Topic: Nlgn3R451C

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; autism) are more susceptible to inflammatory disorders and gastrointestinal dysfunction, but the cause is unknown. We investigated gut permeability and the impact of acute inflammatory insult on gut function and behaviour in Nlgn3R451C mice expressing an autism-associated mutation in Neuroligin-3. Ex vivo intestinal permeability was assessed by measuring the passage of FITC across the mucosa from the lumen. To compare impacts of modulating the nervous system with immune pathway disruption, we bred Nlgn3R451C mice with mice lacking the interferon

AimsChallenging behaviours, such as aggression and irritability, are manifested by up to two thirds of autistic individuals. However, despite the detrimental effects challenging behaviours, particularly aggression, have on life of autistic individuals and their families, currently available treatment options are typically borrowed from other areas of psychiatry, and the FDA approved drugs for treatment of ASD-associated irritability are burdened with serious side effects. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effects of oxytocin, a neuropeptide with reported prosocial and anti-aggressiv