AUTHOR=Gonçalves Ana Margarida , Sousa Nuno , Jacinto Luis , Monteiro Patricia 

TITLE=The Shank3-InsG3680(+/+) mouse model of autism spectrum disorder displays auditory avoidance in a novel behavioral test

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

VOLUME=17

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1205507

DOI=10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1205507

ISSN=1662-5153

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory alterations, with auditory hypersensitivity being one of the most commonly reported sensory–perceptual abnormalities. Several candidate genes for involvement in this disorder have emerged from patient studies, including <italic>SHANK3</italic>, a gene that encodes a protein (SHANK3) in the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Previous work has shown that mutant mice carrying a human ASD mutation in the <italic>Shank3</italic> gene (<italic>InsG3680</italic>) exhibit repetitive behaviors and social interaction deficits, indicating important construct and face validity for this genotype as an animal model of ASD.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>To further address whether these mice also present auditory sensory–perceptual alterations, we developed a novel behavioral test in which mice can choose between different soundscapes.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Our results reveal that, in comparison to wild-type mice, <italic>Shank3</italic> mutants display a strong behavioral preference toward silent regions of the arena.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>These data suggest that <italic>Shank3</italic>- mutant mice might express an auditory hypersensitivity phenotype, further adding to the face validity of this genotype as an animal model of ASD.</p></sec>