Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Network Analysis of Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety and Autism: Discrete but Connected.
Bitsika V, Sharpley CF, Vessey KA … +1 more , Evans ID
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39935340 · Full text
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comorbid with several major psychiatric disorders, primarily anxiety. Although a previous report of a network analysis of five anxiety subtypes and some ASD diagnostic criteria suggested...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is comorbid with several major psychiatric disorders, primarily anxiety. Although a previous report of a network analysis of five anxiety subtypes and some ASD diagnostic criteria suggested that anxiety was not part of the ASD symptomatology, several methodological limitations challenge the conclusions reported there. To address those limitations and extend understanding of the association between ASD and anxiety, data on ASD symptomatology and the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were collected from 150 autistic boys and their parents and were analysed via network analysis. Results indicated that, although the separation of GAD and ASD symptoms was generally confirmed, several connections were found between the two sets of symptoms, arguing for a more nuanced model of the association between these two disorders. These findings hold implications for the delivery of 'precision-medicine' treatment models for the treatment of anxiety in ASD.
Understanding Role of Maternal Separation in Depression, Anxiety,and Pain Behaviour: A Mini Review of Preclinical Research With Focus on Neuroinflammatory Pathways.
Mohammadi S, Bashghareh A, Karimi-Zandi L … +1 more , Mokhtari T
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39895419 · Full text
Contact between mother and child is essential for the proper development of an infant's physiological systems, brain maturation and behavioural outcomes. Early life stress (ELS), which includes factors such as inadequate...
Contact between mother and child is essential for the proper development of an infant's physiological systems, brain maturation and behavioural outcomes. Early life stress (ELS), which includes factors such as inadequate parental care and childhood abuse, significantly increases the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. This review examines the impact of maternal separation (MS) on depression, anxiety and pain behaviour, with a particular emphasis on neuroinflammatory pathways. Experiences of ELS can adversely affect the maturation of neurotransmitter systems and associated neural circuits that are crucial for processing painful stimuli and regulating anxiety and depression. Stressful experiences trigger inflammatory processes in the brain, initiating immune responses in neural cells and stimulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In mammals, MS serves as a significant stressor that activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and other stress-related systems, leading to increased immune challenges and heightened pain sensitivity in adulthood due to systemic inflammation. Key inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, play critical roles in the development of pathological pain, while the activation of microglia releases inflammatory mediators that contribute to neurological dysfunction and the pathophysiology of stress, depression and anxiety. Moreover, therapeutics targeting oxidative stress and inflammation have shown promise in alleviating affective disorders following MS. This review discusses potential pathways, with a primary focus on neuroinflammatory mechanisms and the therapeutic strategies that may mitigate the adverse effects of MS. There is a pressing need for further research to elucidate the underlying pathways and identify effective interventions to improve mental health outcomes in individuals affected by MS.
Cuscuta epithymum extract affects epileptic offspring behaviour and weight after applying preconception immobility stress on parents.
Khavasi N, Ghassemifard L, Ramezanikhah H … +2 more , Sardari S, Saboory E
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39895384 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Studies have indicated a link between stress during pregnancy and stress reactivity in offspring. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cuscuta epithymum (CE) extract on seizure and body weight in of...
