Effect of sulindac on improving autistic behaviors in rats
QIN Liyan
DAI Xufang
Abstract：Objective To test the effect of sulindac on autistic behaviors in a rat model and explore the possible mechanisms. Methods Autistic rat models were established by a single intraperitoneal injection of sodium valproate (VPA) at 12.5 days of pregnancy. The pregnant rats were treated with oral sulindac at a daily dose of 80 mg/kg until weaning of the newborn rats (23 days after being born), which were divided into control, VPA treatment, sulindac treatment, and VPA+ sulindac treatment groups. The social interaction and neuroethology of the newborn rats were evaluated at 35 days, and the levels of β-catenin and phosphorylated Gsk3βin the brain tissues were investigated by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control rats, the rats treated with VPA showed lower social interaction, longer moving time in central area, and reduced standing times. Treatment with sulindac alone resulted in no obvious changes in the social interaction or neuroethology of the newborn rats, but sulindac treatment corrected VPA-induced autistic-like behaviors. Sulindac also attenuated VPA-triggered p-Gsk3βdownregulation andβ-catenin upregulation in the prefrontal lobe, seahorse and cerebellum. Conclusion Sulindac can improve the behaviors of autistic rats possibly by suppressing Wnt signaling pathway.
Keywords：sulindacautismWnt signaling pathway
Publication Date：2015-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 1162-1165 )