title: Repetitive behaviors in the Shank1 knockout mouse model for autism spectrum disorder: developmental aspects and effects of social context.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social behavior and communication, together with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Several ASD candidate genes have been identified, including the SHANK gene family with its three family members SHANK1, SHANK2, and SHANK3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Typically, repetitive behavior in mouse models for ASD is assessed by measuring self-grooming behavior. The first aim of the current study was to assess repetitive behaviors in Shank1(-/-) null mutant, Shank1(+/-) heterozygous, and Shank1(+/+) wildtype littermate control mice by means of a comprehensive approach, including the assessment of self-grooming, digging behavior, and marble burying. The second aim was to establish a test paradigm that allows for assessing the effects of social context on the occurrence of repetitive behaviors in a genotype-dependent manner. To this aim, repetitive behaviors were repeatedly tested on three consecutive days in distinct social contexts, namely in presence or absence of social odors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shank1(+/-) heterozygous and to a lesser extent Shank1(-/-) null mutant mice displayed slightly elevated levels of self-grooming behavior as adults, but not as juveniles, with genotype differences being most prominent in the social context. In contrast to elevated self-grooming behavior, marble burying was strongly reduced in adult Shank1(+/-) heterozygous and Shank1(-/-) null mutant mice across social contexts, as compared to adult Shank1(+/+) wildtype littermate controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The opposite effects of the Shank1 deletion on the two types of repetitive behaviors are in line with a number of studies on repetitive behaviors in other genetic Shank models.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A Özge
authors.initials: AÖ
authors.lastname: Sungur
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Vörckel
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer K W
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Schwarting
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: markus.woehr@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wöhr
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005838:Genotype; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D012919:Social Behavior; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C512412:SHANK1 protein, mouse
keywords: Animal model; Marble burying; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Postsynaptic density; Repetitive behavior; Self-grooming