Journal
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 176, Issue 1, Pages 121-132Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.09.009
Keywords
autism; Engrailed; amygdala; cerebellurm; mouse model; brain development
Categories
Funding
- NINDS NIH HHS [NS18381, R01 NS018381, R01 NS018381-24] Funding Source: Medline
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The complex behavioral symptoms and neuroanatomical abnormalities observed in autistic individuals strongly suggest a multi-factorial basis for this perplexing disease. Although not the perfect model, we believe the Engrailed genes provide an invaluable window into the elusive etiology of autism spectrum disorder. The Engrailed-2 gene has been associated with autism in genetic linkage studies. The En2 knock-out mouse harbors cerebellar abnormalities that are similar to those found in autistic individuals and, as we report here, has a distinct anterior shift in the position of the amygdala in the cerebral cortex. Our initial analysis of background effects in the En1 mouse knock-out provides insight as to possible molecular mechanisms and gender differences associated with autism. These findings further the connection between Engrailed and autism and provide new avenues to explore in the ongoing study of the biological basis of this multifaceted disease. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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