Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is typically characterized by common deficits in social skills and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. It is widely accepted that genetic and environmental factors solely or in combination cause ASD. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanism is unclear due to its highly heterogeneous nature. To better understand the pathogenesis of ASD, various animal models have been generated, which can be generally divided into genetic, environment-induced, and idiopathic animal models. In this review, we summarize the common animals used for ASD study and then discuss the applications, clinical insights, as well as challenges and prospects of current ASD animal models.
自闭症谱系障碍 (autism spectrum disorder，ASD) 是一种典型的神经发育障碍性疾病，其特征主要包括社会交往能力异常和刻板重复行为等。遗传因素和环境因素被广泛的认为可以单独或共同导致ASD。然而，由于该疾病的高度异质性，ASD的潜在致病机制尚不清楚。为了更好地了解ASD的发病机制，目前已经构建了多种动物模型。这些模型可大概分为三类：遗传学动物模型、环境因素诱导动物模型和特发性动物模型。在该文中，我们首先总结了用于ASD研究的常见模式动物，然后重点讨论了当前动物模型在ASD研究中的应用、临床见解、挑战和前景。.
Keywords: Animal models; Autism spectrum disorders; Environment; Genetics; Neurodevelopment.