title: Enhancement of Short-Term Memory by Methyl-6-(Phenylethynyl)-Pyridine in the BTBR T+tf/J Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of disorders that are characterized by social and communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. This study evaluated the effect of methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), an antagonist of the mGluR5 metabotropic glutamate receptor, on memory enhancement in the BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mouse strain, which has been recognized as a model of ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pharmacological effects of MPEP on memory and motor coordination were assessed using the Morris water maze and rotarod tests in BTBR and C57BL/6J (B6) mice. Furthermore, we performed morphological analyses of cerebellar foliation in BTBR and B6 mice using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPEP-treated BTBR mice exhibited improved learning and memory in the Morris water maze test. MPEP administration also improved motor coordination in the rotarod test. However, no significant difference was observed regarding the numbers of Purkinje cells in the cerebella of BTBR versus normal B6 mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP has the potential to ameliorate learning and memory dysfunction and impaired motor coordination in BTBR mice. These results further suggest that the BTBR mouse model may be useful in pharmacological studies investigating drugs that could potentially alleviate cognitive dysfunction in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Haijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Oh
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Hallym University College of Natural Science, Chuncheon, Korea. jayshong@hallym.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae Seung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: BTBR T+tf/J mice; Child development disorders, pervasive; Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine; Morris water maze test; Rotarod performance test