Análise das conexões aferentes para o córtex auditivo primário de ratos neonatos modelo de autismo

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which presents signs and symptoms that present in childhood, such as communication problems and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Several factors, environmentals and geneticals, are considered triggers of this disorder. In the cerebral cortex it is possible to observe changes in Purkinje cells, amygdala and temporal lobe, but usually changes in the patterns of connectivity are more cited in the literature. The connectivity theory points out a dysfunctional activity of connections during the execution of some functions. Thus, further studies are needed on the development of cortical connections, especially in the auditory cortex, for a better understanding of how these changes result in the phenotype presented by the autistic individual related to impaired communication skills. This study aims to describe the afferent cortical connections to the primary auditory cortex (A1) of autism model animals. DiI neurotracer injections were performed in A1 on postnatal day 0 (P0) in the autism model animals (VPA group), induced by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid solution on embryonic day 12 (E12). The control group consisted of animals that received intraperitoneal saline on E12, and were injected with the neurotracer DiI in A1. Our results demonstrated that the same cortical areas project to A1 in the VPA and control rats, as well as changes at the organizational level and in the concentration of these connections. In agreement with previous studies, these data corroborate the connectivity theory.