Alterations in social hormone signals in the brain linked to an autism gene discovered
In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered a possible strategy to improve sociability in individuals with autism. The findings, published in Nature Communications, were part of the MotivatedBehaviors project, which aims to understand the role of the lateral septum in regulating motivated behaviours.
The study, funded by several prestigious organisations including the European Research Council, the National Institutes of Health, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, focused on Shank3B+/- male mice, a model often used to study autism-like behaviours. The research team, led by Dr. Steven J. Sanders at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), found that impaired vasopressin neuromodulation of the lateral septum led to social behaviour deficits in these mice.
The study sheds light on the role of vasopressin, a hormone known to play a crucial part in social bonding and aggression, in the brain. Interestingly, the study found that AVP promotes both sociability and social aggression in wild-type male mice. However, the team found that blocking the vasopressin receptor 1a in the lateral septum impaired sociability, while blocking the receptor 1b disrupted social aggression in Shank3B+/- male mice.
This discovery opens up the possibility of personalised treatments for autism, as the study suggests that future treatments could be tailored based on sex differences. The researchers also reported success in using selective AVPR1a activation in mice to improve social behaviour without triggering unwanted aggressive behaviour.
The study's focus on male mice was due to the developed vasopressin pathway in males and their display of territorial aggression, which made them an ideal model for studying social behaviour deficits.
This research offers promising insights into the complex world of autism and could pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments in the future.
