Stereotypy Research Articles

The role of CNBP in brain atrophy and its targeting in myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a multisystem disease affecting many tissues, including skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. DM2 is caused by unstable expansion of CCTG repeats in an intron 1 of a gene coding for cellular nuclear binding protein (CNBP). The expanded CCTG repeats cause DM2 pathology due to the accumulation of RNA CCUG repeats, which affect RNA processing in patients' cells. We have previously shown that mutant CCUG repeats reduce CNBP protein in DM2 patients. Reducing Cnbp in Cnbp KO mouse model causes late skeletal muscle atrophy. In this study, we examined if the reduction of Cnbp affects the Central Nervous System (CNS). MRI and DTI analyses showed that total brain volume and grey matter are reduced in Cnbp KO mice, while mean, radial and axonal brain diffusivity is increased. The morphological changes in the brains of Cnbp KO mice are accompanied by reduced stereotypic behavior, anxiety and neuromotor defects. These findings suggest that the reduction of CNBP contributes to CNS pathology in DM2. Since CNBP stability is regulated by pAMPK-dependent phosphorylation, we examined protein levels of pAMPK in DM2 cells and found that the active pAMPK is reduced in DM2. Interaction of CNBP with pAMPK and stability of CNBP protein are also decreased in DM2. Our data show that a small molecule AMPK activator A769662 corrects CNBP stability and normalizes CNBP targets in DM2 fibroblasts. Thus, activators of AMPK could potentially be developed as therapeutics to correct CNBP and reduce muscle and brain atrophies in DM2.

Bike-Riding Training may Improve Communication Skills and Stereotyped Behavior in Adolescents With Autism.

This research aimed to establish whether 12 weeks of bicycle-riding skills exercises with massed and distributed practice frequency at low and high intensity affect communication performance and stereotyped behavior among adolescent boys with autism. Fifty autistic boys aged 13.3 ± 1.32 years participated in the study. The participants were divided into homogeneous experimental groups (N = 10) with dissimilar training frequencies and intensities, along with a control group. Pre-tests using the GARS-2 test were administered to assess stereotyped behavior and communication skills, followed by post-tests and a one-month follow-up. Non-parametric Kruskal Wallis and ANCOVA results at a significance level of 0.05 showed that there was a significant difference in the post-test of stereotyped behavior and communication skills (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively) and follow-up test one month later (p = 0.003, p = 0.048, respectively) between the intervention and control groups after performing bike riding skills exercises with low and high intensities and frequencies (one and three sessions per week). Regardless of the intensity and frequency, bike riding skills training during the critical period of adolescence can significantly reduce stereotyped behaviors and enhance communication skills, which can also support positive development in other domains for individuals with autism.

BDNF and GSK-3beta expression changes underlie the beneficial effects of crocin on behavioral alterations in a rat model of autism induced by prenatal valproic acid administration.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, language, and communication and induction of stereotypic behavior. In rodents, prenatal administration of valproic acid (often on 12.5 gestational days) is used for the induction of an ASD-like model. In the present study, we aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effects of crocin (a major component of Saffron, a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent) on behavioral dysfunctions with respect to the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3beta) in the medial prefrontal cortex. Valproic acid was intraperitoneally injected at the dose of 600 mg/kg on 12.5 gestational days. BDNF and GSK-3beta expression levels were also measured using real-time PCR. Locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, grooming, and sniffing were also measured in the open-field test. The results showed that prenatal valproic acid administration induced hyperactivity, anxiety-like behavior, increased grooming and sniffing (stereotyped behavior), decreased BDNF levels, and increased GSK-3beta levels in the medial prefrontal cortex. However, crocin dose-dependently restored the effects of prenatal valproic acid administration on behavioral functions and gene expressions. In conclusion, we suggested that BDNF and GSK-3beta expression changes in the medial prefrontal cortex may underlie the pathophysiology of ASD. The therapeutic effects of crocin may be also related to counteracting BDNF and GSK-3beta expression changes induced by prenatal valproic acid.

