Lithium ameliorates phenotypic deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

ABSTRACT: As our understanding of the underlying defects in fragile X syndrome (FXS) increases so does the potential for development of treatments aimed at modulating the defects and ameliorating the constellation of symptoms seen in patients. Symptoms of FXS include cognitive disability, hyperactivity, autistic behaviour, seizures and learning deficits. Lithium is a drug used clinically to treat bipolar disorder, and it has been used to treat mood dysregulation in individuals with FXS. We examined whether dietary lithium would alter behavioural and morphological abnormalities in fmr1 knockout (KO) mice. We studied wild-type (WT) and KO mice untreated (control chow) or treated with lithium (0.3% lithium-carbonate-containing chow) commenced at weaning and maintained throughout the experiment. At age

SUBMITTER: Liu ZH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3102293 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature