Review : Clinical and Neurobiological Relevance of Current Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Published in: Biomolecules & therapeutics Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 207 - 244
• Main Authors: Ki Chan Kim, Edson Luck Gonzales, Maria T. Lazaro, Chang Soon Choi, Geon Ho Bahn, Hee Jeong Yoo, Chan Young Shin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국응용약물학회 01.05.2016
• Subjects: Animal models; Autism spectrum disorders; Clinical relevance; Environmental factors; Genetic factors
• ISSN: 1976-9148

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication impairments, as well as repetitive and restrictive behaviors. The phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD has made it overwhelmingly difficult to determine the exact etiology and pathophysiology underlying the core symptoms, which are often accompanied by comorbidities such as hyperactivity, seizures, and sensorimotor abnormalities. To our benefit, the advent of animal models has allowed us to assess and test diverse risk factors of ASD, both genetic and environmental, and measure their contribution to the manifestation of autistic symptoms. At a broader scale, rodent models have helped consolidate molecular pathways and unify the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying each one of the various etiologies. This approach will potentially enable the stratification of ASD into clinical, molecular, and neurophenotypic subgroups, further proving their translational utility. It is henceforth paramount to establish a common ground of mechanistic theories from complementing results in preclinical research. In this review, we cluster the ASD animal models into lesion and genetic models and further classify them based on the corresponding environmental, epigenetic and genetic factors. Finally, we summarize the symptoms and neuropathological highlights for each model and make critical comparisons that elucidate their clinical and neurobiological relevance.