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Effects of juvenile physical enrichment on behaviour, temperament, and long-term stereotypic behaviour

Abstract A single manipulable enrichment is often introduced to the pens of farmed American mink (Neogale vison) to combat stereotypic behaviour and behaviours or temperaments associated with poor welfare (e.g. inactivity, fear, and aggression). This enrichment is provided early in life, but it is unclear the age at which enrichment is most effective at preventing stereotypic behaviour and ameliorating welfare. Here, a group of enriched kits (EK) were provided with multiple enrichments that were periodically exchanged to renew novelty from 4–15 weeks of age, earlier than typical enrichment provision on farms, after which they were housed with a single standard enrichment into adulthood. The effects of EK enrichment on kit behaviours and long-term stereotypic behaviour were compared to that of two groups reared with a single standard enrichment (standard housed; SH and enriched at whelping; EW). Inactivity in the nest-box was decreased in EK kits as juveniles relative to other groups, however, social play was reduced and lying awake was increased compared to EW and SH juveniles, respectively. Stereotypic behaviour in the kits as adults was not prevented by EK interventions; in fact, EK kits may have developed more diverse sub-types of stereotypic behaviour than EW and SH kits. Moreover, kit temperament did not appear to be affected. EK enrichment may have been ineffective in improving welfare due to the timing of its removal or potential frustration induced by its removal. Recommendations are provided for future research regarding critical periods of enrichment to improve welfare in species such as farmed mink.

Early-life enrichment in American mink (Neogale vison): Enrichment of the perinatal environment improves maternal nest building and reduces stereotypic behaviour

Abstract Pens for farmed mink (Neogale vison) commonly include separate nesting areas to provide privacy and warmth in the perinatal period. However, standard bedding materials may not be sufficient to allow intrinsically motivated nest-building behaviours in dams. Further, these materials may not produce optimal nest structures for the rearing of kits. In the present study, we provided extra, relatively high-quality nest-building materials and a chewable sisal rope enrichment for mink dams in the perinatal period (a group enriched at whelping; EW). The effects of these enrichments on various measures of welfare and maternal behaviour were compared to those of mink dams in standard housing (SH) and mink dams whose kits were enriched later in development (EK). EW dams performed less stereotypic behaviour and built higher quality nests than dams of other housing conditions, although dams’ basal faecal cortisol metabolite levels (FCM) were not affected. The stress responsiveness of these dams’ offspring was later assessed by sampling FCM before and after a handling event, however, this event did not appear to induce a measurable stress response and thus no conclusions could be drawn regarding effects of perinatal enrichment on HPA-axis development. Overall, provision of higher quality nest-building materials and a chewable rope enrichment benefited dam stereotypic behaviour and nest building in the perinatal period. We present suggestions for future studies to further investigate whether perinatal enrichment can impact maternal care and offspring HPA-axis development in mink.

