Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication deficits, cognitive dysfunction, and stereotyped repetitive behaviors. Regional volume changes are commonly observed in individuals with ASD. To examine volumetric dysregulation across adolescence, the valproic acid (VPA) model was used to induce ASD-like phenotypes in rats.
METHODS: Regional volumes were obtained via magnetic resonance imaging at either postnatal day 28 or postnatal day 40 (P40), which correspond to early and late adolescence, respectively.
RESULTS: Consistent with prior research, VPA animals had reduced total brain volume compared to control animals. A novel outcome was that VPA animals had overgrown right hippocampi at P40. Differences in the pattern of development of the anterior cingulate cortex were also observed in VPA animals. Differences for the posterior cingulate were only observed in males, but not females.
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate differences in region-specific developmental trajectories between control and VPA animals and suggest that the VPA model may capture regional volume changes consistent with human ASD.
METHODS: Regional volumes were obtained via magnetic resonance imaging at either postnatal day 28 or postnatal day 40 (P40), which correspond to early and late adolescence, respectively.
RESULTS: Consistent with prior research, VPA animals had reduced total brain volume compared to control animals. A novel outcome was that VPA animals had overgrown right hippocampi at P40. Differences in the pattern of development of the anterior cingulate cortex were also observed in VPA animals. Differences for the posterior cingulate were only observed in males, but not females.
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate differences in region-specific developmental trajectories between control and VPA animals and suggest that the VPA model may capture regional volume changes consistent with human ASD.
摘要：
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种以社交和沟通障碍为特征的神经发育障碍，认知功能障碍，和刻板的重复行为。在患有ASD的个体中通常观察到区域体积变化。为了检查青春期的体积失调，采用丙戊酸(VPA)模型诱导大鼠ASD样表型。在出生后第28天（P28）或出生后第40天（P40）通过磁共振成像（MRI）获得区域体积，对应于青春期早期和晚期，分别。与先前的研究一致，与对照动物相比,VPA动物具有减少的总脑体积。一个新的结果是VPA动物在P40时右侧海马过度生长。在VPA动物中还观察到前扣带回皮质发育模式的差异。后扣带的差异仅在男性中观察到，而在女性中未观察到。这些结果表明，对照动物和VPA动物之间特定区域的发育轨迹存在差异，并表明VPA模型可以捕获与人类ASD一致的区域体积变化。
