Examining autism spectrum disorders by biomarkers: example from the oxytocin and serotonin systems.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable but highly heterogeneous neuropsychiatric syndrome, which poses challenges for research relying solely on behavioral symptoms or diagnosis. Examining biomarkers may give us ways to identify individuals who demonstrate specific developmental trajectories and etiological factors related to ASD. Plasma oxytocin (OT) and whole-blood serotonin (5-HT) levels are consistently altered in some individuals with ASD. Reciprocal relationships have been described between brain oxytocin and serotonin systems during development. We therefore investigated the relationship between these peripheral biomarkers as well as their relationships with age.

Method

In our first study, we analyzed correlations between these two biomarkers in 31 ch

SUBMITTER: Hammock E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3672055 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature