April 25, 2012

expert reaction to study of glutamate inhibitors and autism-like behaviours in mice

A drug targeting the actions of glutamate, a chemical substance in the brain was found to reduce repetitive behavior and partially reversed lack of sociability in mice, symptoms regarded as key indicators of autism, said a study in Science Translational Medicine.

Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, University College London, said:

“Processes at the level of the synapse have long been suspect in the origin of autism. There is amazing research showing that it is possible to reverse repetitive behaviour in mice with the fragile X phenotype by changing synaptic processes with an injection of suitable drugs, and now the same has been shown in mice which mimic the autism phenotype.

“However, it will be a long time until these findings can be translated for human patients. Tampering with the synapse may well result in undesirable side effects. Despite hopeful signs for a future drug treatment of at least some autistic behaviours, it would be sad if too much pressure were now put on researchers to rush into applications.”

Dorothy Bishop, Professor of Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Oxford, said:

“While it is encouraging to find a drug that affects autistic-like behaviours in mice, it’s a very long way from showing that a treatment is effective in people.”

‘Negative Allosteric Modulation of the mGluR5 Receptor Reduces Repetitive Behaviors and Rescues Social Deficits in Mouse Models of Autism’ by Silverman, J. et al., published in Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday 25th April.