The Endocannabinoid System and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights from Animal Models
1
Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio (VA), Italy
2
Zardi Gori Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1916; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091916
Received: 24 July 2017 / Revised: 22 August 2017 / Accepted: 4 September 2017 / Published: 7 September 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabinoid Signaling in Nervous System)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) defines a group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose symptoms include impaired communication and social interaction with restricted or repetitive motor movements, frequently associated with general cognitive deficits. Although it is among the most severe chronic childhood disorders in terms of prevalence, morbidity, and impact to the society, no effective treatment for ASD is yet available, possibly because its neurobiological basis is not clearly understood hence specific drugs have not yet been developed. The endocannabinoid (EC) system represents a major neuromodulatory system involved in the regulation of emotional responses, behavioral reactivity to context, and social interaction. Furthermore, the EC system is also affected in conditions often present in subsets of patients diagnosed with ASD, such as seizures, anxiety, intellectual disabilities, and sleep pattern disturbances. Despite the indirect evidence suggestive of an involvement of the EC system in ASD, only a few studies have specifically addressed the role of the EC system in the context of ASD. This review describes the available data on the investigation of the presence of alterations of the EC system as well as the effects of its pharmacological manipulations in animal models of ASD-like behaviors.
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Keywords:
endocannabinoid system; anandamide; cannabinoid type 1 receptor; autism spectrum disorder; animal models
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MDPI and ACS Style
Zamberletti, E.; Gabaglio, M.; Parolaro, D. The Endocannabinoid System and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights from Animal Models. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091916
AMA Style
Zamberletti E, Gabaglio M, Parolaro D. The Endocannabinoid System and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights from Animal Models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2017; 18(9):1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091916
Chicago/Turabian StyleZamberletti, Erica; Gabaglio, Marina; Parolaro, Daniela. 2017. "The Endocannabinoid System and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights from Animal Models" Int. J. Mol. Sci. 18, no. 9: 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091916
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