Effects of the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist BGC 20-761 on social behaviors in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by the core symptoms of socialcommunication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs). The BTBR T+ tf/J (BTBR) mouse, like ASD individuals, exhibits both impaired social interaction and RRBs. In the search of new therapeutic pharmacological targets aimed at attenuating the social impairments, the 5-hydroxytrptamine 6 (5-HT6) receptor is of interest due to its pro-cognitive affects and high concentration in brain regions implicated in ASD. The current study utilized the three chambered social approach task to examine how 5-HT6 receptor blockade may attenuate the social impairments found in the BTBR mouse model of ASD. Mice were acutely treated with the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist BGC 20-761 then tested for social approach behaviors. We predicted that the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist would increase BTBR preference for the stranger mouse compared to vehicle treated BTBR mice. Results indicate that vehicle treated BTBR mice did not prefer the stranger mouse compared to the novel object, consistent with previous findings. Interestingly, initial data suggests that BTBR mice treated with the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist BGC 20-761 prefer the stranger mouse compared the novel object. These findings support the need for further examinations of 5-HT6 receptor blockade as new therapeutic for attenuating the social impairments 86 5th Annual Student Research Symposium found in ASD