Whiskers are clipped in mice nearing 16 days of age, causing social impairment. This symptom is quite similar to autism in humans. The research by the Zhejiang University team found that 12-16 days after birth in mice is a critical period for the formation of brain circuits related to the whisker tactile system. Artificially cutting the whiskers means depriving mice of early tactile experience, which will lead to the formation of hippocampus in the adult brain of mice. Aberrant activation of the CA3 region leads to social impairment. The research team further found that early intervention with oxytocin could effectively reverse social impairment in adult mice. Clinically, this study provides new clues for understanding the pathogenesis of autism and early intervention methods. The research paper was published in the “Nature” sub-journal “Molecular Psychiatry”.
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