Evaluation of the neuroactive steroid ganaxolone on social and repetitive behaviors in the BTBR mouse model of autism.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Abnormalities in excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission are hypothesized to contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) etiology. BTBR T (+) Itpr3 (tf) /J (BTBR), an inbred mouse strain, displays social deficits and repetitive self-grooming, offering face validity to ASD diagnostic symptoms. Reduced GABAergic neurotransmission in BTBR suggests that GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) could improve ASD-relevant BTBR phenotypes. The neuroactive steroid ganaxolone acts as a PAM, displaying anticonvulsant properties in rodent epilepsy models and an anxiolytic-like profile in the elevated plus-maze.

Objectives

We evaluated ganaxolone in BTBR and C57BL/6J mice in standardized assays for sociability and repetitive behaviors. Open field and anxiety-relat

SUBMITTER: Kazdoba TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4703522 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature