The effects of aging on the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder
characterized by alterations in social functioning, communicative abilities, and engagement
in repetitive or restrictive behaviors. The process of aging in individuals with autism
and related neurodevelopmental disorders is not well understood, despite the fact
that the number of individuals with ASD aged 65 and older is projected to increase
by over half a million individuals in the next 20 years. To elucidate the effects
of aging in the context of a modified central nervous system, we investigated the
effects of age on the BTBR T + tf/j mouse, a well characterized and widely used mouse
model that displays an ASD-like phenotype. We found that a reduction in social behavior
persists into old age in male BTBR T + tf/j mice. We employed quantitative proteomics
to discover potential alterations in signaling systems that could regulate aging in
the BTBR mice. Unbiased proteomic analysis of hippocampal and cortical tissue of BTBR
mice compared to age-matched wild-type controls revealed a significant decrease in
brain derived neurotrophic factor and significant increases in multiple synaptic markers
(spinophilin, Synapsin I, PSD 95, NeuN), as well as distinct changes in functional
pathways related to these proteins, including "Neural synaptic plasticity regulation"
and "Neurotransmitter secretion regulation." Taken together, these results contribute
to our understanding of the effects of aging on an ASD-like mouse model in regards
to both behavior and protein alterations, though additional studies are needed to
fully understand the complex interplay underlying aging in mouse models displaying
an ASD-like phenotype.
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12452Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.3389/fnagi.2014.00225Publication Info
Jasien, Joan M; Daimon, Caitlin M; Wang, Rui; Shapiro, Bruce K; Martin, Bronwen; &
Maudsley, Stuart (2014). The effects of aging on the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Aging Neurosci, 6. pp. 225. 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00225. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12452.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Joan Mary Jasien
Associate Professor of Pediatrics

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