Cited by 256Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Dendrite and spine modifications in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders in patients and animal models

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Martínez‐Cerdeño, Verónica·2017·Developmental Neurobiology

Abstract

Dendrites and spines are the main neuronal structures receiving input from other neurons and glial cells. Dendritic and spine number, size, and morphology are some of the crucial factors determining how signals coming from individual synapses are integrated. Much remains to be understood about the characteristics of neuronal dendrites and dendritic spines in autism and related disorders. Although there have been many studies conducted using autism mouse models, few have been carried out using postmortem human tissue from patients. Available animal models of autism include those generated through genetic modifications and those non-genetic models of the disease. Here, we review how dendrite and spine morphology and number is affected in autism and related neurodevelopmental diseases, both in human, and genetic and non-genetic animal models of autism. Overall, data obtained from human and animal models point to a generalized reduction in the size and number, as well as an alteration of the morphology of dendrites; and an increase in spine densities with immature morphology, indicating a general spine immaturity state in autism. Additional human studies on dendrite and spine number and morphology in postmortem tissue are needed to understand the properties of these structures in the cerebral cortex of patients with autism. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 419-437, 2017.

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  • GWAS identified the rs979812 locus in GALC as increasing PD risk.

    “GWAS identified the rs979812 locus in GALC as increasing PD risk.105,106”

    From The lysosome and proteostatic stress at the intersection of pediatric neurological disorders and adult neurodegenerative diseases (2025) · cites this paper as [106]

    The 'Other autism related genes' section discusses SNP associations with autism in MARK1, not the rs979812 locus in GALC or Parkinson’s disease risk. Searches for rs979812, GALC, and Parkinson’s disease found no passage in our copy addressing the claimed GWAS finding; page numbers were unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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  • Impaired synaptic remodeling by microglia might contribute to the increased density of dendritic spines and excitatory synapses found in the brains of patients with ASD.

    “Impaired synaptic remodeling by microglia might contribute to the increased density of dendritic spines and excitatory synapses found in the brains of patients with ASD (Martínez-Cerdeño, 2017).”

    From Microbiome–microglia connections via the gut–brain axis (2019) · cites this paper as Martínez-Cerdeño, 2017

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  1. Gray EG Axosomatic and axodendritic synapses in the cerebral cortex J Anat 1959 93 420 433 13829103 PMC1244535

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Authors
Martínez‐Cerdeño, V.
Affiliations
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California (US)
Corresponding author
Martínez‐Cerdeño, Verónica
Venue
Developmental Neurobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-08-30
Volume
77
Issue
4
Pages
393-404
ISSN
  • 1932-8451 (ISSN-L)
  • 1932-846X
OpenAlex
W2499863930
Cited by
256
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 1
FWCI
2.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Developmental Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH094681)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, dendritic spines, dendritic morphology, neurodevelopmental disorders, mouse models of autism, human postmortem brain, spine density, cerebral cortex
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Dendrites, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Dendritic Spines

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