title: Animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproate: altered glutamate metabolism in the hippocampus.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in social interaction, language and communication impairments and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, with involvement of several areas of the central nervous system (CNS), including hippocampus. Although neurons have been the target of most studies reported in the literature, recently, considerable attention has been centered upon the functionality and plasticity of glial cells, particularly astrocytes. These cells participate in normal brain development and also in neuropathological processes. The present work investigated hippocampi from 15 (P15) and 120 (P120) days old male rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA) as an animal model of autism. Herein, we analyzed astrocytic parameters such as glutamate transporters and glutamate uptake, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutathione (GSH) content. In the VPA group glutamate uptake was unchanged at P15 and increased 160% at P120; the protein expression of GLAST did not change neither in P15 nor in P120, while GLT1 decreased 40% at P15 and increased 92% at P120; GS activity increased 43% at P15 and decreased 28% at P120; GSH content was unaltered at P15 and had a 27% increase at P120. These data highlight that the astrocytic clearance and destination of glutamate in the synaptic cleft might be altered in autism, pointing out important aspects to be considered from both pathophysiologic and pharmacological approaches in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Neuroglial Plasticity at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. betasilvestrin@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bristot Silvestrin
authors.forename: Victorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bambini-Junior
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galland
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniele Bobermim
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quincozes-Santos
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres Abib
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanotto
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batassini
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brolese
authors.forename: Carlos-Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Rudimar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riesgo
authors.forename: Carmem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gottfried
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid