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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: BTBR mice

December 2012

Molecular mechanisms: Star cells abnormal in autism brains

by  /  7 December 2012

Postmortem brains from individuals with autism have astrocytes that are smaller but denser than in control brains, according to a study published 21 September in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. The researchers found similar alterations in a mouse that lacks the autism-linked gene NLGN3.

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October 2012

Acetylcholine drug alleviates autism-like behaviors in mice

by  /  16 October 2012

A drug that mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine relieves repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of autism, according to a poster presented Monday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

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Valium boosts sound-touch integration in autism mouse model

by  /  15 October 2012

The anxiety drug diazepam, commonly marketed as Valium, reverses deficits in sensory integration in a mouse model of autism, according to research presented Sunday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

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Speedy mice

by  /  2 October 2012

Amphetamines and other compounds with stimulant properties may improve social behaviors in a subset of individuals who have autism with hyperactivity, says Jill Silverman.

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June 2012

Wheel-running test assesses autism behaviors in mice

by  /  27 June 2012

Researchers can evaluate core features of autism, such as social deficits and stereotyped behaviors, by watching how mice used to running on a wheel react when the wheel is broken, according to a study published 24 May in Behavioral Brain Research.

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April 2012

Studies highlight promise of fragile X treatment

by  /  30 April 2012

A promising approach to treating fragile X syndrome could benefit people even after the critical window of early brain development, and alleviate core symptoms of autism, according to two studies published this month.

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September 2011

Cognition and behavior: Fragile X treatment has ill effects

by  /  2 September 2011

A compound that shows promise as a treatment for fragile X syndrome alleviates repetitive behaviors in mice, but unexpectedly makes them less social.

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August 2011

Molecular mechanisms: Antisocial mice have elevated immunity

by  /  26 August 2011

BTBR mice, which are less social than the typical B6 mice, have an elevated immune response in their brains and blood compared with those mice, according to a study published 20 July in PLoS ONE. Hybrids of BTBR and B6 mice have intermediate levels of immune molecules.

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October 2010

Nature vs. nurture

by  /  29 October 2010

Mice with social behavior deficits reminiscent of autism are friendlier when raised alongside a highly social mouse strain.

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August 2010

Misbehaving mice

by  /  19 August 2010

You’ll never hear Jacqueline Crawley talk about an ‘autistic mouse’. In fact, in her keynote address at IMFAR in May, she implored the audience to never use those two words in the same sentence.

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