Fluoxetine but not risperidone increases sociability in the BTBR mouse model of autism.
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by abnormal social interactions, impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests, along with several associated symptoms including irritability and anxiety. Risperidone is approved for the irritability and self-injurious behaviors found in autism. Fluoxetine is under evaluation for the repetitive behaviors and anxiety associated with autism. These two drugs were evaluated in the BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mouse model of autism and C57BL/6J (B6) mice by using the three-chambered social approach test and elevated plus maze to determine effects on sociability and anxiety. Fluoxetine increased sociability, defined as time spent with a stranger mouse, in the BTBR mice without affecting anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Fluoxetine did not significantly change either behavior in the B6 mice. Risperidone did not affect sociability or anxiety-like behaviors and had a sedative-like effect at higher doses. These findings suggest that fluoxetine may have some therapeutic efficacy for treating the social behaviors in autism.
Chadman
Kathryn K
KK
Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA. kathryn.chadman@omr.state.ny.us
D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012919:Social Behavior
D005473:Fluoxetine; D018967:Risperidone