Effects of Cannabidiol Isolated or in Association With Risperidone in an Animal Model of Autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, with no specific drug therapy available. Studies have found that cannabidiol (CBD) can improve hyperactive and cognitive symptoms in children with ASD. However, little is known about the effect of CBD in combination with other medications, such as risperidone (RISP). This study aimed to evaluate the behavioral and biochemical effects of CBD in animals using a valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD animal model. VPA was administered in pregnant Wistar rats on Day 12.5 of gestation to induce the ASD model. From the 10th to the 16th postnatal day (PND), the neurodevelopment of the animals was assessed through eye-opening, olfactory discrimination, and negative geotaxis behavioral tests. From PNDs 9 to 54, the animals were weighed. They were treated for 21 days with CBD alone (100mg/kg, by gavage, twice a day) or in combination with RISP (0.1mg/kg, by gavage, once a day). At PND 55, the animals were evaluated in social interaction and locomotor activity experiments. Finally, after behavioral assessment, the animals were euthanized, the brain was isolated, and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in the hippocampus and cortex posterior. Animals exposed to VPA showed neurodevelopmental delays in opening their eyes, difficulties in turning around their axis, and took longer time to find the original nest when compared to control animals. They also exhibited impaired sociability and reduced exploratory activity, which indicates model impairments. Interestingly, animals exposed to VPA treated with CBD+RISP significantly improved sociability parameters, whereas isolated CBD did not affect this parameter. In the biochemical analysis, a significant decrease in the hippocampal sulfhydryl content was noted in the CT+CBD group and an increase in the VPA+CBD group. In conclusion, these results suggest that CBD, in combination with RISP, may be an interesting pharmacological approach to reducing ASD-related symptoms. Summary: Besides the increased prevalence of ASD cases in recent years, there are no medications to improve the central symptoms of autism. Numerous studies discuss CBD as an important medication for improving ASD symptoms; however, it is not known how CBD interacts with commonly used drugs in ASD individuals, such as RISP. This study demonstrated that CBD therapy, only when combined with RISP, improved sociability in a VPA-induced ASD animal model.

Prenatal Valproic Acid Induces Autistic-Like Behaviors in Rats via Dopaminergic Modulation in Nigrostriatal and Mesocorticolimbic Pathways.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder characterized by several behavioral impairments, especially in socialization, communication, and the occurrence of stereotyped behaviors. In rats, prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) induces autistic-like behaviors. Previous studies by our group have suggested that the autistic-like phenotype is possibly related to dopaminergic system modulation because tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression was affected. The objective of the present study was to understand the dopaminergic role in autism. Wistar rats on gestational day 12.5 received VPA (400 mg/kg) and behaviors related to rat models of ASD were evaluated in juvenile offspring. Neurochemical and genetic dopaminergic components were studied in different brain areas of both juvenile and adult rats. Prenatal VPA-induced autistic-like behaviors in comparison to a control group: decreased maternal solicitations by ultrasonic vocalizations, cognitive inflexibility and stereotyped behavior in the T-maze test, decreased social interaction and play behavior, as well as motor hyperactivity. Prenatal VPA also decreased dopamine synthesis and activity in the striatum and prefrontal cortex, as well as dopamine transporter, D1 and D2 receptors, and TH expressions. Moreover, prenatal VPA increased TH+ immunoreactive neurons of the ventral tegmental area-substantia nigra complex. In conclusion, the dopaminergic hypoactivity associated with the behavioral impairments exhibited by the rats that received prenatal VPA suggests the important role of this system in the establishment of the characteristic symptoms of ASD in juvenile and adult males. Dopamine was demonstrated to be an important biomarker and a potential pharmacological target for ASD.

Evaluation of rewarding effects of nitazene analogs: results from conditioned place preference tests and in vivo microdialysis experiments in mice.

In illicit drug markets, the most recently expanding new synthetic opioid subclass is benzimidazoles, also known as nitazenes, which were originally developed as analgesics in the 1950s. The emergence of this classical, potent drug family has attracted extensive research interest in the field of forensic toxicology; however, information on their psychological and physical dependence is very limited. Herein, we evaluated the rewarding effects of four nitazene analogs using a battery of in vivo experiments, with a positive control drug (isotonitazene). The four test materials, metonitazene, etodesnitazene, metodesnitazene, and flunitazene, were administered to male C57BL/6J mice by i.p. administration at 0.5, 2, 20, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. In comprehensive behavioral observation tests, representative opioid-related physiological and behavioral states, including analgesia, stereotypic circling behavior, hyperlocomotion, and Straub tail response, were observed. A set of conditioned place preference tests revealed that all the four analogs induced palatability in mice. Furthermore, measurements of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens shell by in vivo microdialysis resulted in significant elevations in all test material-treated groups, suggesting that the nitazenes elicit the rewarding effect through a neural circuit originating from the μ-opioid receptor activation at the ventral tegmental area. Our findings add important data regarding the psychological dependence of nitazenes and highlight the abuse potential of these four materials and other prevailing nitazene analogs.

