School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland 4222, Australia.
Mol Autism. 2013 Oct 8;4(1):37. doi: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-37.
The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during early childhood has a profound effect not only on young children but on their families. Aside from the physical and behavioural issues that need to be dealt with, there are significant emotional and financial costs associated with living with someone diagnosed with ASD. Understanding how autism occurs will assist in preparing families to deal with ASD, if not preventing or lessening its occurrence.Serotonin plays a vital role in the development of the brain during the prenatal and postnatal periods, yet very little is known about the serotonergic systems that affect children with ASD. This review seeks to provide an understanding of the biochemistry and physiological actions of serotonin and its termination of action through the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). Epidemiological studies investigating prenatal conditions that can increase the risk of ASD describe a number of factors which elevate plasma cortisol levels causing such symptoms during pregnancy such as hypertension, gestational diabetes and depression. Because cortisol plays an important role in driving dysregulation of serotonergic signalling through elevating SERT production in the developing brain, it is also necessary to investigate the physiological functions of cortisol, its action during gestation and metabolic syndromes.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的早期诊断不仅对幼儿而且对其家庭都有深远的影响。除了需要处理的身体和行为问题外，与患有 ASD 的人一起生活还会带来重大的情感和经济成本。了解自闭症的发生方式将有助于为家庭做好应对 ASD 的准备，如果不能预防或减轻其发生。
在胎儿期和出生后期间，血清素在大脑发育中起着至关重要的作用，但对于影响 ASD 儿童的血清素能系统知之甚少。本综述旨在了解血清素的生物化学和生理作用及其通过血清素再摄取转运体（SERT）终止作用。研究可能增加 ASD 风险的产前条件的流行病学研究描述了许多会导致怀孕期间出现皮质醇水平升高的症状的因素，如高血压、妊娠糖尿病和抑郁。因为皮质醇通过在发育中的大脑中升高 SERT 的产生来驱动血清素信号的失调，所以也有必要研究皮质醇的生理功能、它在妊娠期间的作用以及代谢综合征。
