Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Pediatr Res. 2011 May;69(5 Pt 2):34R-40R. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e318212b80f.
A variety of features of autism can be simulated in rodents, including the core behavioral hallmarks of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors, and deficits in social interaction and communication. Other behaviors frequently found in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) such as neophobia, enhanced anxiety, abnormal pain sensitivity and eye blink conditioning, disturbed sleep patterns, seizures, and deficits in sensorimotor gating are also present in some of the animal models. Neuropathology and some characteristic neurochemical changes that are frequently seen in autism, and alterations in the immune status in the brain and periphery are also found in some of the models. Several known environmental risk factors for autism have been successfully established in rodents, including maternal infection and maternal valproate administration. Also under investigation are a number of mouse models based on genetic variants associated with autism or on syndromic disorders with autistic features. This review briefly summarizes recent developments in this field, highlighting models with face and/or construct validity, and noting the potential for investigation of pathogenesis, and early progress toward clinical testing of potential therapeutics. Wherever possible, reference is made to reviews rather than to primary articles.
自闭症的各种特征可以在啮齿动物中模拟出来，包括刻板和重复行为的核心行为特征，以及社交互动和沟通方面的缺陷。自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）中经常出现的其他行为，如恐惧症、焦虑增强、异常疼痛敏感性和眨眼条件反射、睡眠模式紊乱、癫痫发作以及感觉运动门控缺陷，在一些动物模型中也存在。自闭症中经常出现的神经病理学和一些特征性神经化学变化，以及大脑和外周免疫状态的改变，也在一些模型中发现。自闭症的一些已知环境风险因素已在啮齿动物中成功建立，包括母体感染和母体丙戊酸盐给药。一些基于与自闭症相关的遗传变异或具有自闭症特征的综合征的小鼠模型也在研究中。本文简要总结了该领域的最新进展，重点介绍了具有表面和/或结构有效性的模型，并注意到了发病机制研究的潜力，以及朝着潜在治疗方法的临床测试的早期进展。只要有可能，就会参考综述而不是原始文章。