INTRODUCTION: Studies have indicated a link between stress during pregnancy and stress reactivity in offspring. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cuscuta epithymum (CE) extract on seizure and body weight in offspring born to stressed parents (pre-pregnancy). METHODS: Male and female rats were randomly separated into four groups. Then, the animals were subjected to restraint stress once a day for 50 (male) and 15 (female) continuous days. At the same time, rats in the control and stress groups received normal saline while the other two groups received the CE extract. After the stress induction, the control and experimental rats were mated to create eight types of coupling combinations as follows: McFc, McFs, MsFc, MsFs, McFc + EX, McFs + EX, MsFc + EX and MsFs + EX (M, male; F, female; C, control; S, stress; EX, extract). Then, the pups were weighed on postnatal days (PND) 1, 15 and 25. They were also evaluated for pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure on PND 25. RESULTS: The results showed that prolonged parental exposure to stress led to a significant increase in the duration and number of tonic-clonic (TC) seizures, duration of standing on two legs, firmly clinging to the ground, number of head nodding, total score of seizure behaviours and duration of tail rigidity in offspring. Moreover, the onset of the first convulsive behaviour was accelerated. Furthermore, a significantly lower body weight was observed in pre-conceptionally stressed offspring. However, the CE extract significantly improved these symptoms. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that CE administration possibly improves the consequences of pre-pregnancy stress, as well as seizure behaviours and weight loss in pups.
Knowledge, Behaviours, and Attitudes of Family Physicians and Residents About Autism Spectrum Disorder in Turkey: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.
Erzurumluoğlu F, Gümüştakım RŞ, Kuş C … +1 more , Arslan SC
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39888041 · Publisher ↗
AIM: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a growing social health issue. Primary healthcare institutions are where children most commonly seek help, and family physicians in primary care play a crucial role in early ASD det...
AIM: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a growing social health issue. Primary healthcare institutions are where children most commonly seek help, and family physicians in primary care play a crucial role in early ASD detection. This study aims to assess the knowledge level, behaviours, and attitudes of family physicians and family medicine residents across Turkey, identify factors affecting their knowledge, and raise awareness among physicians. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2022, with the participation of family medicine specialists, residents, and practicing physicians in Turkey. A 50-question survey was administered face-to-face and digitally. The survey comprised 31 questions on sociodemographic information, factors influencing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about ASD. The second part included a 19-question "Knowledge about childhood autism among health workers" (KCAHW) questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 392 physicians with a mean age of 32.8 ± 7.9; 60.7% were women. Among the participants, 50.3% were family medicine residents, 21.7% were family medicine specialists, 17.0% were family physicians and 11.0% were contracted family medicine residents. The physicians' mean KCAHW score was 14.1 ± 2.6. Screening for ASD and following ASD were significantly associated with the perception of knowledge level (p = 0.004; p = 0.028, respectively). A statistically significant relationship was found between paediatric rotation, education about ASD, patient follow-ups and the KCAHW scores. Moreover, 98.2% of physicians believed children with ASD should receive special education, while 79.6% thought ASD carried a social stigma, and 52% believed an ASD diagnosis could lead to discrimination. CONCLUSION: The study found that participants lacked knowledge about comorbidities with ASD, atypical presentations of ASD, and guiding individuals with ASD. However, having a paediatric rotation, receiving ASD training and following up on children with ASD were associated with increased knowledge levels. Screening for and following up on children with ASD also boosted physicians' self-confidence.
Identification of a Novel ATP7A Variant in a Chinese Boy With Developmental Delay and Epilepsy.
Zhou Y, Wu J, Xu J … +3 more , Tu Y, Huang M, Fang C
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39887433 · Publisher ↗
Menkes disease (MD) is a rare X-linked recessive syndrome that is caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene, which encodes the P-type ATP enzyme. The ATP7A gene encodes 1500 amino acids and is expressed in a number of organs...
Menkes disease (MD) is a rare X-linked recessive syndrome that is caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene, which encodes the P-type ATP enzyme. The ATP7A gene encodes 1500 amino acids and is expressed in a number of organs, including the brain, muscles, kidneys and lungs. ATP7A transports copper between cell membranes using energy generated by ATP hydrolysis. Patients with the pathogenic variant in the ATP7A gene exhibit a distinctive pattern of severe neurodegeneration, which is often accompanied by specific alterations in hair morphology. The clinical manifestations of MD have been attributed to the dysfunction of copper-dependent enzymes. Here, we report a 7-month-old boy with MD associated with a novel variant of ATP7A (c.1965_1973del, p.Val656_Leu658del). Genetic testing revealed that both his mother and grandmother had identical ATP7A mutations, and we studied this family to better understand the natural history of this syndrome. In this article, we report for the first time the novel mutation in the ATP7A gene in a Chinese family. In our case, he suffers from simian line, developmental delay, epilepsy, hair changes (short, thin, thick, twisted, often light-coloured), decreased muscle tone, joint relaxation, brain vessel distortion, low serum copper, ceruloplasmin, elevated lactate and an abnormal EEG. Because of its rarity, MD is easily to be misdiagnosed.
