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Prince N, Peralta Marzal LN, Markidi A, Ahmed S, Adolfs Y, Pasterkamp RJ, Kumar H, Roeselers G, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Perez-Pardo P. Prebiotic diet normalizes aberrant immune and behavioral phenotypes in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01268-x. [PMID: 38589690 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01268-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a cluster of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in communication and behavior. Increasing evidence suggests that the microbiota-gut-brain axis and the likely related immune imbalance may play a role in the development of this disorder. Gastrointestinal deficits and gut microbiota dysfunction have been linked to the development or severity of autistic behavior. Therefore, treatments that focus on specific diets may improve gastrointestinal function and aberrant behavior in individuals with ASD. In this study, we investigated whether a diet containing specific prebiotic fibers, namely, 3% galacto-oligosaccharide/fructo-oligosaccharide (GOS/FOS; 9:1), can mitigate the adverse effects of in utero exposure to valproic acid (VPA) in mice. Pregnant BALB/cByJ dams were injected with VPA (600 mg/kg, sc.) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) on gestational day 11 (G11). Male offspring were divided into four groups: (1) in utero PBS-exposed with a control diet, (2) in utero PBS-exposed with GOS/FOS diet, (3) in utero VPA-exposed with a control diet, and (4) in utero VPA-exposed with GOS/FOS diet. Dietary intervention started from birth and continued throughout the duration of the experiment. We showed that the prebiotic diet normalized VPA-induced alterations in male offspring, including restoration of key microbial taxa, intestinal permeability, peripheral immune homeostasis, reduction of neuroinflammation in the cerebellum, and impairments in social behavior and cognition in mice. Overall, our research provides valuable insights into the gut-brain axis involvement in ASD development. In addition, dietary interventions might correct the disbalance in gut microbiota and immune responses and, ultimately, might improve detrimental behavioral outcomes in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naika Prince
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lucia N Peralta Marzal
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anastasia Markidi
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Cell Biology, Metabolism & Cancer, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabbir Ahmed
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Youri Adolfs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Himanshu Kumar
- Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Guus Roeselers
- Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aletta D Kraneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, VU university, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paula Perez-Pardo
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Seif A, Shea C, Schmid S, Stevenson RA. A Systematic Review of Brainstem Contributions to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:760116. [PMID: 34790102 PMCID: PMC8591260 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.760116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects one in 66 children in Canada. The contributions of changes in the cortex and cerebellum to autism have been studied for decades. However, our understanding of brainstem contributions has only started to emerge more recently. Disruptions of sensory processing, startle response, sensory filtering, sensorimotor gating, multisensory integration and sleep are all features of ASD and are processes in which the brainstem is involved. In addition, preliminary research into brainstem contribution emphasizes the importance of the developmental timeline rather than just the mature brainstem. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to compile histological, behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological evidence from human and animal studies about brainstem contributions and their functional implications in autism. Moreover, due to the developmental nature of autism, the review pays attention to the atypical brainstem development and compares findings based on age. Overall, there is evidence of an important role of brainstem disruptions in ASD, but there is still the need to examine the brainstem across the life span, from infancy to adulthood which could lead the way for early diagnosis and possibly treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala Seif
- Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Carly Shea
- Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan A Stevenson
- Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Quezada NT, Salas-Ortíz SF, Peralta FA, Aguayo FI, Morgado-Gallardo KP, Mac-Rae CA, Fiedler JL, Aliaga EE. Loss of Social/Non-social Context Discrimination by Movement Acceleration in the Valproate Model of Autism. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 14:555610. [PMID: 33505254 PMCID: PMC7829965 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.555610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental alteration characterized by social/communicative deficits, repetitive/stereotyped movements, and restricted/obsessive interests. However, there is not much information about whether movement alterations in ASD comprise modifications at the basic kinematic level, such as trajectory and velocity, which may contribute to the higher level of processing that allows the perception and interpretation of actions performed by others, and hence, impact social interaction. In order to further explore possible motor alterations in ASD, we analyzed movement parameters in the Valproate (VPA) animal model of autism. We found that VPA-treated rats displayed greater movement acceleration, reduced distance between stops, spent more time in the corner of the open-field arena, and executed a number of particular behaviors; for example, supported rearing and circling, with no major changes in distance and velocity. However, in the social interaction test, we found other alterations in the movement parameters. In addition to increased acceleration, VPA-rats displayed reduced velocity, increased stops, reduced distance/stop and lost the social/non-social area discrimination that is characteristic of control rats in acceleration and stops variables. Hence, even if prenatal VPA-treatment could have a minor effect in motor variables in a non-social context, it has a crucial effect in the capacity of the animals to adjust their kinematic variables when social/non-social context alternation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelva T Quezada
