Mice whiskers may offer clues on autism treatment, Chinese study suggests

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Mice that had their whiskers trimmed at an early stage in life could exhibit social dysfunction later on, Chinese researchers have found, in a study they say could shed light on the treatment of autism in humans. “Whiskers are one of the most important sensory systems for mice, they help them explore their surroundings,” Wang Hao, corresponding author of the...

Mice that had their whiskers trimmed at an early stage in life could exhibit social dysfunction later on, Chinese researchers have found, in a study they say could shed light on the treatment of autism in humans.

“So we wanted to know if the mice would have behavioural disorders in adulthood if their whiskers were trimmed in early life.” However, the control group exhibited significantly increased interaction time with the new mouse, compared with the previously shaved group which showed no preference between a familiar mouse and a new one.

“It means that there is a critical period in which the sensory experience will have a big impact on the brain’s function,” Wang said.“Because social dysfunction is the key symptom of autism, our result indicates that there may be such a critical period for human beings in the treatment of autism,” he said.

The team also observed a significant reduction in levels of the bonding or “love hormone” oxytocin in the CA3 region of whisker-trimmed mice.

 

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