Virtual Reality-Based Attention Prediction Model in Gaming for Autistic Children.
P V, A P
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39873320 · Publisher ↗
Nowadays, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a successful new therapeutic strategy in a variety of sectors of the health profession, including rehabilitation, the promotion of inpatients' emotional wellness, diagnostics...
Nowadays, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a successful new therapeutic strategy in a variety of sectors of the health profession, including rehabilitation, the promotion of inpatients' emotional wellness, diagnostics, surgeon training and mental health therapy. This study develops a new model VRAPMG for children with ASD with the following steps that consider 3D gaming. In this work, the face image is considered to evaluate the attention of the children. In the data acquisition, the input face image is converted into a noncoloured image called a greyscale image. The preprocessing phase is carried out with a median filter and Viola-Jones (VJ) algorithm-based face detection is carried out. Then, the improved active shape model (ASM), shape local binary texture (SLBT) and eye position localization-based features are extracted. In the detection phase, DMO and Bi-GRU models are combined to form the hybrid classification model. Then, improved SLF is done, and the output is detected. Depending on the detected emotions, it is determined whether the children are attentive or not via entropy-based attention prediction.
Hydrocortisone Attenuates the Development of Malformations of the Polymicrogyria Spectrum.
Savoldi LMB, Heringer LDS, Carneiro MB … +2 more , Martinez AMB, Mendonça HR
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39873286 · Publisher ↗
Most of the malformations of the polymicrogyria spectrum are caused by destructive lesions of the neocortex during the third trimester of pregnancy, triggered by hypoxic-ischemic, hemorrhagic or infectious events, with n...
Most of the malformations of the polymicrogyria spectrum are caused by destructive lesions of the neocortex during the third trimester of pregnancy, triggered by hypoxic-ischemic, hemorrhagic or infectious events, with neuroinflammation as a common pathophysiological mechanism. Our study investigated hydrocortisone treatment in attenuating inflammation, malformations development and seizures predisposition in mice subjected to neonatal transcranial freeze lesion. Our results show attenuation of malformation and predisposition to febrile seizures, with concomitant reduction of macrophages/microglia after neonatal freeze lesion, polarizing them towards an anti-inflammatory profile. Thus, we have identified a promising treatment to minimize the development of cortical developmental malformations.
Edaravone Mitigates Hippocampal Neuronal Death and Cognitive Dysfunction by Upregulating BDNF Expression in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Rats.
Zhang R, Yang Y, Lin Y
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39831776 · Publisher ↗
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe neurological injury during infancy, often resulting in long-term cognitive deficits. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Edaravone (ED...
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe neurological injury during infancy, often resulting in long-term cognitive deficits. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Edaravone (EDA), a free radical scavenger, and elucidate the potential role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mediating these effects in neonatal HIE rats. Using the Rice-Vannucci model, HIE was induced in neonatal rats, followed by immediate administration of EDA after the hypoxic-ischemic insult. To examine the role of BDNF, a separate group of rats received intrahippocampal injections of a lentiviral vector for BDNF knockdown prior to the induction of HIE and subsequent EDA treatment. Neuronal survival and apoptosis in the hippocampal region were assessed by immunofluorescence and TUNEL staining, respectively. BDNF expression levels in the hippocampus were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) and Y maze tests. Results demonstrated that EDA significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and death, increased neuronal survival, and enhanced BDNF expression compared to the control group. However, the therapeutic effects of EDA were mitigated in the BDNF knockdown group, indicating a crucial role of BDNF in mediating the neuroprotective effects of EDA. Behavioural testing confirmed that EDA treatment significantly improved spatial learning and memory abilities in HIE rats, but these improvements were not observed in rats with BDNF knockdown. In conclusion, our study suggests that EDA treatment mitigates hippocampal neuronal death and improves cognitive dysfunction in HIE rats primarily by upregulating BDNF expression. These findings provide experimental support for the potential application of EDA in the treatment of HIE and highlight the essential role of BDNF in neuroprotection and cognitive recovery post-HIE.
