Journal
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 187, Issue 2, Pages 207-220Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2007.09.009
Keywords
social behavior; cerebellar vermis; exploration; non-selective attention; nest building
Categories
Funding
- NIAAA NIH HHS [R01 AA010422, AA10422, R37 AA010422] Funding Source: Medline
- NIMH NIH HHS [R01 MH065393-02, R01 MH065393-03, MH065393, R01 MH065393-04, R01 MH065393-01A2, R01 MH065393] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective: GABA(A) receptors play an important regulatory role in the developmental events leading to the formation of complex neuronal networks and to the behaviors they govern. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether gabrb3 gene deficient (gabrb3(-/-)) mice exhibit abnormal social behavior, a core deficit associated with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: Social and exploratory behaviors along with non-selective attention were assessed in gabrb3(-/-), littermates (gabrb3(-/-)) and progenitor strains, C57BL/6J and 129/SvJ. In addition, semi-quantitative assessments of the size of cerebellar vermal lobules were performed on gabrb3(-/-) and gabrb3-/- mice. Results: Relative to controls, gabrb3(-/-) mice exhibited significant deficits in activities related to social behavior including sociability, social novelty and nesting. In addition, gabrb3(-/-) mice also exhibited differences in exploratory behavior compared to controls, as well as reductions in the frequency and duration of rearing episodes, suggested as being an index of non-selective attention. Gabrb3(-/-) mice also displayed significant hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis compared to gabrb3(-/-) mice. Conclusions: The observed behavioral deficits, especially regarding social behaviors, strengthens the face validity of the gabrb3 gene deficient mouse as being a model of autism spectrum disorder. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available