Scientists "infected" mice with autism
Sergey Vasiliev, Naked Science
Biologists at the California Institute of Technology have caused symptoms of autism in healthy mice that were transplanted with the intestinal microflora of people suffering from this disorder. Experiments can serve as an important evidence in favor of the hypothesis about the connection of the microflora of the body with the manifestations of the autistic spectrum. Sarkis Mazmanian and his colleagues talk about this in an article published in the journal Cell (Sharon et al., Human Gut Microbiota from Autism Spectrum Disorder Promote Behavioral Symptoms in Mice).
Laboratory mice underwent the procedure of fecal transplantation – the transfer of lyophilized samples collected in the intestines of children with diagnosed autism spectrum disorders. Soon, the animals showed a reduced desire for socialization, exchanged sound signals less often, and showed a tendency to stereotypical behavior. At the same time, the same rodents who received similar transplants from healthy people did not show any special changes. This does not mean that bacteria can cause autism, but indicates their involvement in the development of its symptoms.
Recall that it has already been demonstrated that fecal transplantation really affects the manifestations of autism in people. However, in experiments with mice that have developed autism, it was possible to show that after transplantation there is a change in the activity of a number of genes that work in brain cells. There was also a decrease in the content of some signaling molecules in the body – primarily taurine and 5-aminovaleric acid. The authors have shown that the addition of these substances to the feed of mice with autism weakens its manifestations.
In the Gut Bacteria Influence Autism-like Behaviors in Mice press release, Sarkis Mazmanyan emphasizes that it is too early to talk about such effects in humans. This will have to be confirmed by new experiments, and only then it will be possible to think about the purposeful regulation of the intestinal microflora to control the symptoms of autism.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru