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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: neurotransmitters

July 2011

Microscopy reveals central control of neuronal signals

by  /  27 July 2011

An elegant microscopy technique reveals that neurons can regulate how quickly they recycle chemical messengers, according to a study published in July in Nature Neuroscience. This process is believed to be the limiting step in the speed of signaling across neuronal junctions.

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June 2011

Ricardo Dolmetsch: Regenerating the cells of autism

by  /  23 June 2011

The ever-curious and energetic Ricardo Dolmetsch is taking skin cells from individuals with various types of autism and turning them into neurons in the lab. The approach could reveal the cellular basis of the disorder and point to new treatments.

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Top of the class

by  /  10 June 2011

A drug called arbaclofen has matriculated to a phase III clinical trial, the last and most difficult step on the long road to regulatory approval.

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May 2011

Molecular mechanisms: Placenta influences brain development

by  /  31 May 2011

The placenta regulates the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brains of mice at a key stage in embryonic development, according to a study published 21 April in Nature. The results suggest that the fetal environment can influence the long-term mental health of children, including whether they later develop autism or schizophrenia.

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Networks of genes altered in autism brains, study says

by  /  25 May 2011

Two networks of genes are abnormally expressed in the brains of people with autism, according to a study published today in Nature.

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April 2011

Autism candidate gene implicated in social deficits

by  /  28 April 2011

Mutations in a protein called GRIP1, important for the function of synapses — the junctions between neurons — may contribute to social deficits in autism, researchers reported 22 March in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Odd men out

by  /  26 April 2011

Animal research hints that sex hormones may be responsible for the gender bias in autism. More research is needed in people to back this up, says a new review.

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March 2011

Genetics: Small duplications identify new schizophrenia gene

by  /  29 March 2011

A neurotransmitter called VIPR2, or vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor, is a candidate gene for schizophrenia and, potentially, autism, according to a study published in February in Nature.

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Studies implicate gut bacteria in autism

by  /  7 March 2011

Researchers are exploring the possibility that gastrointestinal bacteria may influence brain development and play a role in autism.

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February 2011

Cognition and behavior: Serotonin pathway affects mouse behavior

by  /  22 February 2011

Mice that lack the gene for integrin β3, or ITGB3 — which regulates the levels of serotonin in the blood — groom themselves frequently and show less interest in stranger mice compared with controls, according to a study published in February in Autism Research as part of a special issue on mouse models in autism.

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