biostudies-literatureMartucci LLFondation Jérôme LejeuneUniversité Paris-SudCollege of Natural Resources and Sciences, Humboldt State UniversityInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche MédicaleCentre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueWellcome Trust5823-5835https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6677574biostudies-literatureUnknown33(5)Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by early onset of behavioral and cognitive alterations. Low plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) have also been found in ASD patients; recently, a critical role for the enzyme CD38 in the regulation of OT release was demonstrated. CD38 is important in regulating several Ca²⁺-dependent pathways, but beyond its role in regulating OT secretion, it is not known whether a deficit in CD38 expression leads to functional modifications of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a structure involved in social behavior. Here, we report that CD38^-/- male mice show an abnormal cortex development, an excitation-inhibition balance shifted toward a higher excitation, and impaired synaptic plasticity in the PFC such as those observed in various mouse modFASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental BiologyA multiscale analysis in CD38^-/- mice unveils major prefrontal cortex dysfunctions.PMC6677574102828/Z/13/Z102828Launay JMFossier PVaillend CChaussenot RSebrie Cde la Porte SGranon SEdeline JMAmar MBenet GBauer OCancela JMCallebert Jde Zelicourt AGalione ANosjean AMartucci LLfalseA multiscale analysis in CD38^-/- mice unveils major prefrontal cortex dysfunctions.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by early onset of behavioral and cognitive alterations. Low plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) have also been found in ASD patients; recently, a critical role for the enzyme CD38 in the regulation of OT release was demonstrated. CD38 is important in regulating several Ca²⁺-dependent pathways, but beyond its role in regulating OT secretion, it is not known whether a deficit in CD38 expression leads to functional modifications of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a structure involved in social behavior. Here, we report that CD38^-/- male mice show an abnormal cortex development, an excitation-inhibition balance shifted toward a higher excitation, and impaired synaptic plasticity in the PFC such as those observed in various mouse mod2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 May2026-05-13T16:11:13.236Z2019-08-07T07:08:58ZS-EPMC66775743084431010.1096/fj.201800489R10.1096/fj.201800489r