Dataset Information

Embryonic Exposure to Valproic Acid Affects Social Predispositions for Dynamic Cues of Animate Motion in Newly-Hatched Chicks.

ABSTRACT: Early predispositions to preferentially orient toward cues associated with social partners have been documented in several vertebrate species including human neonates and domestic chicks. Human newborns at high familiar risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show differences in their attention toward these predisposed stimuli, suggesting potential impairments in the social-orienting mechanisms in ASD. Using embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA) we modeled ASD behavioral deficits in domestic chicks. To investigate social predispositions toward animate motion in domestic chicks, we focused on self-propulsion, using two video-animations representing a simple red circle moving at constant speed (speed-constant) or one that was changing its speed (accelerating and decelerating; speed-change). Using a spontaneous choice test for the two stimuli, we compared spontaneous preferences for stimuli that autonomously change speed between VPA- and vehicle-injected chicks. We found that the preference for speed changes was abolished in VPA-injected chicks compared to vehicle-injected controls. These results add to previous findings indicating similar impairments for static social stimuli and suggest a specific effect of VPA on the development of mechanisms that enhance orienting toward animate stimuli. These findings strengthen the hypothesis of an early impairment of predispositions in the early development of ASD. Hence, early predispositions are a potentially useful tool to detect early ASD symptoms in human neonates and to investigate the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the onset of this neurodevelopmental disorder.

SUBMITTER: Lorenzi E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6503819 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Embryonic Exposure to Valproic Acid Affects Social Predispositions for Dynamic Cues of Animate Motion in Newly-Hatched Chicks.

Lorenzi Elena E Pross Alessandra A Rosa-Salva Orsola O Versace Elisabetta E Sgadò Paola P Vallortigara Giorgio G

Frontiers in physiology 20190430

Early predispositions to preferentially orient toward cues associated with social partners have been documented in several vertebrate species including human neonates and domestic chicks. Human newborns at high familiar risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show differences in their attention toward these predisposed stimuli, suggesting potential impairments in the social-orienting mechanisms in ASD. Using embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA) we modeled ASD behavioral deficits in domestic ...[more]

PMID: 31114510

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Project description:The first third of incubation is critical for embryonic development, and environmental changes during this phase can affect the physiology and survival of the embryos. We evaluated the effects of low (LT), control (CT), and high (HT) temperatures during the first 5 days of incubation on ventilation ( V. E ), body temperature (Tb), oxygen consumption ( V. O2), respiratory equivalent ( V. E / V. O2), and brain monoamines on 3-days-old (3d) and 14-days-old (14d) male and female chickens. The body mass of LT animals of both ages and sexes was higher compared to HT and CT animals (except for 3d males). The heart mass of 14d HT animals was higher than that of CT animals. Thermal manipulation did not affect V. E , V. O2 or V. E / V. O2 of 3d animals in normoxia, except for 3d LT males V. E , which was lower than CT. Regarding 14d animals, the HT females showed a decrease in V. E and V. O2 compared to CT and LT groups, while the HT males displayed a lower V. O2 compared to CT males, but no changes in V. E / V. O2. Both sexes of 14d HT chickens presented a greater Tb compared to CT animals. Thermal manipulations increased the dopamine turnover in the brainstem of 3d females. No differences were observed in ventilatory and metabolic parameters in the 3d animals of either sexes, and 14d males under 7% CO2. The hypercapnic hyperventilation was attenuated in the 14d HT females due to changes in V. O2, without alterations in V. E . The 14d LT males showed a lower V. E , during hypercapnia, compared to CT, without changes in V. O2, resulting in an attenuation in V. E / V. O2. During hypoxia, 3d LT females showed an attenuated hyperventilation, modulated by a higher V. O2. In 14d LT and HT females, the increase in V. E was greater and the hypometabolic response was attenuated, compared to CT females, which resulted in no change in the V. E / V. O2. In conclusion, thermal manipulations affect hypercapnia-induced hyperventilation more so than hypoxic challenge, and at both ages, females are more affected by thermal manipulation than males.

Dataset Information

Embryonic Exposure to Valproic Acid Affects Social Predispositions for Dynamic Cues of Animate Motion in Newly-Hatched Chicks.

Publications

Embryonic Exposure to Valproic Acid Affects Social Predispositions for Dynamic Cues of Animate Motion in Newly-Hatched Chicks.

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