Lindsay E Rexrode, Joshua Hartley, Kurt C Showmaker, Lavanya Challagundla, Michael W Vandewege, Brigitte E Martin, Estelle Blair, Ratna Bollavarapu, Rhenius B Antonyraj, Keauna Hilton, Alex Gardiner, Jake Valeri, Barbara Gisabella, Michael R Garrett, Theoharis C Theoharides, Harry Pantazopoulos
Several lines of evidence point to a key role of the hippocampus in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Altered hippocampal volume and deficits in memory for person and emotion related stimuli have been reported, along with enhanced ability for declarative memories. Mouse models have demonstrated a critical role of the hippocampus in social memory dysfunction, associated with ASD, together with decreased synaptic plasticity. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a family of extracellular matrix molecules, represent a potential key link between neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune system signaling...
February 14, 2024: Molecular Psychiatry