An experiment by researchers from Kobe University, Japan, showed that the activation of an endogenous retrovirus
Scientists conducted a series of experiments with mice, inIn particular, an MRI scan was performed. Some of the animals suffered from idiopathic autism, a disease with no known causes. Brain scans of two different but related strains of mice—BTBR/J and BTBR/R—revealed structural differences in 33 brain regions. They were most noticeable in the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerves that connects both hemispheres of the brain. Notably, BTBR/R mice had more active viral DNA insertions than their non-autistic counterparts.
Overall, genome and transcriptome analysis showedthat BTBR mouse models of autism have increased levels of endogenous retroviral genes. BTBR/R models showed differences in the expression of various genes that indicate activation of endogenous retrovirus. Also, these animals showed autistic behavior without a decrease in learning ability.
Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder)is a neurodevelopmental disorder that remains largely unexplored despite a rapidly growing number of patients. ASD is closely related to genetic factors and can be caused by abnormalities in DNA structure such as copy number variations.
Animal models, especially mice, are oftenare used in research to shed light on the pathology of autism. Among these, BTBR/J is a mouse model of the natural onset of autism. This is usually what is used in research. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the mechanism of these autistic-like behavioral abnormalities by performing a comparative analysis of BTBR/J and its subtype BTBR/R.
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