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Sebastiana F Salas-Ortíz
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Francisco A Peralta
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Felipe I Aguayo
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurogenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Catherine A Mac-Rae
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Jenny L Fiedler
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurogenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Esteban E Aliaga
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.,Faculty of Health Sciences, The Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neurosciences Research Center (CINPSI-Neurocog), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
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Memi F, Killen AC, Barber M, Parnavelas JG, Andrews WD. Cadherin 8 regulates proliferation of cortical interneuron progenitors. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:277-292. [PMID: 30315415 PMCID: PMC6373371 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1772-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cortical interneurons are born in the ventral forebrain and migrate tangentially in two streams at the levels of the intermediate zone (IZ) and the pre-plate/marginal zone to the developing cortex where they switch to radial migration before settling in their final positions in the cortical plate. In a previous attempt to identify the molecules that regulate stream specification, we performed transcriptomic analysis of GFP-labelled interneurons taken from the two migratory streams during corticogenesis. A number of cadherins were found to be expressed differentially, with Cadherin-8 (Cdh8) selectively present in the IZ stream. We verified this expression pattern at the mRNA and protein levels on tissue sections and found approximately half of the interneurons of the IZ expressed Cdh8. Furthermore, this cadherin was also detected in the germinal zones of the subpallium, suggesting that it might be involved not only in the migration of interneurons but also in their generation. Quantitative analysis of cortical interneurons in animals lacking the cadherin at E18.5 revealed a significant increase in their numbers. Subsequent functional in vitro experiments showed that blocking Cdh8 function led to increased cell proliferation, with the opposite results observed with over-expression, supporting its role in interneuron generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani Memi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Abigail C Killen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Melissa Barber
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John G Parnavelas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - William D Andrews
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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Momose-Sato Y, Sato K. Optical analysis of functional development of the facial motor nucleus in the embryonic rat brainstem. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 48:3273-3287. [PMID: 30118560 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Facial motor neurons of the rat embryo are first generated in rhombomere 4 and then migrate in the caudo-ventral direction. This migration forms a unique axonal trajectory called the genu, a loop of facial motor axons around the abducens nucleus. It is still unclear when and how this unique structure is functionally established during ontogenesis. Using voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) recording and the DiI staining method, we identified neural responses evoked by facial nerve (N.VII) stimulation and examined developmental processes of the facial motor nucleus in E12-E17 rat brainstems. We identified two types of fast spike-like signals; a long-duration signal, which corresponded to the action potential in the N.VII soma, and a short-duration signal, which reflected the action potential in the N.VII axons. The long-duration signal was detected as early as E13, suggesting that the N.VII motor neuron is already excitable at the beginning of cell migration. The response area of the long-duration signal extended caudally at E13-E14, and shifted in a ventral direction at E15. At E16-E17, the long-duration signal was concentrated in the caudo-ventral area, which was comparable to the location of the facial motor nucleus in the adult rat brainstem. These results demonstrate that developmental processes of cell migration and nuclear organization can be visualized and identified functionally with the VSD recording. We discuss the results by comparing functiogenesis and morphogenesis of the N.VII pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Momose-Sato
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nutrition, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Katsushige Sato
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Human Health, Komazawa Women's University, Tokyo, Japan
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Štefánik P, Olexová L, Kršková L. Increased sociability and gene expression of oxytocin and its receptor in the brains of rats affected prenatally by valproic acid. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2015; 131:42-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Oyabu A, Narita M, Tashiro Y. The effects of prenatal exposure to valproic acid on the initial development of serotonergic neurons. Int J Dev Neurosci 2013; 31:202-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Oyabu
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative MedicineMie University Graduate School of MedicineJapan
| | - Masaaki Narita
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative MedicineMie University Graduate School of MedicineJapan
| | - Yasura Tashiro
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative MedicineMie University Graduate School of MedicineJapan
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