Public release date: 13-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Marla Paul marla-paul@northwestern.edu 312-503-8928 Northwestern University
CHICAGO --- In a surprising new finding, a Northwestern Medicine study has found a common molecular vulnerability in autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Both disorders have symptoms of social impairment and originate during brain development in utero.
This the first research to explore a common mechanism for these disorders and link their molecular vulnerabilities.
The study found male offspring of rat mothers who were given alcohol during pregnancy have social impairment and altered levels of autism-related genes found in humans. Female offspring were not affected.
Alcohol Damage is Reversible
But the alcohol damage can be reversed. A low dose of the thyroid hormone thyroxin given to alcohol consuming rat mothers at critical times during their pregnancy alleviated social impairments and reversed the expression of autism-related genes in their male offspring, the study reports.
Could Novel Drug Treat Both Disorders?
"The beneficial effects of thyroxin in this animal model raises an exciting question -- whether novel drug targets and treatments could be developed for both these disorders," said Eva Redei, the senior author of the study and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
The study will be published June 13, 2013 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Could novel drug target autism and fetal alcohol disorder?