to risk for the disease as a whole. The serotonergic system has long been suspected in disorders that have symptoms of repetitive behaviors and resistance to change, including autism. We generated a bacTRAP mouse line to permit translational profiling of serotonergic neurons. From this, we identified several thousand serotonergic-cell expressed transcripts, of which 174 were highly enriched, including all known markers of these cells. Analysis of common variants near the corresponding genes in the AGRE collection implicated the RNA binding protein CELF6 in autism risk. Screening for rare variants in CELF6 identified an inherited premature stop codon in one of the probands. Subsequent disruption of Celf6 in mice resulted in animals exhibiting resistance to change and decreased ultrasonic vocalization as well as abnormal levels of serotonin in the brain. This work provides a reproducible and accurate method to profile serotonergic neurons under a variety of conditions and suggests a novel paradigm for gaining information on the etiology of psychiatric disorders.
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Gadow KD, DeVincent CJ, Siegal VI, Olvet DM, Kibria S, Kirsch SF, Hatchwell E. Allele-specific associations of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2013; 40:292-7. [PMID: 23123360 PMCID: PMC3522768 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aims of the present study were to examine the association between a common serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphism 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with severity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. METHODS Mothers and teachers completed a validated DSM-IV-referenced rating scale for ADHD and ASD symptoms in 118 children with ASD. RESULTS Analyses indicated that children with at least one copy of the S or L(G) allele obtained significantly more severe maternal ratings of hyperactivity (p=0.001; ηp(2)=0.097) and impulsivity (p=0.027; ηp(2)=0.044) but not inattention (p=0.061; ηp(2)=0.032), controlling for ASD severity, than children homozygous for the L(A) allele. Conversely, mothers' ratings indicated that children with L(A)/L(A) genotype had more severe ASD social deficits than S or L(G) allele carriers (p=0.003; ηp(2)=0.081), controlling for ADHD symptom severity. Teachers' ratings though consistent with mothers' ratings of hyperactivity and social deficits were marginally significant (p=0.07/p=0.09). There was some evidence that the magnitude of parent-teacher agreement regarding symptom severity varied as a function of the child's genotype. CONCLUSION The 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 polymorphism or its correlates may modulate severity of ADHD and ASD symptoms in children with ASD, but in different ways. These tentative, hypothesis-generating findings require replication with larger independent samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth D. Gadow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8790, Phone: (631) 632-8858, FAX: (631) 632-8953,
| | - Carla J. DeVincent
- Department of Radiology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8460, Phone: (631) 638-2136,
| | - Victoria I. Siegal
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8088,
| | - Doreen M. Olvet
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division (MIND), New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 42, New York, NY 10032, USA, Hillside Hospital
| | - Saniya Kibria
- School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8088,
| | - Sarah F. Kirsch
- School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8088,
| | - Eli Hatchwell
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8088,
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Rosenquist SE. When the bough breaks: rethinking treatment strategies for perinatal depression. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS 2013; 55:291-323. [PMID: 23488254 DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2012.723284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Awareness of depression among OB-GYN physicians has increased with the result that more than 13% of pregnant women in the United States receive prescriptions for antidepressant medications. But the safety and effectiveness of these compounds has been exaggerated while the effectiveness of psychotherapy has been overlooked and distorted and various medical guidelines for treatment of perinatal depression have been downplayed or ignored. This article addresses the common fears and misconceptions surrounding treatment of depression during pregnancy and after childbirth. The effectiveness of strategic cognitive-behavioral therapy enhanced with hypnosis offers excellent results without the risks associated with these medications. Targets for focused intervention are identified and discussed.
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Hammock E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Yan Z, Kerr TM, Morris M, Anderson GM, Carter CS, Cook EH, Jacob S. Examining autism spectrum disorders by biomarkers: example from the oxytocin and serotonin systems. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012; 51:712-721.e1. [PMID: 22721594 PMCID: PMC3672055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2011] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable but highly heterogeneous neuropsychiatric syndrome, which poses challenges for research relying solely on behavioral symptoms or diagnosis. Examining biomarkers may give us ways to identify individuals who demonstrate specific developmental trajectories and etiological factors related to ASD. Plasma oxytocin (OT) and whole-blood serotonin (5-HT) levels are consistently altered in some individuals with ASD. Reciprocal relationships have been described between brain oxytocin and serotonin systems during development. We therefore investigated the relationship between these peripheral biomarkers as well as their relationships with age. METHOD In our first study, we analyzed correlations between these two biomarkers in 31 children and adolescents who were diagnosed with autism and were not on medications. In our second study, we explored whether whole-blood 5-HT levels are altered in mice lacking the oxytocin receptor gene Oxtr. RESULTS In humans, OT and 5-HT were negatively correlated with each other (p < .05) and this relationship was most prominent in children less than 11 years old. Paralleling human findings, mice lacking Oxtr showed increased whole-blood 5-HT levels (p = .05), with this effect driven exclusively by mice less than 4 months old (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS Identifying relationships between identified ASD biomarkers may be a useful approach to connect otherwise disparate findings that span multiple systems in this heterogeneous disorder. Using neurochemical biomarkers to perform parallel studies in animal and human populations within a developmental context is a plausible approach to probe the root causes of ASD and to identify potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Hammock
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Thomas MA, Klaper RD. Psychoactive pharmaceuticals induce fish gene expression profiles associated with human idiopathic autism. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32917. [PMID: 22701549 PMCID: PMC3368908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic autism, caused by genetic susceptibility interacting with unknown environmental triggers, has increased dramatically in the past 25 years. Identifying environmental triggers has been difficult due to poorly understood pathophysiology and subjective definitions of autism. The use of antidepressants by pregnant women has been associated with autism. These and other unmetabolized psychoactive pharmaceuticals (UPPs) have also been found in drinking water from surface sources, providing another possible exposure route and raising questions about human health consequences. Here, we examined gene expression patterns of fathead minnows treated with a mixture of three psychoactive pharmaceuticals (fluoxetine, venlafaxine & carbamazepine) in dosages intended to be similar to the highest observed conservative estimates of environmental concentrations. We conducted microarray experiments examining brain tissue of fish exposed to individual pharmaceuticals and a mixture of all three. We used gene-class analysis to test for enrichment of gene sets involved with ten human neurological disorders. Only sets associated with idiopathic autism were unambiguously enriched. We found that UPPs induce autism-like gene expression patterns in fish. Our findings suggest a new potential trigger for idiopathic autism in genetically susceptible individuals involving an overlooked source of environmental contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Thomas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University School, Pocatello, Idaho, United States of America.
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