Cited by 106Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Social peers rescue autism‐relevant sociability deficits in adolescent mice

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Yang, Mu, Perry, Kayla, Weber, Michael D., Katz, Adam M., Crawley, Jacqueline N.·2011·Autism Research

Abstract

Behavioral therapies are currently the most effective interventions for treating the diagnostic symptoms of autism. We employed a mouse model of autism to evaluate components of behavioral interventions that improve sociability in mice. BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) is an inbred mouse strain that exhibits prominent behavioral phenotypes with face validity to all three diagnostic symptom categories of autism, including robust and well‐replicated deficits in social approach and reciprocal social interactions. To investigate the role of peer interactions in the development of sociability, BTBR juvenile mice were reared in the same home cage with juvenile mice of a highly social inbred strain, C57BL/6J (B6). Subject mice were tested as young adults for sociability and repetitive behaviors. B6 controls reared with B6 showed their strain‐typical high sociability. BTBR controls reared with BTBR showed their strain‐typical lack of sociability. In contrast, BTBR reared with B6 as juveniles showed significant sociability as young adults. A 20‐day intervention was as effective as a 40‐day intervention for improving social approach behavior. High levels of repetitive self‐grooming in BTBR were not rescued by peer‐rearing with B6, indicating specificity of the intervention to the social domain. These results from a robust mouse model of autism support the interpretation that social enrichment with juvenile peers is a beneficial intervention for improving adult outcome in the social domain. This novel paradigm may prove useful for discovering factors that are essential for effective behavioral treatments, and biological mechanisms underlying effective behavioral interventions.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Dawson G Rogers S Munson J Smith M Winter J Greenson J Donaldson A Varley J Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the Early Start Denver Model Pediatrics 2009 125 1 PMC4951085 19948568
  2. National Research Council Educating Young Children with Autism 2001 Washington, DC Natl. Acad. Press
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Authors
Yang, M., Perry, K., Weber, M. D., Katz, A. M., & Crawley, J. N.
Affiliations
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (US)
Corresponding author
Yang, Mu
Venue
Autism Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-10-06
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
17-27
ISSN
  • 1939-3792 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-3806
OpenAlex
W1984005834
Cited by
106
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 15
FWCI
6.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Autism Research (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • University of California, Davis
  • National Institute of Mental Health (ZIAMH002179)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, social dysfunction, social enrichment, peer rearing, BTBR T+tf/J mice, C57BL/6J mice, social approach behavior, behavior therapy, mouse models of autism
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Animals, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Communication, Disease Models, Animal, DNA Mutational Analysis, Genotype, Genetic Carrier Screening, Humans, Mice, Neurologic Mutants, Peer Group, Phenotype, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Stereotyped Behavior, Synapses, Mice

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