Correction to 'Pineal Gland Volume in Children With Intellectual Disability'.
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39801213 · Publisher ↗
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Calcium-Binding Proteins in the Autistic Brain-Potential Links to Symptom Development.
Tavares ÉAF, de Souza DLS, da Silva Gomes FT … +7 more , Holanda MVF, Oliveira RF, Paiva KM, de Gois Morais PLA, de Vasconcelos CL, de Paiva Cavalcanti DML, de Paiva Cavalcanti JRL
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39777736 · Publisher ↗
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex challenge, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. This review focuses on the proteins calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the context of ASD, expl...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex challenge, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. This review focuses on the proteins calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the context of ASD, exploring their clinical correlations and providing a deeper understanding of the spectrum. In addition, we seek to understand the role of these proteins in GABAergic regulation and their implication in the pathophysiology of ASD. The studies reviewed revealed a significant decrease in PV+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with ASD compared with typical controls. This reduction is associated with local synaptic hyperconnectivity, characterized by an increase in the number of excitatory synapses and a reduction in inhibitory synapses. A correlation was also observed between the decrease in PV+ and the severity of the behavioural symptoms of ASD. The research highlights GABAergic imbalance as a crucial component in the neuropathology of ASD, highlighting the role of calcium-binding proteins, especially PV, in regulating neuronal excitability and modulating synaptic connectivity. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of new therapeutic strategies intended to modulate neuronal activity and improve the symptoms associated with ASD.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Willingness of Caregivers of Preterm Infants Toward Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ma D, Luo H, Wang Y … +5 more , Zhou W, Lu Y, Lv B, Zhang L, Hua Y
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39760439 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: To examine the knowledge, attitudes and willingness of caregivers of preterm infants toward autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2022 at...
BACKGROUND: To examine the knowledge, attitudes and willingness of caregivers of preterm infants toward autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2022 at the Hospital and enrolled the caregivers of preterm infants. The final questionnaire, developed by the authors, included four dimensions: demographic data, knowledge (16 items), attitudes (10 items) and willingness (seven items). RESULTS: This study included 702 participants (77.21% females). The average knowledge, attitude and willingness scores were 7.75 ± 3.47 (total: 16), 38.54 ± 4.38 (total: 50) and 31.38 ± 3.95 (total: 35), respectively. Female (OR = 1.945, 95% CI: 1.182-2.797, p = 0.003), college or bachelor's (OR = 4.429, 95% CI: 1.525-9.788, p = 0.006), master or above (OR = 3.864, 95% CI: 1.194-12.500, p = 0.024) and stable work (OR = 2.098, 95% CI: 1.421-3.098, p < 0.001) were independently associated with sufficient knowledge. Age 30-34 (OR = 0.639, 95% CI: 0.423-0.695, p = 0.033), age ≥ 35 (OR = 0.517, 95% CI: 0.334-0.802, p = 0.003) and urban residency (OR = 1.697, 95% CI: 1.118-2.576, p = 0.013) were independently associated with favourable attitudes. The knowledge scores (OR = 1.100, 95% CI: 1.041-1.162, p = 0.001), attitude scores (OR = 1.212, 95% CI: 1.158-1.690, p < 0.001) and a monthly income of 10,000-20,000 RMB (OR = 2.125, 95% CI: 1.208-3.736, p = 0.009) were independently associated with the positive willingness. CONCLUSIONS: This study observed poor knowledge but favourable attitudes and willingness toward ASD among caregivers of preterm infants. More attention should be paid to the education of caregivers to improve the knowledge of autism in the families of premature infants.
