Abnormal empathy-like pro-social behaviour in the valproic acid model of autism spectrum disorder.

Abnormal empathy-like pro-social behaviour in the valproic acid model of autism spectrum disorder.
Behav Brain Res. 2019 Jan 22;:
Authors: Fontes-Dutra M, Della-Flora Nunes G, Terra JS, Souza-Nunes W, Bauer-Negrini G, Hirsch MM, Green L, Riesgo R, Gottfried C, Bambini-Junior V
Abstract
Impairments in social behaviour are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD also usually present some difficulty to recognise or understand another person's feelings. Therefore, it is possible that altered empathy processing could hinder typical social interaction in ASD. Recently, robust paradigms confirmed that rodents show primordial forms of empathy-like behaviour. Therefore, in this work, we used one of these new protocols to test pro-social behaviour in the rat model of autism induced by Valproic Acid (VPA). We also evaluated possible beneficial effects of Resveratrol, since it can prevent social deficits in the VPA model. Rats were tested on their ability to open a restrainer to release a trapped conspecific. Exposure to VPA precludes the timely manifestation of this empathy-like behaviour, but does not affect its continuation after its first expression. We also found a significant correlation between average speed during the first day of test and becoming an Opener. Similarly, rats able to open the restrainer on the first day had an increased likelihood of repeating this behaviour in the later days of the test...

Source: Behavioural Brain Research - January 22, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Fontes-Dutra M, Della-Flora Nunes G, Terra JS, Souza-Nunes W, Bauer-Negrini G, Hirsch MM, Green L, Riesgo R, Gottfried C, Bambini-Junior V Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research