Effects of cage size on the natural behavior, serum parameters, production performance and hypothalamic mRNA expression profiles of laying hens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cage size on the natural behavior, serum biochemistry, production performance and hypothalamic transcriptome profiles of laying hens. A total of 360 79-week-old hens were selected and randomly assigned to three groups (with five replicates each) with different cage sizes: large cages (LCs), medium cages (MCs), and small cages (SCs). The stocking density remained consistent across all groups throughout the experimental period. Behavioral expression was evaluated through observation of only six birds per group on a weekly basis. Compared to the SC group, the average frequencies of walking, wing-flapping, feather-pecking and drinking significantly increased in the LC and MC groups (P <0.05), whereas the average frequency of stereotypic behavior significantly decreased (P <0.05), indicating that cage size has positive effects on natural behavior. The average daily step count (DSC) was in the order LC > MC > SC (P <0.05), which suggested an improvement in exercise ability in larger cages. The serum levels of MDA, CORT, AST and T-CH were significantly lower in the LC and MC groups than in the SC group (P <0.05), whereas the serum activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly greater (P <0.05). Additionally, compared to the SC group, the laying rates were increased by 1.61% and 2.20% (P <0.05), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved by 1.35% and 2.25%, respectively (P <0.05) in the LC and MC groups, respectively. In total, 437 and 81 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the hypothalamus of birds between the LC and SC groups and the MC and SC groups, respectively. A majority of these DEGs were involved primarily in neuroactive ligand‒receptor interactions, focal adhesion and calcium signaling pathways, which are associated with the regulation of behavioral patterns, the stress response and follicular development. Our results suggest that an appropriate increase in cage size is beneficial to the natural behavior expression, health status and production performance of laying hens.

DSVTN-ASD: Detection of Stereotypical Behaviors in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder using a Dual Self-Supervised Video Transformer Network

DSVTN-ASD: Detection of Stereotypical Behaviors in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder using a Dual Self-Supervised Video Transformer Network

A Comprehensive Review on Physical Activity Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This review synthesizes current research on the impact of physical activity interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviours, often accompanied by challenges in motor skills and physical fitness. Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic tool for addressing these challenges, but the variability in interventions and outcomes warrants a comprehensive review. The review analysed studies published over the past two decades, focusing on various types of physical activity interventions, including aerobic exercises, strength training, and motor skill development programs. The studies were evaluated based on their methodology, sample size, duration, and reported outcomes, with a particular emphasis on physical, social, and behavioural improvements. Findings indicate that physical activity interventions generally lead to significant improvements in motor skills, physical fitness, and social interactions among individuals with ASD. Additionally, several studies reported reductions in stereotypical behaviours and anxiety levels, suggesting a broader psychosocial benefit. However, the effectiveness of these interventions varies depending on factors such as the type of activity, the intensity of the program, and individual differences within the ASD population. The review concludes that while physical activity interventions hold promise as a complementary approach to traditional therapies for ASD, further research is needed to establish standardized protocols and identify the most effective intervention strategies. Future studies should focus on long-term effects, the sustainability of benefits, and the development of tailored programs that address the diverse needs of individuals with ASD.

CHUVASH-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND CONTACTS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX – EARLY XX CENTURY IN THE WORKS OF V.D. DIMITRIEV OF THE SOVIET PERIOD

