Japanese Journal of Biological Psychiatry
Online ISSN : 2186-6465
Print ISSN : 2186-6619
Abnormal instability of dendritic spines in animal models of autism spectrum disorder
Yusuke HatanakaKeiji WadaTomohiro Kabuta
Author information
JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2015 Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 115-120

Details
Abstract
Fetal brain development is programmed by the maternal intrauterine environment, and disturbance of the in utero environment leads to persisting deficits in brain functions of the offspring. Testosterone is an intrauterine environmental factor, and plays significant roles in fetal development. From human and animal model studies, it has been suggested that increased intrauterine testosterone concentration triggers subsequent autistic- like behavior of the offspring. However, the synaptic mechanisms of abnormal behavior exhibited in autism spectrum syndrome remain unknown. In this review, we discuss the effects of prenatal testosterone exposure on neuronal circuitry development of the offspring. Recent genetic animal model studies of several neurodevelopmental disorders associated with autistic syndrome have demonstrated common synaptic instability, using in vivo two - photon imaging. Interestingly, the synaptic instability is also shared pathological phenotyp - e of other animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. We discuss the common synaptic instability and its importance for the pathology of diverse neuropsychiatric diseases.
Content from these authors
© 2015 Japanese Society of Biological Psychiatry
Previous article
feedback
Top