Fig. 1: Endophenotypes of autistic-like and dementia-like symptoms in MPS-IIIA mice. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Endophenotypes of autistic-like and dementia-like symptoms in MPS-IIIA mice.

From: Altered heparan sulfate metabolism during development triggers dopamine-dependent autistic-behaviours in models of lysosomal storage disorders

Fig. 1

a Representative scheme of the open field arena and walking pattern track plots are shown. aʹ, aʺ At 2 months of age, MPS-IIIA (light blue bars) were hyperactive as they showed increases in both the distance travelled and maximum speed, compared to age-matched WT mice. At 8 months of age, MPS-IIIA mice (dark blue bars) were hypoactive as they showed decreases in both the distance travelled and maximum speed, compared to age-matched WT mice. b, bʹ 2-month-old MPS-IIIA showed many stereotyped behaviours including self-grooming and rearing and (c) displayed strongly impaired social behaviour as evidenced by a higher percentage of retreats when confronted with a WT in the dominance tube test and (cʹ) decreased sociability index in the social novelty preference task. Contrarily (b-bʹ) no differences were detected in stereotyped behaviour and (c-cʹ) in social behaviour in 8-month-old mice compared to WT littermates. d, e No significant differences were found in the hanging wire and the fear conditioning test between 2-month-old WT and MPS-IIIA mice. However, 8-month-old MPS-IIIA manifested (d) neuromuscular impairment in the hanging wire test and (e) memory impairment as shown by reduced percentage of freezing time during the contextual fear conditioning test. Histograms represent mean ± S.E.M. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs WT age-matched, between groups; #p < 0.05, vs MPS-IIIA, within group.

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