Pruning: Neurons from mice lacking one copy of ASH1L (third row) do not prune away as many synapses (bottom row) as control neurons (top and second rows) after stimulation. Loss of the autism-related gene ASH1L leads to excess synapses and autism-like behaviors in mice, according to a study published today in Neuron. Increasing the activity […]
Social Boost: In a mouse model with impaired social behavior, an oxytocin injection activates a specific set of circuits. publisher’s Note This article was originally published as Conference Proceedings from the 2021 Society for Neuroscience Global Connectome Meeting on January 13, 2021. The results have since been published in Neuron. Infusions of the hormone oxytocin […]
If repeated: Deletions of ASH1L cause excessive grooming in mice, which treatment with the cancer drug vorinostat is alleviated. Mark Bowler / Science Source A cancer drug that boosts gene expression reduces repetitive behaviors and improves memory and sociability in a mouse model of autism, according to a new study. However, the treatment did not […]
