title: Genetic and non-genetic animal models for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated, in addition to complex genetic factors, with a variety of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal etiologies. We discuss the known animal models, mostly in mice and rats, of ASD that helps us to understand the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of human ASD. We describe only models where behavioral testing has shown autistic like behaviors. Some genetic models mimic known human syndromes like fragile X where ASD is part of the clinical picture, and others are without defined human syndromes. Among the environmentally induced ASD models in rodents, the most common model is the one induced by valproic acid (VPA) either prenatally or early postnatally. VPA induces autism-like behaviors following single exposure during different phases of brain development, implying that the mechanism of action is via a general biological mechanism like epigenetic changes. Maternal infection and inflammation are also associated with ASD in man and animal models.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School and Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Zivanit
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ergaz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School and Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weinstein-Fudim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Teratology, Department of Medical Neurobiology Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School and Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: ornoy@cc.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ornoy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D009154:Mutation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid
keywords: ASD; Environmental; Genetic; Inflammation; Mice; Rats; VPA