V. ALTOUNIAN/SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINEMutant mice that exhibit many of the characteristics of human autism spectrum disorders, including social deficiency, have more interactions with fellow mice when given a dose of oxytocin, according to a report published today (January 21) in Science Translational Medicine. The beneficial effect was also apparent when the mice’s own oxytocin production was increased—which may be important for translating such a treatment to humans.
“It’s very exciting. They created a mouse model of autism . . . that had social deficits, and they found that if they gave oxytocin, it would rescue those social deficits,” said Larry Young who studies social neuroscience at Emory University and was not involved in the work.
The model mouse lacks a functional gene for contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnp2). In humans, mutation of this gene causes cortical dysplasia and focal epilepsy (CDFE) syndrome; at least 70 percent of CDFE patients also display symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Importantly, the characteristics of the mice—including their deficiencies in social behavior—are highly similar to those of humans with the CNTNP2 mutation.
Dan Geschwind’s team at the University of California Los Angeles Center for Autism Research and Treatment ...
