Dietary treatment and pharmacological intervention for core behaviours in the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal social interaction, communication and repetitive behaviours (Currenti, 2010). There are no definitive causes of ASD, although alterations in genetics, cortical excitability, neuronal structure and development have been described (Courchesne et al., 2007). Mouse models are a powerful tool in analyzing gene products, behaviours and neuroanatomical associations relevant to ASD. The BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism displays all three hallmark features (Ellegood, Babineau, Henkelman, Lerch, & Crawley, 2013; McFarlane et al., 2008). The ketogenic diet has now been implicated in improving behavioural outcomes in developmental disorders (Evangeliou et al., 2003). Moreover, there are a limited number of studies indicating its effects on animal models (Masino & Rho, 2012). The work presented here investigates ketogenic diet and pharmacological treatment effects on social and repetitive behaviour, cortical excitability and motor map representation in the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model of ASD.