Autism: Birth hormone may control expression of the syndrome in animals

ScienceDaily.com ^ | 02/06/2014 | ScienceDaily

[aimhigh]

In an article published in Science, the researchers demonstrate that chloride levels are elevated in the neurons of mice used in an animal model of autism, and remain at abnormal levels from birth. These results corroborate the success obtained with the diuretic treatment tested on autistic children by the researchers and clinicians in 2012, and suggest that administration of diuretics to mice before birth corrects the deficits in the offspring. They also show that oxytocin, the birth hormone, brings about a decrease in chloride level during birth, which controls the expression of the autistic syndrome. . . . .

A drug that blocks the signals generated by oxytocin was injected into pregnant mice. The researchers evaluated the effects of this blockage on the offspring, and showed that it reproduced the entire autism-like syndrome in them, both with respect to the electrical and behavioural aspects (identical to the two animal models of autism). As a result, the hormone's natural actions, just like those of the diuretic, are crucial to this delicate phase, and may control the pathogenesis of autism via the cellular chloride levels.

[aimhigh]

Makes me wonder if birth control pills are the cause of the increased rates of autism. From another website: "Women who take oral contraceptive pills (birth control pills) will have disrupted oxytocin levels."

[beebuster2000]

interesting post, thanks

[informavoracious]

Hmmm, they are also doing additional studies on scheduled C-section births, in which oxytocin is not released as part of the labor process. It would also be interesting to see if there is any reduction in autism on kids whose mothers' labors were induced with oxytocin.

I am sure the ubiquitous use of birth control is having a number of effects on health. But because of politics, we will never get the full story on them.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Anecdotally, I can “see” this in women I know...autistic sons of mothers who delayed starting their families til later and had trouble getting/staying pregnant after years of being on the pill.

It would be fascinating to see more research along these lines, but I think big pharma and big govt would NOT permit ANY negative reports on BC.

[Egon]

Ping.

[kruss3]

Autopsies on autistic children who have drowned reveal that ASD children have enlarged brains and are born with 67% more brain cells than normals (absence of normal neuronal “pruning”). It seems likely that this process for autism is well established in utero before the chloride issue is significant. It is believed by some scientists to be related to a vitamin d deficiency (latitude effect).

[heartwood]

Anecdotally - my oldest child is on the autistic spectrum. I never took oral contraceptives, had him when I was 26, had natural child birth, and was absolutely dazed with oxytocin during labor and the two years I nursed him.

I am curious, how he would respond to oxytocin now - he is an adult.

[Wuli]

a good report, thanks

[Orgiveme]

I would point everyone to a June 1991 British Lancet article about a four-hospital based study out of Japan that implicates synthetic oxytocin in high rates of autism. Jacque Pansepp (sp?), with Bernie Rimland’s group, has studied that implication, as well, and the suggestion is that the synthetic item prevents the natural substance from doing its job; in our own experience with our four children and those birth outcomes, we would have to concur with that model.