Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2015, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 430-433.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2015.04.012

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Effects of Wnt/β-catenin on repetitive/stereotypic-like movements in an autistic model induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid

ZHANG Ying-hua 1,2,  JIA Yun-jie 3,  ZHANG Tian-ran 1,  CUI Wei-gang 4, 1,  WANG Zhong-ping 4,  WEN Xiao-jun 1   

  1. 1.Department of Human Anatomy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China; 2.Key Laboratory for Medical Tissue Regeneration of Henan Province, College of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003;  3. Library of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China; 4.Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
  • Received:2015-01-06 Online:2015-07-25 Published:2015-08-14

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of Wnt/β-catenin on repetitive/stereotypic-like movements in autism.  Methods With an autistic model induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid(VPA), we detected the expression of GSK-3β, β-catenin, the signaling molecules of the canonical Wnt pathway in the cerebellum of autistic rats. The expression levels of GSK-3β, phosphorylated GSK-3β, β-catenin, phosphorylated β-catenin were observed by Western blotting. The number of repetitive/stereotypic-like behaviors and time engaged in repetitive/stereotypic-like movements were observed by open field.  Results The phospholated protein levels of GSK-3β were higher, whereas those of β-catenin were lower in VPA-exposed group than those in the control group. In contrast, the number of repetitive/stereotypic-like behaviors and time engaged in repetitive/stereotypic-like movements were significantly higher in the animals treated with VPA than those in the control group. Conclusion Hyperkinetics and increased activity of the canonical Wnt pathway in cerebellum of autistic rats suggest that increased activity of the canonical Wnt pathway may result in repetitive/stereotypic-like mobility disorders and further contribute to the susceptibility to autism.

Key words: Autism, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Valproic acid, Repetitive/stereotypic-like movement