Little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate the development and expression of abnormal repetitive behaviors (e.g., stereotypies, rituals) in children with autism spectrum, and related neurodevelopmental, disorders. This lack of knowledge precludes effective early intervention and prevention strategies. We propose to build on the biochemical and pharmacological findings from our previous grant that support our hypothesis of reduced indirect basal ganglia pathway activity in animals that develop high levels of repetitive behavior. Thus, the overall goal of this project wil be to identify specific morphological and proteomic alterations that mediate the reduced indirect pathway activation associated with high rates of repetitive behavior. Specifically, we will identif alterations in dendritic morphology and protein expression that mediate reduced indirect pathway activation and development of persistent repetitive behavior (Aim #1). Next, we will test the hypothesis that experience dependent attenuation of the development of repetitive behavior will result in higher levels of indirect pathway activation, an outcome mediated by altered dendritic spine density and protein expression (Aim #2). Finally, we will test the hypothesis that exacerbation or attenuation of repetitive behavior by select pharmacological agents alters indirect pathway activity, an effect mediated by alteration of key proteins expressed in this pathway (Aim #3). Successful completion of these aims will provide new and important information about specific neurobiological mechanisms that mediate the development and expression of repetitive behavior and provide novel therapeutic targets for the development of efficacious pharmacotherapies.

Public Health Relevance

Little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate the development and expression of abnormal repetitive behaviors (e.g., stereotypies, rituals) in children with autism spectrum and related neurodevelopmental disorders. This lack of knowledge precludes effective early treatment and prevention strategies. This project will use an animal model to provide important, new information about the brain circuitry that underlies the development of repetitive behavior and what new drug treatments can be developed for these behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH080055-05
Application #
8727095
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Rossi, Andrew
Project Start
2007-04-01
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-08
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$359,505
Indirect Cost
$86,692
Name
University of Florida
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Wilkes, B J; Lewis, M H (2018) The neural circuitry of restricted repetitive behavior: Magnetic resonance imaging in neurodevelopmental disorders and animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 92:152-171
Whitehouse, Cristina M; Curry-Pochy, Lisa S; Shafer, Robin et al. (2017) Reversal learning in C58 mice: Modeling higher order repetitive behavior. Behav Brain Res 332:372-378
Bechard, Allison R; Bliznyuk, Nikolay; Lewis, Mark H (2017) The development of repetitive motor behaviors in deer mice: Effects of environmental enrichment, repeated testing, and differential mediation by indirect basal ganglia pathway activation. Dev Psychobiol 59:390-399
Bechard, Allison R; Lewis, Mark H (2016) Transgenerational effects of environmental enrichment on repetitive motor behavior development. Behav Brain Res 307:145-9
Bechard, Allison R; Cacodcar, Nadia; King, Michael A et al. (2016) How does environmental enrichment reduce repetitive motor behaviors? Neuronal activation and dendritic morphology in the indirect basal ganglia pathway of a mouse model. Behav Brain Res 299:122-31
Whitehouse, Cristina M; Lewis, Mark H (2015) Repetitive Behavior in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Clinical and Translational Findings. Behav Anal 38:163-178
Muehlmann, Amber M; Bliznyuk, Nikolay; Duerr, Isaac et al. (2015) Repetitive motor behavior: further characterization of development and temporal dynamics. Dev Psychobiol 57:201-11
Muehlmann, A M; Kies, S D; Turner, C A et al. (2012) Self-injurious behaviour: limbic dysregulation and stress effects in an animal model. J Intellect Disabil Res 56:490-500
Tanimura, Yoko; King, Michael A; Williams, Dustin K et al. (2011) Development of repetitive behavior in a mouse model: roles of indirect and striosomal basal ganglia pathways. Int J Dev Neurosci 29:461-7
Tanimura, Yoko; Yang, Mark C K; Ottens, Andrew K et al. (2010) Development and temporal organization of repetitive behavior in an animal model. Dev Psychobiol 52:813-24

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