title: Neuronal correlates of asocial behavior in a BTBR T (+) Itpr3(tf)/J mouse model of autism.
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized, in part, by an inability to adequately respond to social cues. Patients diagnosed with ASD are often devoid of empathy and impaired in understanding other people's emotional perspective. The neuronal correlates of this impairment are not fully understood. Replicating such a behavioral phenotype in a mouse model of autism would allow us insight into the neuronal background of the problem. Here we tested BTBR T(+)Itpr3(tf)/J (BTBR) and c57BL/6J (B6) mice in two behavioral paradigms: the Transfer of Emotional Information test and the Social Proximity test. In both tests BTBR mice displayed asocial behavior. We analyzed c-Fos protein expression in several brain regions after each of these tests, and found that, unlike B6 mice, BTBR mice react to a stressed cagemate exposure in the Transfer of Emotional Information test with no increase of c-Fos expression in either the prefrontal cortex or the amygdala. However, after Social Proximity exposure we observed a strong increase in c-Fos expression in the CA3 field of the hippocampus and two hypothalamic regions of BTBR brains. This response was accompanied by a strong activation of periaqueductal regions related to defensiveness, which suggests that BTBR mice find unavoidable social interaction highly aversive.
authors: Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Ksenia
authors: K
authors: Meyza
authors: Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Nikolaev
authors: Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Kacper
authors: K
authors: Kondrakiewicz
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: D Caroline
authors: DC
authors: Blanchard
authors: Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Blanchard
authors: Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Ewelina
authors: E
authors: Knapska
keywords: BTBR; autism; c-Fos; empathy; mouse model