AN ANIMAL-MODEL OF AUTISM - BEHAVIORAL-STUDIES IN THE GS GUINEA-PIG

Autism is a human behavioural pathology marked by major difficulties i n abnormal socialization, language comprehension and stereotypic motor patterns. These behavioural abnormalities have been associated with c orticocerebral and cerebellar abnormalities in autistic patients, part icularly in vermal folia VI and VII. Progress in understanding this di sease has been hindered by the absence of a non-primate animal model. GS guinea-pigs are a partially inbred, non-ataxic guinea-pig strain wi th cerebellar and corticocerebral abnormalities similar to those repor ted to exist in human patients with autism. In order to determine if G S guinea-pigs represent an animal model of autism, their behaviour was compared with that of Hartley strain guinea-pigs. GS animals learned a motor task significantly more rapidly than Hartley guinea-pigs, but performed it in a more stereotypic manner and were less influenced by environmental stimuli than Hartleys. GS animals exhibited significantl y less exploratory behaviour in a novel environment and were significa ntly less responsive to 50-95 dBA pure tones than Hartley guinea-pigs. In a social interaction assay, GS guinea-pigs interacted significantl y less frequently with each other or with Hartley guinea-pigs than Har tleys did under the same conditions. GS behaviour thus exhibits autist ic-like behaviour patterns: motor stereotypy, lack of exploration and response to environment and poor social interaction. Coupled with the neuropathological findings, this abnormal behaviour suggests that GS g uinea-pigs could be a useful animal model of autism.