英國公布的一項(xiàng)針對小鼠的最新研究表明,，與自閉癥和精神分裂癥有關(guān)的基因，只活躍于大腦發(fā)育的早期階段,。
相關(guān)研究結(jié)果發(fā)表在美國《國家科學(xué)院學(xué)報(bào)》（Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.2013 Feb 11.）上,。
由英國牛津大學(xué)、倫敦國王學(xué)院和帝國理工學(xué)院的研究人員組成的聯(lián)合研究小組,，對小鼠大腦發(fā)育過程中的基因表達(dá)情況進(jìn)行了研究,，這一發(fā)育過程從15天的小鼠胚胎開始，一直到小鼠成年期結(jié)束,。結(jié)果研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，與自閉癥和精神分裂癥有關(guān)的基因，只會(huì)在小鼠大腦發(fā)育的特定階段才活躍于大腦的“基底板”（subplate）部位,。
“大部分自閉癥易感基因僅在小鼠大腦發(fā)育階段才會(huì)在大腦基底板部位表達(dá),，而多數(shù)基因只能在特定的大腦發(fā)育階段才會(huì)被發(fā)現(xiàn)，而隨后就很難再被確認(rèn),。”研究人員表示。
研究人員同時(shí)指出,，對于大腦皮層的發(fā)育是否會(huì)由于基因異?；颦h(huán)境壓力（如早產(chǎn)）而被破壞，進(jìn)而影響大腦發(fā)育并導(dǎo)致多動(dòng)癥和自閉癥等疾病,，學(xué)界長期以來一直未有定論,。而新研究對可能導(dǎo)致自閉癥和精神分裂癥的基因在小鼠大腦發(fā)育特定階段的活動(dòng)進(jìn)行了定義，表明大腦早期發(fā)育情況異常是引起這類神經(jīng)心理問題的重要原因之一,。而對于這類常見遺傳因素的了解,，則有助于科學(xué)家對大腦發(fā)育的整體研究更上一層樓。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1073/pnas.1220764110
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Expression profiling of mouse subplate reveals a dynamic gene network and disease association with autism and schizophrenia
Anna Hoerder-Suabedissena,1, Franziska M. Oeschgera, Michelle L. Krishnanb, T. Grant Belgarda,2, Wei Zhi Wanga, Sheena Leea, Caleb Webberc, Enrico Petrettod, A. David Edwardsb, and Zoltán Molnára,1
The subplate zone is a highly dynamic transient sector of the developing cerebral cortex that contains some of the earliest generated neurons and the first functional synapses of the cerebral cortex. Subplate cells have important functions in early establishment and maturation of thalamocortical connections, as well as in the development of inhibitory cortical circuits in sensory areas. So far no role has been identified for cells in the subplate in the mature brain and disease association of the subplate-specific genes has not been analyzed systematically. Here we present gene expression evidence for distinct roles of the mouse subplate across development as well as unique molecular markers to extend the repertoire of subplate labels. Performing systematic comparisons between different ages (embryonic days 15 and 18, postnatal day 8, and adult), we reveal the dynamic and constant features of the markers labeling subplate cells during embryonic and early postnatal development and in the adult. This can be visualized using the online database of subplate gene expression at https://molnar.dpag.ox.ac.uk/subplate/. We also identify embryonic similarities in gene expression between the ventricular zones, intermediate zone, and subplate, and distinct postnatal similarities between subplate, layer 5, and layers 2/3. The genes expressed in a subplate-specific manner at some point during development show a statistically significant enrichment for association with autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Our report emphasizes the importance of the study of transient features of the developing brain to better understand neurodevelopmental disorders.
