Transgenic mice carrying mutations that cause Autism Spectrum Disorders（ASDs） continue to be valuable for determining the molecular underpinnings of the disorders. Recently, researchers have taken advantage of such ...Transgenic mice carrying mutations that cause Autism Spectrum Disorders（ASDs） continue to be valuable for determining the molecular underpinnings of the disorders. Recently, researchers have taken advantage of such models combined with Cre-lox P and similar systems to manipulate gene expression over space and time. Thus, a clearer picture is starting to emerge of the cell types, circuits, brain regions, and developmental time periods underlying ASDs. ASD-causing mutations have been restricted to or rescued speci？cally in excitatory or inhibitory neurons, different neurotransmitter systems, and cells speci？c to the forebrain or cerebellum. In addition,mutations have been induced or corrected in adult mice,providing some evidence for the plasticity and reversibility of core ASD symptoms. The limited availability of Cre lines that are highly speci？c to certain cell types or time periods provides a challenge to determining the cellular and circuitry bases of autism, but other technological advances may eventually overcome this obstacle.展开更多
基金supported by a Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship from Autism Speakssupported by NIH Grants 5R01MH098114-03,1R21-HD077197-01,and 1R21-MH104316-01
文摘Transgenic mice carrying mutations that cause Autism Spectrum Disorders（ASDs） continue to be valuable for determining the molecular underpinnings of the disorders. Recently, researchers have taken advantage of such models combined with Cre-lox P and similar systems to manipulate gene expression over space and time. Thus, a clearer picture is starting to emerge of the cell types, circuits, brain regions, and developmental time periods underlying ASDs. ASD-causing mutations have been restricted to or rescued speci？cally in excitatory or inhibitory neurons, different neurotransmitter systems, and cells speci？c to the forebrain or cerebellum. In addition,mutations have been induced or corrected in adult mice,providing some evidence for the plasticity and reversibility of core ASD symptoms. The limited availability of Cre lines that are highly speci？c to certain cell types or time periods provides a challenge to determining the cellular and circuitry bases of autism, but other technological advances may eventually overcome this obstacle.
