Testosterone as a sex steroid hormone plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment. Autism is the most genetically based neurodevelopmental disorder, although the genetic basis of its manifestation is not understood. Different gene defects have been observed in different autistic cases, including the gene encoding reelin protein. It has a major role in neuronal migration and during prenatal development of neuronal connections. Autistic brain has been described as a hyper-masculine, because of high systemization and spatial cognitive abilities. High prenatal testosterone levels seem to result in masculinised brain anatomy and behavioural patterns. It was found that testosterone influences the expression of reelin in brains of male starlings. Thus it is possible that the linkage between testosterone levels and reelin mediated neuronal development exists also in mammals, including humans. Aims:

Our purpose was to reveal the possible relationship between testosterone levels and reelin expression and to explain one of the possible mechanisms of Autism pathogenesis.

Methods: 

Pregnant female rats were exposed to high testosterone doses during 2 weeks of pregnancy. In newborns, reelin expression was measured in blood and specific brain regions using Real Time PCR and Western Blot analysis. Outgrowth rats were tested for cognitive spatial visualization using Morris water maze tasks. Reelin expression was also evaluated.

Results and Conclusions: 

Reelin expression was measured in the brain and blood of newborn rats, where mother rats were treated with testosterone in comparison with control group treated with oil. Male and female rats were assessed separately. Results were statistically evaluated.