Research Reports on Autism Spectrum Disorders from Hangzhou Normal University Provide New Insights (Cholecystokinin upregulation in mPFC leads to social defeat-induced anxiety susceptibility in neuroligin 3 R451C knockin mice).

This article focuses on research investigating the role of dysregulated cholecystokinin (CCK) signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as a neurobiological mechanism underlying stress-induced anxiety susceptibility in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using Neuroligin 3 R451C knockin mice, a genetic model of ASD, the study found that CCK-expressing excitatory neurons in the mPFC remain abnormally elevated into adulthood, correlating with heightened anxiety responses to social defeat stress. Functional experiments demonstrated that reducing CCK expression in these neurons alleviated anxiety-like behaviors, while increasing CCK induced anxiety in typical mice. The research highlights CCK dysregulation in the mPFC as a potential contributor to anxiety comorbidity in ASD, though findings are limited to male mice and warrant further study in females. [Extracted from the article]