eNeurobiología - Revista electrónica

 

 

Pérez-Rodríguez Juan Antonio^a, Toledo-Cárdenas María Rebeca^b, Herrera-Covarrubias Deissy^b, Coria-Ávila Genaro Alfonso^b, García-Hernández Luis Isauro^b, Hernández-Aguilar María Elena^b, Manzo-Denes Jorge^b

^aDoctorado en Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., México. ^bInstituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver., México.

 

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in kids being the cerebellum a key affected area, and cerebellar alterations compromise the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission which has stimulated efforts to develop treatments targeted to the GABA system. In addition, it is known that an enriched environment (EE) favorably affects behavior and perhaps neurotransmission. Thus, in the postnatal valproate model of autism in rats, we studied density modifications of GABAA and GABAB receptors at the cerebellar vermis by Western Blots analysis. Pup rats of both sexes were treated daily from postnatal days 6 to 12 with valproic acid (VPA). Control and experimental subjects of 30 and 90 days old were studied by sex, age, EE stimulation, and receptors. Results showed that GABAA and GABAB receptors in autistic rats were reduced depending on sex and age. The study at two ages showed that GABAA receptors in males decreased earlier than females with a long-lasting effect, while EE stimulation had a favorable impact showing that effectively prevents the reduction of GABAA receptors. In males, GABAB receptors were affected only at 30 days, suggesting that VPA produced a mild effect that was enough for these receptors to maintain by themselves in the long term, while these receptors were not affected at all in females. It is suggested that the higher sensitivity of male GABAA receptors to the VPA could mean that at least these receptors also play a role in the male-female tendency of autism and that EE is an appropriate preventive therapeutic approach.

Keywords: male autism; valproic acid; cerebellum; neurotransmission.

 

*Corresponding Author at: Instituto de Investigaciones Cerebrales. Universidad Veracruzana. Xalapa, Ver. Mexico. C.P. 91010, Tel: 52 (228) 8 418900 ext. 13067. E-mail: jmanzo@uv.mx

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