H19/miR-484 axis serves as a candidate biomarker correlated with autism spectrum disorder.
Li Y, Liu C, Jin Q … +2 more , Yu H, Long H
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39749992 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears to be a common neurological developmental deficit disorder in pediatric patients, resulting in a tremendous burden on society. PURPOSE: The article aimed to explore earl...
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears to be a common neurological developmental deficit disorder in pediatric patients, resulting in a tremendous burden on society. PURPOSE: The article aimed to explore early diagnostic markers for ASD. METHODS: Levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 and microRNA-484 (miR-484) were detected using fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Spearman method was applied for the correlation analysis with ASD severity. To evaluate the role of H19 and miR-484 role in ASD diagnosis, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the targeting relationship between H19 and miR-484. The functions and pathways related to miR-484 target genes were annotated by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. RESULTS: Elevated H19 levels were detected in ASD patients, which was positively correlated with disease severity. MiR-484 showed a decreasing trend in ASD patients, while it was negatively related to disease severity. Both H19 and miR-484 can distinguish ASD cases from controls with an AUC of 0.878 and 0.868, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay determined the target relationship between H19 and miR-484., and their combination showed the highest diagnostic value for ASD (AUC = 0.906). GO and KEGG analysis demonstrated the targeted genes of miR-484 were related to the development of ASD, and EIF4G2 and SMARCA2 were the main core genes. CONCLUSION: H19 and miR-484 were dysregulated in ASD patients and were both associated with disease severity. The combined H19 and miR-484 represented a high diagnostic value for ASD.
Mapping the Landscape of Autism Research: A Scientometric Review (2011-2023).
Mahajan P, Patil D, Nair N … +2 more , Musmade N, Apte P
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39723621 · Publisher ↗
This scientometric analysis maps the landscape of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research between 2011 and 2023. By exploring patterns in publication growth, geographic distribution and institutional involvement, this st...
This scientometric analysis maps the landscape of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research between 2011 and 2023. By exploring patterns in publication growth, geographic distribution and institutional involvement, this study highlights evolving research themes, key contributors and collaborative networks. Our findings reveal a marked rise in ASD publications, particularly from 2020 onwards, with the United States, United Kingdom and China leading in contributions and collaborations. Scientometric analysis identifies a shift towards advanced machine learning techniques and neuroimaging in ASD studies, reflecting technological integration in research. Institutional analysis uncovers Vanderbilt University and Yale University as major contributors, with significant citation impacts across their publications. Furthermore, prominent funding sources, including the National Institutes of Health, underscore the critical role of funding in shaping research priorities. This comprehensive scientometric overview not only consolidates current knowledge but also serves as a resource to inform future research directions, enhancing interdisciplinary approaches to ASD understanding and intervention.
Prenatal Exposure to Quercetin Protects Against Methimazole-Induced Reflexive Motor Behavior and Oxidative Stress Markers in Mouse Offspring.
Zahedi S, Hassanpour S, Mashhadyrafie S
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39723613 · Publisher ↗
Quercetin is a natural flavonoid and one of the most powerful antioxidants. Due to its wide range of biological properties, it may improve cognitive and physical performance by affecting nervous tissue. The current study...
