Modeling autistic features in animals

ABSTRACT: A variety of features of autism can be simulated in rodents, including the core behavioral hallmarks of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors, and deficits in social interaction and communi-cation. Other behaviors frequently found in autism spectrum disor-ders (ASDs) such as neophobia, enhanced anxiety, abnormal pain sensitivity and eye blink conditioning, disturbed sleep patterns, sei-zures, and deficits in sensorimotor gating are also present in some of the animal models. Neuropathology and some characteristic neuro-chemical changes that are frequently seen in autism, and alterations in the immune status in the brain and periphery are also found in some of the models. Several known environmental risk factors for autism have been successfully established in rodents, including ma-ternal infection and maternal valproate administration. Also under investigation are a number of mouse models based on genetic variants associated with autism or on syndromic disorders wit