In this study it is assumed that that post birth epigenetic changes caused by environmental conditions, especially in susceptible children, can affect the development and proper development of the brain in early life, causing a rage of autism disorders. One of these factors is the lack of proper interaction between mother and child in the sensitive period after birth.
During this sensitive period, certain physiological changes occur in the central nervous system, which have a significant effect on brain function and behavior in later life.
Due to unknown nature of this disorder and the ethical limitations of human studies, it is necessary to conduct animal studies to investigate the causes and treatment strategies.
At present, a research team with various experts in the field of clinical psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience has been formed in the Laboratory of Evolutionally Neurology of the Research Institute of Cognitive and Brain Sciences of Shahid Beheshti University in collaboration with the University of Aarhus Denmark to analyze animal studies in order to find possible causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorder.
In this regard, a project has been defined according to which the effect of separation from the mother during infancy on the development of Pseudo-autism behaviors in mice was investigated.
For this purpose, the mice were separated from the mother for three hours daily during infancy. During adolescence, the effect of separation from the mother on the development of pseudo-autism behaviors as well as brain structure was investigated using three-dimensional studies of stereology. The results of this study showed that mice that were isolated from their mothers exhibited pseudo-autism behaviors, such as defects in social behavior and repetitive behaviors, compared with mice that grew naturally. A study of brain structure showed that the hippocampal area of the brain of mice with autism was significantly larger than the normal group. The results of this study show the effect of environmental factors, especially the correct parent-child interaction on brain development in the first years of life and its behavioral consequences in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
In the continuation of this project, the effects of drug and environmental therapy on these pseudo-autism behaviors resulting from maternal separation in mice are being investigated. It is hoped that a step will be taken to identify and treat this disorder.
- Mounireh Mansouri
- Hamidreza Pouretemad
- Maryam Ardalan
- Gregers Wenger
- Mehrdad Roghani