Quercetin is a natural flavonoid and one of the most powerful antioxidants. Due to its wide range of biological properties, it may improve cognitive and physical performance by affecting nervous tissue. The current study is aimed at determining the effect of prenatal exposure to quercetin against methimazole (MMI)-induced hypothyroidism on reflexive motor behavior in mouse offspring. In this study, 40 female mice were mated with 12 fertile male NMRI mice, and the pregnant mice were divided into four groups. Group 1 served as the control, Group 2 received 0.2% MMI in drinking water, Group 3 received 150 mg/kg quercetin via gavage, and Group 4 received both 0.2% MMI in drinking water and 150 mg/kg quercetin via gavage from Days 1 to 9 of gestation. The offspring were assessed for reflexive motor behaviors and conditioned fear. Catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in the neonates were also examined. The findings indicated that exposure to quercetin led to improved ambulation, hindlimb suspension, grip strength, front-limb suspension, hindlimb foot angle, negative geotaxis, surface righting, and conditioned fear behaviors in the offspring (p < 0.05). Additionally, quercetin reduced levels of MDA and increased levels of SOD, GPx, and CAT in the brain tissue (p < 0.05). These results suggested that quercetin exposure during pregnancy has positive effect on reflexive motor behaviors and antioxidant levels in mouse offspring.
Lutein Exerts Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Role on Schizophrenia-Like Behaviours in Mice.
Aziziha H, Hassanpour S, Zendehdel M
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39723598 · Publisher ↗
Schizophrenia is an esteemed neuropsychiatric condition delineated by the manifestation which role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is important. Lutein administration exhibits protective effects via NMDA rec...
Schizophrenia is an esteemed neuropsychiatric condition delineated by the manifestation which role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is important. Lutein administration exhibits protective effects via NMDA receptors. Thus, the main goal of this research was to investigate how lutein can possibly act as an antioxidant and provide protection for the brain against schizophrenia-like behaviours in mice. In total, 24 male mice were divided into four experimental groups: control, ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p), lutein (10 mg/kg, i.p) and a mix of ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p) and lutein (10 mg/kg, i.p). Lutein was given to the mice for 30 days, while ketamine was given from Days 16 to 30 to create a model of schizophrenia in the animals. After giving drugs, schizophrenia-like behaviours were evaluated with novel object recognition test (NORT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and open field tests. Furthermore, the amounts of brain malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were assessed. The findings showed a noteworthy decrease in the crossings during the open field test and increase in immobility duration in the TST and FST as a result of ketamine administration (p < 0.05). Prior administration of lutein showed a decrease in the detrimental effects of ketamine on the open field assay, along with a reduction in immobility duration in the TST and FST experiments (p < 0.05). Administration of ketamine caused a notable reduction in the discrimination index, while pretreatment with lutein was associated with a rise in the discrimination index (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the administration of ketamine significantly increased the levels of MDA in both cortical and subcortical regions, which were then reduced by lutein pretreatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, ketamine use led to a significant decrease in tissue SOD, GPx and CAT levels in both cortical and subcortical brain regions in mice (p < 0.05). Nonetheless, lutein pretreatment significantly enhanced SOD, GPx and CAT levels in cortical and subcortical regions (p < 0.05). These results indicate that lutein may have protective effects on the brain to improve behavioural problems.
Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure Impairs Helping Behaviour in Male Offspring: The Possible Role of miR-223 and NLRP3 Inflammasomes in the Amygdala.
Khodagholi F, Dezfouli MA, Yazdanfar N … +5 more , Rashidi SK, Meymand AZ, Javadpour P, Mirbehbahani SH, Zare N
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39723593 · Publisher ↗
The increasing prevalence of methamphetamine abuse among women, particularly pregnant females, is a global concern. Methamphetamine can readily cross anatomical barriers like the blood-placenta barrier and cause detrimen...
