Translational Anatomy and Cell Biology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Anatomy and Cell Biology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Lessons from Human Genetics

   • Kristel T. E. Kleijer, Guillaume Huguet, Julie Tastet, Thomas Bourgeron, J. P. H. Burbach

   Pages 1-25

3. Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Humans

   • Christine Ecker, Michael J. Schmeisser, Eva Loth, Declan G. Murphy

   Pages 27-48

4. Modelling Autistic Neurons with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

   • Annie Kathuria, Carlo Sala, Chiara Verpelli, Jack Price

   Pages 49-64

5. Modelling Autistic Features in Mice Using Quantitative Genetic Approaches

   • Remco T. Molenhuis, Hilgo Bruining, Martien J. Kas

   Pages 65-84

6. Behavioural Phenotypes and Neural Circuit Dysfunctions in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

   • Allain-Thibeault Ferhat, Sonja Halbedl, Michael J. Schmeisser, Martien J. Kas, Thomas Bourgeron, Elodie Ey

   Pages 85-101

7. Cerebellar and Striatal Pathologies in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

   • Saša Peter, Chris I. De Zeeuw, Tobias M. Boeckers, Michael J. Schmeisser

   Pages 103-119

8. Neurotrophic Factors in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Focus on BDNF and IGF-1

   • Dominik Reim, Michael J. Schmeisser

   Pages 121-134

9. The Role of the Oxytocin/Arginine Vasopressin System in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

   • Rong Zhang, Xin-Jie Xu, Hong-Feng Zhang, Song-Ping Han, Ji-Sheng Han

   Pages 135-158

10. Extracerebral Dysfunction in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

    • Elisa L. Hill-Yardin, Sonja J. McKeown, Gaia Novarino, Andreas M. Grabrucker

    Pages 159-187

11. Genetic and Pharmacological Reversibility of Phenotypes in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

    • Jan C. Schroeder, Elena Deliu, Gaia Novarino, Michael J. Schmeisser

    Pages 189-211

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 % of the human population and is characterized by a core symptomatology including deficits in social interaction and repetitive patterns of behaviour plus various co-morbidities. Although a lot of progress has been made to uncover underlying causes and mechanisms throughout the last decade, we are still at the very beginning to understand this enormously complex neurodevelopmental condition. This special volume is focused on translational anatomy and cell biology of ASD. International experts from the field including several members of the EU-AIMS initiative launched by the European Union to develop novel treatments for ASD have contributed chapters on several topics covering all crucial aspects of translational ASD research with a special emphasis on ASD model systems including stem cells and animals. Primary objective is to clarify how anatomical and cell biological phenotypes of ASD will help to translate basic mechanisms to clinical practice and to efficiently treat affected individuals in the near future.

• autistic neurons
• behavioral phenotypes
• extracerebral mechanisms
• induced pluripotent stem cells
• neurotrophic factor pathways

• Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

  Michael J. Schmeisser, Tobias M. Boeckers

Prof. Michael J. Schmeisser, MD PhD

 Michael Schmeisser was born in 1983, went to medical school in Ulm, Boston, Glasgow and Basel and obtained both his MD and PhD degrees from Ulm University. He further specialized in anatomy and molecular neuroscience and was appointed full professor of Neuroanatomy at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg in 2017. Prof. Schmeisser’s translational research is related to molecular pathomechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. He is especially interested in understanding the impact of rare genetic disorders affecting the developing nervous system and the molecular interrelation between autism and intellectual disability.

 

Prof. Tobias M. Boeckers, MD

 Tobias Boeckers was born in 1964, went to medical school in Münster, Wellington and Seattle and obtained his MD degree from Münster University. He further specialized in anatomy and molecular neurobiology and was appointed full professor and director of the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology at Ulm University in 2003. During his postdoctoral time at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Madgeburg in the 90s, he discovered the SHANKs, a family of synaptic scaffolding proteins whose genetic disruptions later became most relevant for the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder.  Prof. Boeckers has a broad research focus on basic and translational neuroscience that includes the role of SHANK in both health and disease, molecular pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders and the neurobiology of trauma.

 

Policies and ethics