The association between autism and errors in early embryogenesis: what is the causal mechanism?

Biological Psychiatry
Annemie PloegerFrietson Galis

Abstract

The association between embryonic errors and the development of autism has been recognized in the literature, but the mechanism underlying this association remains unknown. We propose that pleiotropic effects during a very early and specific stage of embryonic development-early organogenesis-can explain this association. In humans early organogenesis is an embryonic stage, spanning Day 20 to Day 40 after fertilization, which is characterized by intense interactivity among body parts of the embryo. This implies that a single mutation or environmental disturbance affecting development at this stage can have several phenotypic effects (i.e., pleiotropic effects). Disturbances during early organogenesis can lead to many different anomalies, including limb deformities, craniofacial malformations, brain pathology, and anomalies in other organs. We reviewed the literature and found ample evidence for the association between autism and different kinds of physical anomalies, which agrees with the hypothesis that pleiotropic effects are involved in the development of autism. The proposed mechanism integrates findings from a variety of studies on autism, including neurobiological studies and studies on physical anomalies and prenatal infl...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1977·Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia·H A Walker
Mar 1, 1977·Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia·S Chess
Nov 6, 1975·Anatomy and Embryology·R O'Rahilly, E Gardner
Jan 1, 1987·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Supplement·J M OpitzS Phillips
Jan 1, 1988·Anatomy and Embryology·F Müller, R O'Rahilly
Jan 1, 1988·Anatomy and Embryology·F Müller, R O'Rahilly
Apr 1, 1987·The Journal of Pediatrics·K A LeppigL B Holmes
May 1, 1985·Pediatric Neurology·A Sudarshan, W D Goldie
Jan 1, 1972·Zeitschrift Für Anatomie Und Entwicklungsgeschichte·R O'Rahilly, E C Muecke
Jan 1, 1973·Zeitschrift Für Anatomie Und Entwicklungsgeschichte·R O'Rahilly, E A Boyden
Jan 1, 1971·Acta Anatomica·R O'Rahilly
Jan 1, 1971·Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia·S Chess
Jul 7, 2000·Journal of Medical Genetics·S J MooreJ C Dean
Aug 2, 2001·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·F Galis, J A Metz
Jul 19, 2002·Journal of Cellular Physiology·Benjamin Tycko, Ian M Morison
Sep 28, 2002·Development and Psychopathology·Patricia M Rodier
Oct 3, 2002·American Journal of Medical Genetics·Leslie G Biesecker
Oct 9, 2002·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·M GhaziuddinN Ghaziuddin
Apr 18, 2003·Lancet·Nancy J Roizen, David Patterson
May 10, 2003·Lancet·R M ReynoldsI W Campbell
Jun 14, 2003·Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria·José Marcelino BandimAna Elizabeth Santos Costa
Oct 11, 2003·Lancet·Fred R Volkmar, David Pauls
May 20, 2004·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part a·A VogelsJ P Fryns
Mar 8, 2005·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Tara L ArndtPatricia M Rodier
Mar 8, 2005·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Marilyn T MillerChristopher Gillberg
Apr 12, 2005·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·William DaviesLawrence S Wilkinson
Jun 21, 2005·Clinical Pediatrics·Jeannie VisootsakJohn M Graham
Apr 28, 2006·Journal of Anatomy·Fabiola Müller, Ronan O'Rahilly
May 17, 2006·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·Megan L WierLisa A Croen
Jul 18, 2006·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Ovsanna T LeyferJanet E Lainhart
Aug 16, 2006·Archives of Neurology·Yuemang YaoDomenico Praticò
Aug 26, 2006·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Roberto Canitano
Sep 26, 2006·Biological Psychiatry·Abha R Gupta, Matthew W State
Sep 29, 2006·The New England Journal of Medicine·Peter B CrinoElizabeth Petri Henske
Nov 7, 2006·Brain & Development·Dimitrios I ZafeiriouEuthymia Vargiami
Dec 16, 2006·The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques·Asif Doja, Wendy Roberts
Jan 24, 2007·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·Nahit Motavalli MukaddesSamuray Tuncer
Feb 1, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Frietson GalisLiliane C D Wijnaendts
May 24, 2007·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Urs MeyerJoram Feldon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 2, 2011·Journal of Neural Transmission·Jean C ShihKevin Chen
Nov 18, 2010·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Katja M LampiAndre Sourander
Oct 15, 2014·Nature Reviews. Neurology·Irene KnueselEric P Prinssen
Jan 1, 2011·Emerging Health Threats Journal·Rodney R DietertJamie C Dewitt
Jan 15, 2016·ACS Chemical Neuroscience·Juan C VelasquezAlexandre Bonnin
Jan 5, 2011·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Diane Dufour-RainfrayChristian R Andres
Jul 1, 2011·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Annemie Ploeger, Frietson Galis
Sep 10, 2014·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·Laura Timonen-SoivioAndre Sourander
Feb 1, 2014·Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences·Luis E F AlmeidaBruce K Krueger
Feb 20, 2015·Neuron·Yun C YungJerold Chun
Dec 18, 2013·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Nouchine HadjikhaniEric Lemonnier
Dec 6, 2019·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Emanuela BalestrieriPaola Sinibaldi Vallebona
Jun 23, 2020·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Lin H TianStuart K Shapira
Aug 19, 2020·Developmental Neuroscience·Devahuti ChalihaJohn Mamo

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Birth Defects

Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.

Autism: Treatment Targets

The absence of effective treatments for autism are due to the high clinical and genetic heterogeneity between affected individuals, restricted knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and the lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. Identification of more homogenous biological subgroups is therefore essential for the development of novel treatments based on the molecular mechanisms underpinning autism and autism spectrum disorders. Find the latest research on autism treatment targets here.

Absence Epilepsy

Absence epilepsy is a common seizure disorder in children which can produce chronic psychosocial sequelae. Discover the latest research on absence epilepsies here.

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues. Here is the latest research on autism.

Related Papers

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience
Tara L ArndtP M Rodier
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Tomasz Schneider, Ryszard Przewłocki
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved