What we can learn from a genetic rodent model about autism

Dorit Möhrle; Marta Fernández; Olga Peñagarikano; Andreas Frick; Brian Allman; Susanne Schmid

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015

What we can learn from a genetic rodent model about autism

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Feb:109:29-53. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Authors

Dorit Möhrle¹, Marta Fernández², Olga Peñagarikano³, Andreas Frick⁴, Brian Allman¹, Susanne Schmid⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
² Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of the Basque Country, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa 48940, Spain.
³ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of the Basque Country, Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa 48940, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Spain.
⁴ INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France.
⁵ Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. Electronic address: Susanne.schmid@schulich.uwo.ca.

PMID: 31887338
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders that are caused by genetic and/or environmental impacts, often probably by the interaction of both. They are characterised by deficits in social communication and interaction and by restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests from early childhood on, causing significant impairment. While it is clear that no animal model captures the full complexity of ASD in humans, genetic models are extremely useful for studying specific symptoms associated with ASD and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. In this review we summarize the behavioral paradigms used in rodents to model ASD symptoms as they are listed in the DSM-5. We then review existing genetic rodent models with disruptions in ASD candidate genes, and we map their phenotypes onto these behavioural paradigms. The goal of this review is to give a comprehensive overview on how ASD symptoms can be studied in animal models and to give guidance for which animal models are appropriate to study specific symptom clusters.

Keywords: Animal model; Autism spectrum disorder; Behavioural testing; Cntnap2; Fragile-X; Genetic; Mechanisms.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Autism Spectrum Disorder / genetics*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Behavior, Animal* / physiology
Disease Models, Animal*
Mice
Models, Genetic*
Perception* / physiology
Rats
Social Behavior*
Social Cognition*
Stereotyped Behavior* / physiology