动物实验,自闭症 z-bo 2020-09-16 306

　　Researchers at California Institute of Technology have discovered neurons that control the social behavior of mice. If there are similar neurons in humans, they may find the part of the brain responsible for controlling autism and provide more treatment options.

　　Researchers tested mice and found that part of their medial amygdala was involved in their social behavior. They found that a gene called c-fos was elevated in the back branch area of the amygdala (MeApd) of the mouse brain that was recently attacked by intruders. Then, they used optogenetics to stimulate MeApd neurons. Optogenetics is the process of using light to manipulate neurons. After activating MeApd's neurons, they placed a more docile mouse in the cage of the dominant mouse to see what would happen. It turns out that mice that activate neurons will attack invaders, bite and fight with them.

　　Scientists also discovered that a specific type of neuron that produces this behavior is gamma-aminobutyric acid neuron. γ-aminobutyric acid neurons are neurons that use γ-aminobutyric acid as a neurotransmitter. These gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons also inhibit self-modification, which is an avoiding behavior. However, nearby neurons that use glutamate as a neurotransmitter called glutamate inhibit social behavior and can cause stimulated mice to modify themselves.

　　This discovery will not lead to a quick breakthrough. It is precisely because the operation of these neurons in autistic mice means that they will not necessarily produce the same changes in the human body. However, if the same genes are responsible for human anti-social behavior, then this is another way that is vital to our understanding of autism. It provides the necessary link between brain activity and behavior so that one day we will hope to have an effective treatment for autism spectrum disorder.