Major motor and gait deficits with sexual dimorphism in a Shank3 mutant mouse model

ConclusionsOur findings indicate that several behavioral, cellular, and molecular parameters are affected in this animal model. The reported deficits are more pronounced in males than in females. Additionally, male Shank3 ΔC/ΔC mice show more pronounced alterations than Shank3+/ΔC. Together with our previous findings in two environmental animal models of ASD, our studies indicate that gait dysfunction constitutes a robust set of motor ASD symptoms that may be considered for implementation in clinical settings as a n early and quantitative diagnosis criteria.
Source: Molecular Autism - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research