Autism: Neuropathology, Alterations of the GABAergic System, and Animal Models

Imke A.J. van Kooten, Patrick R. Hof, Herman van Engeland, Harry W.M. Steinbusch, Paul H. Patterson, Christoph Schmitz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autism is currently viewed as a genetically determined neurodevelopmental disorder (Bailey et al., 1996), defined by the presence of marked social deficits, specific language abnormalities, and stereotyped, repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Approximately 20% of the autistic subjects show macroencephaly, defined as head circumference above the 97th percentile (Aylward et al., 2002; Bailey et al., 1993; Courchesne et al., 2003; Davidovitch et al., 1996; van Karnebeek et al., 2002). However, this macroencephaly is not present until after the first year of life (Courchesne et al., 2003). Although evidence of increased head circumference (Aylward et al., 2002; Bailey et al., 1993; Courchesne et al., 2003; Davidovitch et al., 1996; Fombonne, 2000; van Karnebeek et al., 2002), brain weight (Bailey et al., 1998; Casanova et al., 2002b; Courchesne et al., 1999; Kemper and Bauman, 1998), and brain volume (Aylward et al., 2002; Courchesne et al., 2001; Sparks et al., 2002) has been described in autism, the underlying biological mechanisms remain to be determined. These observations could be due to increased neurogenesis, gliogenesis, or synaptogenesis, disturbed neuroblast migration, decreased apoptosis or synaptic pruning, or combinations of these effects (Palmen et al., 2004). In addition, the detection of abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems, such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in autistic patients, suggests that it could be worthwhile to concentrate research on these systems. A good approach is the use of animal models that mimic features of autism. In this chapter we examine the literature on autism neuropathology, the role of the GABAergic system in this disorder, and the relevance of rodent models with autistic features.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGABA in Autism and Related Disorders
EditorsDirk Dhossche
Pages1-26
Number of pages26
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

Publication series

NameInternational Review of Neurobiology
Volume71
ISSN (Print)0074-7742

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