Vasily Dimitrievich Dimitriev, who by his fundamental works inscribed his name in the cohort of outstanding scientists of the Volga-Urals, was a deeply national historian. With that said, it seems relevant to clarify his views on the relations and contacts of the Chuvash and the Russians in the second half of the XIX – early XX century. In the regional literature, this issue is addressed only in the most general terms. The purpose of the study is to provide a detailed historiographical analysis of the historian’s works on the outlined issues published by him during the Soviet period. Materials and methods. This publication analyzes the essay, the article and the brochure written by V.D. Dimitriev before 1991, which relatively fully reflected his position on the topic under consideration. The study was carried out on the basis of using the systematic, historical-comparative and historical-anthropological methods. Research results. V.D. Dimitriev devoted a number of works to the topic of Chuvash-Russian relations and contacts in the Soviet times, which differ significantly from each other in the form of material presentation. A panoramic picture of the relationship between representatives of two ethnic communities, appearing from the essay «Communication of the Chuvash with the Russians and the influence of the Russian culture on the Chuvash one in the late XIX – early XX centuries» (1968), is based on the testimonies and observations of the villagers. The essay is distinguished by its pronounced factual character. Based on reports from local correspondents, ethnographic essays and notes from contemporaries, in the context of individual localities, the author shows the contacts of Chuvash and Russian peasants in the Chuvash region at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries, qualifying them as friendly. At the same time, he identifies populated areas where ethnic partners were somewhat wary of each other. Strengthening of capitalist relations in the countryside, seasonal work, commercial and industrial activities of peasants, progress in the development of school education are considered in the publication as channels that stimulated assimilation of the Russian language by the Chuvash, the influence of Russian material and spiritual culture on the Chuvash way of life, economy and behavioral stereotype. In the article he wrote, «I.Ya. Yakovlev – a proponent of peoples rapprochement» (1969) the author’s analytical statements concerning contacts between the Chuvash and the Great Russians were reflected mainly indirectly, through the optics of analyzing the worldview and practical activities of the Chuvash teacher I.Ya. Yakovlev. The main socio-cultural components of Chuvash-Russian relations in the era of market relations are briefly shown in the brochure «Forever with the Russian people» (1976). Structurally, the material presented in it by the author serves as an information and analytical bridge connecting the realities of different historical eras into a single whole. Conclusions. The works written by V.D. Dimitriev in the Soviet time on the topic of Chuvash-Russian relations and contacts, which are not free from the ideology of the Soviet era, are executed in a classical manner and represent a methodologically verified, well-structured sample of a scientific product, which in its basic provisions continues to remain modern and in demand by the scientific audience today.

Mental Disorders in Leaders and Ideologists: An Update

An attempt is made here to analyze mental conditions of Vladimir Putin and the ideologist Aleksandr Dugin, who was called the “Putin’s Brain”. Physical maltreatment was described in Putin’s biographies. Child abuse is associated with various psychiatric and related conditions including paranoia. A paranoid call may sanction destruction of supposed enemies. Putin formulated the aims of his current military operation: to disarm and denazify Ukraine, to protect ethnic Russians and Russian-speakers from “genocide”. Apparently, this idea is delusional. Certain war instigators are paranoid in their tendency to present themselves as prophets or world saviors. Some of them are aggressive against delusional goals. Mentally healthy people can be susceptible to psychotic appeals, a predisposing condition being fear of strangers and projection of hatred upon them. Certain behavioral stereotypes include attacking weaker individuals and yielding to dominant figures. The latter seems to be reflected by Putin’s relationships with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechen Republic. Some ethnically non-Russian subjects of the Federation may be interested in a continuation of the Ukraine war; and there are concerns that Putin has come under their influence. The most important topic in this connection is the inter-ethnic difference in the birth rate and migrations, which is avoided by Russian media and officials these days. In conclusion, mental derangements in politicians are dangerous and must be diagnosed by psychiatrists on the basis of speech, writings, and behavior. More expert opinions are needed.

Anticipatory Behaviour During the Approach to Feeding Times as a Measure of Horse Welfare.

