Neurocenter of Ulm University

upcoming seminar in the neurozentrum:

dear friends, we are in the process of updating and overhauling the neurozentrum ulm! We are soon going to have a new logo, a new website and several initiatives for all members and participants. The annual meeting is going to be reinstated from this year (last week of november or first week of december)!

NCU associated Researchers: New Autism associated gene characterized

The Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, headed by Professor Tobias Böckers has published as study in advance on the website of the highly renowned journal "Nature". For the research paper "Autistic-like behaviors and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2", the researchers have genetically modified mice to knockout ProSAP1/Shank2. Prior to the current study, some of the scientists involved have shown that mutations in the ProSAP1/Shank2 gene in humans lead to autism.
Animals with the gene mutation are hyperactive and show repetitive behavior such as grooming. In behavioral experiments also abnormalities in social interaction and communication are visible. Also in the brains of the mice, the researchers found changes: The density of dendritic spines is substantially less compared to wild type mice. "Electrophysiological measurements show a noticeable change in signal transmission, "says Tobias Böckers, director of the Ulm Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Read more:
http://www.neurozentrum-ulm.de/Neurozentrum_Ulm/NEWS/Entries/2012/4/30_Neues_Autismus-Gen_charakterisiert.html