TY - CHAP
T1 - Autism
T2 - Neuropathology, Alterations of the GABAergic System, and Animal Models
AU - van Kooten, Imke A.J.
AU - Hof, Patrick R.
AU - van Engeland, Herman
AU - Steinbusch, Harry W.M.
AU - Patterson, Paul H.
AU - Schmitz, Christoph
N1 - Funding Information:
Our research on autism was supported by the Korczak foundation (to H.v.E.), the US National Alliance for Autism Research (to C.S. and P.R.H.), the CAN and McKnight Foundations (to P.H.P.), and by NIH grants MH66392 (to P.R.H.) and MH067978 (to P.H.P.).
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33645215436&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0074-7742(05)71001-1
DO - 10.1016/S0074-7742(05)71001-1
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 16512344
AN - SCOPUS:33645215436
SN - 0123668727
SN - 9780123668721
T3 - International Review of Neurobiology
SP - 1
EP - 26
BT - GABA in Autism and Related Disorders
A2 - Dhossche, Dirk
ER -