Anticipatory behaviour is increasingly being recognised as a measure of animal welfare. This behaviour is linked to reward sensitivity, which reflects the balance of positive and negative experiences. This study examined anticipatory behaviour in horses fed either ad libitum or rationed diets, aiming to identify differences in behaviour patterns during the periods of one hour immediately before and after feeding. Behavioural data were collected via video surveillance over five days, focusing on the pre- and post-feeding periods of stabled horses. The data were successfully fit to Poisson models. The results indicate that ration-fed horses exhibit more stereotypic and arousal behaviours, with anticipatory behaviour intensifying closer to feeding times. These findings suggest a potential link between feeding stress and anticipatory behaviour, especially in horses on rationed diets. This study underscores the importance of considering feeding practices in horse welfare management and highlights anticipatory behaviour as a valuable indicator for assessing animal well-being. Such assessments, rooted in circadian rhythms, offer a less resource-intensive means for ongoing welfare monitoring in animal care settings.

Adaptive and Behavioral Profiles in Down Syndrome and Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). Individuals with DS exhibit an elevated risk of other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The primary objective of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of co-occurring ASD in children and adolescents with DS using a case-control approach. We compared the adaptive and behavioral profiles of a group of participants with both DS and ASD (ASD group) with a group of participants with DS-only matched by age, sex, and IQ (CON group). Participants in the ASD group exhibited significantly lower adaptive skills than the CON group, despite the IQ-matching in the moderate/severe ID range. No group differences emerged on internalizing or externalizing behavioral symptoms, but participants in the ASD group exhibited significantly higher social withdrawal, stereotyped behavior, and restricted interests. These findings indicate that, although children with DS-with or without ASD-who have similar low cognitive functioning often exhibit common behavioral traits, paying close attention to the elevation of stereotyped behaviors or restricted interests can improve the detection of co-occurring ASD in this population, enabling more personalized interventions. Conversely, the presence of ritualistic behaviors or behaviors related to insistence on sameness may not be a strong indicator of underlying ASD in children with DS. Additionally, acknowledging that the presence of ASD contributes to adaptive behavior deficits beyond the impact of moderate-to-severe ID alone highlights the critical need for early interventions to enhance daily living skills in this population.

An Investigation of Antipsychotic Activity of Plant Extracts in Experimental Animals

The current study is done on plant extracts as antipsychotic medication in ayurvedic formulation. The hallucinations are induced by electro shock therapy or apomorphine. After induction of hallucinations the plant extract is administered as standard group, control group and simple group of six albino rats and the results are screened and analyzed with standard drug comparision. Pre-treatment of MEIR (methanolic extract of Ipomoea reniformis) for 15days at the dose of 200 and 400 milligram per kilogram body weight was used to evaluate antipsychotic activity. The antipsychotic activity was also studied against Apomorphine induced stereotype behavior in rats, Pilocarpine induced purposeless chewing in rats and Apomorphine induced climbing behavior in mice. In pre-treatment studies of antipsychotic activity, MEIR at the dose of 200 and 400 milligram per kilogram body weight significantly (p&lt;0.001) reduced the stereotyped behavior against Apomorphine induced stereotypy behavior model. In Pilocarpine induced purposeless chewing behavior, MEIR at the dose of 200 and 400 milligram per kilogram body weight significantly (p&lt;0.01) decreased chewing behavior and in Apomorphine induced climbing behavior, MEIR significantly (p&lt;0.001) reduced the climbing activity at the dose of 200 and 400 milligram per kilogram body weight. The results of the Pr (+) study suggest that the MEIR possess antipsychotic activity in rats and mice. The results of each activites are compared with standard medicament and evaluated. Keywords: Ipomoea reniformis, apomorphine, locust bean gum, pilocarpine, hallucinations, antipychotic activity

