Objective To test the expression of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) related receptors and the metabolic enzymes in the hippocampus of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) model rats, and to explore the correlation between NAEs signals and ASD, so as to provide new insight for the etiological study of ASD. Methods ASD model rats induced by sodium valproate (VPA) were studied for growth, development and behavioral tests. Western Blot and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of NAEs-related receptors, namely endocannabinoid receptor (CB1R and CB2R), and their metabolic enzymes, namely N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Results The results of self-grooming experiment, three-box experiment and water maze experiment showed that VPA rats had repetitive behavior patterns, social interaction dysfunction, and learning and memory dysfunction. Western Blot results revealed there were significant differences between VPA and control rats on CB1R and FAAH protein expressions in hippocampus (t=3.033, 2.865, P＜0.05), however the difference on CB2R and NAPE-PLD was not found (t=1.034, 0.290, P＞0.05). The significant differences in mRNA expression levels of CB1R, CB2R, FAAH and NAPE-PLD were not found in the hippocampus between two groups (t=2.239, 0.747, 0.748, 0.012, P＞0.05). Conclusion The protein expression levels of NAEs-related receptor and metabolic enzyme in hippocampus of ASD model rats are up-regulated, suggesting that low NAEs signal may be associated with the pathogenesis of ASD.
Key words
autism spectrum disorder /
valiproic acid /
N-acylethanolamines /
protein expression /
mRNA expression
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