The increasing prevalence of methamphetamine abuse among women, particularly pregnant females, is a global concern. Methamphetamine can readily cross anatomical barriers like the blood-placenta barrier and cause detrimental impacts on the growing fetus. The current research evaluated the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on helping behaviour and neuroinflammatory cascade in the amygdala of male offspring. On the tenth day of pregnancy, female rats received either saline or methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) until delivery. Once the offspring reached 21 days of age, the male ones were sep arated from their mothers and housed with normal male rats. An empathy-like behaviour test, which measured helping behaviour towards the cage mate, was conducted. The expression levels of miR-223-3p, NLRP3, Caspase 1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) were evaluated in the amygdala of male offspring. Moreover, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) protein level was measured. Findings of this study revealed that male offspring exposed to methamphetamine during pregnancy had impaired helping behaviour. At the molecular level, prenatal methamphetamine exposure decreased miR-223-3p and increased inflammasome signaling by raising the levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and GSDMD along with IL-1β levels. These findings indicate that prenatal methamphetamine exposure impairs emotional behaviour and activates inflammasome pathway in the amygdala.
Folinic acid as a treatment for autism in children: A within-subjects open-label study on safety and efficacy.
Wong CM, Tan CS, Koh HC … +5 more , Gan X, Hie SL, Saffari SE, Yeo JG, Lam JCM
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39703043 · Publisher ↗
The folate cycle has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism due to its role in the glutathione oxidative stress pathway, amino acid and DNA methylation reactions, and neurotransmitter synthesis pathway. Previou...
The folate cycle has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism due to its role in the glutathione oxidative stress pathway, amino acid and DNA methylation reactions, and neurotransmitter synthesis pathway. Previous research on folinic acid supplementation in autistic children has suggested potential benefits. The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine the safety, feasibility and efficacy of oral folinic acid in improving communication and behaviour in autistic children. Ten autistic children were recruited into an open-label pre-post treatment within-subjects design study. At T = 0, 12 and 24 weeks, participants underwent safety evaluations, standardized assessments of language, autism symptoms, adaptive skills and global illness severity, and eye-gaze tracking. During the control period (0-12 weeks), participants continued with standard care. In the treatment period (12-24 weeks), participants took oral folinic acid at 2 mg/kg/day. All 10 children (nine boys, one girl; aged 4-8 years), successfully consumed oral folinic acid supplements with no adverse events. There was a reduction in Pervasive Developmental Disorder Behavior Inventory (PDDBI) Autism Composite T-score with treatment (mean [SD] T-score 49.2 [8.89] pre-treatment, 44.6 [6.19] post-treatment, p = 0.103). Although this difference was not statistically significant due to the small sample size, the effect size was medium-large, indicating that, as a group, there were clinically meaningful changes in PDDBI T-scores. There were also trends towards gains in communication scores and overall Clinical Global Impression scores. Folinic acid is a safe and feasible potential treatment for autism, and results from this pilot justify the need for a larger placebo-controlled trial.
The effect of tactile stimulation on spatial memory and hippocampal neuronal density in male rats with sensory deprivation during a critical period.
Ozkan S, Oz P, Erdogan Y … +3 more , Akpinar M, Sahsahi A, Gecen Z
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39668289 · Publisher ↗
It is well known that sensory information driven from whiskers serves as an example of tactile perception in rodents, and plays an important role in social behavior, environmental exploration, and decision-making process...
It is well known that sensory information driven from whiskers serves as an example of tactile perception in rodents, and plays an important role in social behavior, environmental exploration, and decision-making processes, the influence of manipulations performed during the development of whiskers, on learning has been received little attention in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tactile stimulation (TS) on spatial memory performance and neuronal density in the hippocampus during adulthood in early sensory-deprived rats. Wistar albino male rats were divided into four groups: control (CTL), bilateral whisker trimming (BWT), tactile stimulation (TS), and bilateral whisker trimming+tactile stimulation (BWT + TS). All whiskers were trimmed between P0-10, a critical period for whisker development. TS was applied from P3 to P21 using a soft brush. In this study, the 8-arm radial maze test was conducted from postnatal days 77 to 81 to assess spatial memory Animals sacrificed by intracardial perfusion and neuronal density in CA1, CA3, vDG, and dDG regions of the hippocampus were evaluated by Nissl staining. TS exposure negatively affected spatial memory performance and hippocampal neuronal density compared to BWT. We conclude that TS in healthy offspring can cause stress by interrupting maternal care, given the vulnerability of early development. On the contrary, the sensory deprivation protocol in this study was terminated at a time of high homeostatic plasticity and did not produce complete whisker deprivation, have triggered learning by inducing moderate stress early in development.
