Is birth a critical period in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders?
review · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 26152864.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/nrn3956.
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Abstract
Birth is associated with a neuroprotective, oxytocin-mediated abrupt excitatory-to-inhibitory GABA shift that is abolished in autism, and its restoration attenuates the disorder in offspring. In this Opinion article, I discuss the links between birth-related stressful mechanisms, persistent excitatory GABA actions, perturbed network oscillations and autism. I propose that birth (parturition) is a critical period that confirms, attenuates or aggravates the deleterious effects of intrauterine genetic or environmental insults.
Medical subject headings
- Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
- Parturition