Metformin efficacy and safety as an adjunctive treatment for irritability in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Antidiabetic medications have shown efficacy in alleviating autism symptoms. However, there is a lack of clinical research on the impact of metformin on irritability associated with autism. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of metformin as an adjuvant therapy with risperidone for managing irritability in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This is a randomized, 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at the children's autism clinic of Roozbeh Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from March 2024 to May 2024. Participants were divided into two groups of risperidone plus metformin (500 mg per day) and risperidone plus placebo and were assessed at baseline, weeks 5 and 10 with the aberrant behavior checklist-community scale (ABC-C). A total of 55 patients were included in the final analysis. Irritability (primary outcome measure) sharply decreased in the metformin compared to the placebo group (p = 0.008). Among the other four subscales of ABC-C, the hyperactivity/noncompliance score showed a significant drop during the baseline-to-week-5 period (p = 0.021). In addition, inappropriate speech subscales decreased significantly from baseline-to-week 5 in the metformin compared to the placebo group (p = 0.045). No other significant finding was observed among ABC-C scores for lethargy/social withdrawal or stereotypic behavior subscales. Metformin demonstrated promising results in reducing irritability in ASD patients, which is in concordance with previous studies. However, further studies are required before any broad clinical recommendation.

Construction of an animal model of autism based on interaction between cerebellar histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical changes in adult male albino rat

ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impaired social interaction, language deficit, and stereotype behavior. This study was designed to construct an autistic animal model on the basis of histological and immunohistochemical changes in the rat cerebellum. Methods Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into a control group and a valproic acid (VPA) treated group (injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 12 with 600 mg/kg body weight of VPA). Neurobehavioral tests were conducted on the offspring of both groups. The cerebellum was studied by light and electron microscopy as well as GFAP and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining. Results The VPA-treated group showed signs of neuronal degeneration, such as congested blood vessels, vacuolations, irregularly shrunken with dark small heterochromatic nuclei and numerous apoptotic blebs in the Purkinje and granule cells with vacuolated cerebellar glomeruli. The myelinated nerve fibers showed rarefaction and loss of their neurofilaments. GFAP and caspase-3 immune expression were significantly altered in the VPA-treated group. Conclusion The VPA rat model can serve as an excellent model of autism at the structural level, which may be used as a validated model in preclinical studies to evaluate novel drugs.

The Impact of Dog-Assisted Therapy Among Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Animal-assisted therapies have been utilized in various profiles to improve people's quality of life. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of dog-assisted therapies (DAT) on children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The benefits provided, the feasibility of implementation, and potential limitations are analysed. An exhaustive search was carried out in the following databases: Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, ERIC, PubMed, PubPsych, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Dialnet. The procedure was preregistered on PROSPERO. This review included 19 scientific articles. Of these, 84% suggest that DAT has a positive impact on communication and social interaction during the development of children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. The dog is often perceived as a communication facilitator that serves as a reinforcer, capturing the individual's attention. Emotional benefits have also been reported, including reducing stereotyped and self-harming behaviours. Additionally, an increase in smiling frequency and self-esteem levels was observed. These findings highlight the potential of DAT as a component of socio-educational intervention for children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. However, further research is necessary due to the limited sample sizes in the studies reviewed.

Evolution of different adaptations for pollen uptake from flowers of Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) with narrow corolla tube in pollen wasps of the genus Celonites (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae)

Abstract The evolution of flower-visiting behaviour in pollen wasps remains poorly investigated. The females of oligolectic Celonites species show two fundamentally different behavioural patterns for pollen uptake from Heliotropium flowers with a narrow corolla tube. They remove pollen from the concealed anthers either with their forelegs or with their proboscis. Single-frame video analysis revealed that pollen collection with the proboscis consists of a hitherto unknown, unique, and stereotypic behavioural pattern. The first phylogenetic reconstruction of Celonites based on ultra-conserved elements demonstrates that this highly complex behaviour is presumably homologous and evolved only once. It probably derived from accidental consumption of pollen adhering to the proboscis during nectar uptake and is associated with morphological adaptations of the foretarsi and mouthparts. Pollen uptake with the forelegs evolved independently. Morphological adaptations to this type of pollen uptake are the elongation of the forelegs and a tarsal pollen brush formed by hooked setae. These results confirm for pollen wasps a view that has been developed in studies of bee–flower relationships, namely that pollen collection, contrary to nectar collection, is a specific and stereotypic behaviour that often requires morphological and behavioural adaptations, possibly underlying the high rate of specialization observed in pollen-collecting Hymenoptera.