Breaking boundaries: A systematic review of the application of non-invasive brain stimulation symptoms and sleep parameters in people with ADHD.
Dos Santos RM, Marinho V, de Araújo Val SN … +7 more , Teles AS, Sousa DL, do Vale Bastos VH, de Souza LP, de Sousa AKC, de Moraes GSF, Teixeira S
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39658854 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Studies of non-invasive treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can contribute in an alternative way to the symptoms treatment...
BACKGROUND: Studies of non-invasive treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can contribute in an alternative way to the symptoms treatment and changes in sleep patterns in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), due to some scientific evidence of action on cognition and clinical characteristics. AIM: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate studies of non-invasive brain stimulation using rTMS and tDCS on symptoms and sleep parameters in people with ADHD, in order to synthesize the main findings on intervention effects. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA protocol in the PubMed/Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, PEDro and Central-Cochrane library databases were initially carried out on 14 March 2024 and repeated until September 2024. Randomized clinical trials evaluating the effect of rTMS and tDCS on symptoms and changes in sleep pattern in people with ADHD were included. Primary outcomes were total severity of ADHD symptoms and sleep quality assessed by questionnaires and instrument measures. RESULTS: The review evidenced only positive findings in five studies for tDCS in some cognitive functions, ADHD symptoms and improvement in sleep parameters, being results with reduced efficacy due to the high heterogeneity in the experimental protocols. CONCLUSION: The findings show limited evidence; however, it is suggested that the combined use of non-invasive stimulation with other approaches, such as cognitive training, may improve the intervention effect. It is also important to consider limitations such as heterogeneity in clinical protocols, selection of participants with ADHD, including dosage and frequency. These factors should be explored in future research to optimize the application of these therapies.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a promising neuromarker which could predict psychomotor developmental impairment in children with unrepaired congenital heart defects.
Chiperi LE, Hagau AC, Tecar C … +2 more , Hutanu A, Muntean I
Int J Dev Neurosci · 2025 Feb · PMID 39658254 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to assess the predicting value of neuromarkers for psychomotor performances of congenital heart defect (CHD) patients before surgery, as until now the researchers only evaluated neu...
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to assess the predicting value of neuromarkers for psychomotor performances of congenital heart defect (CHD) patients before surgery, as until now the researchers only evaluated neuromarkers after the surgical treatment of the CHD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included children with CHD who did not receive treatment (interventional or cardiac surgery). Psychomotor development was evaluated using the Denver II Screening Test. Blood samples were collected for neuromarkers analysis: neuron-specific enolase (NSE), protein S100 (pS100), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). RESULTS: We enrolled 77 children. Patients with CHD experienced more frequent developmental delays compared to healthy children (12-34% in the non-cyanotic group and 26-74% in the cyanotic group). The association between type of CHD and psychomotor impairment was statistically significant (p < 0.0001, RR = 2.604, CI = 2.07-3.26). Neuromarkers value was compared between cyanotic and non-cyanotic groups: NSE and BDNF values were higher in the cyanotic group, respectively, pS100 and GFAP had slightly higher values in the non-cyanotic group. A correlation coefficient of 0.35 (p = 0.023) was obtained between psychomotor development and BDNF level. An AUC of 0.72 was obtained for psychomotor development and BDNF in ROC analysis with the cut-off value of 5895 pg/ml. CONCLUSION: BDNF is showing moderate discriminative ability in predicting psychomotor development outcomes in pediatric patients with CHD.
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