Maternal and Paternal Infertility Disorders and Treatments and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development

AbstractHost-associated microbiotas normally guide the trajectory of intrinsically encoded developmental programs, and dysbiosis is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. Recent work suggests that microbiotas modulate social phenotypes associated with these disorders, though developmental mechanisms linking microbiotas to social behavior are not well understood. We discovered that the zebrafish microbiota is required for normal social behavior. Using this model to examine neuronal features modulated by the microbiota during early development, we found that the microbiota restrains neurite complexity and targeting of specific forebrain neurons required for normal social behavior. The microbiota is also required for normal forebrain infiltration of microglia, the brain’s resident phagocytes that remodel neuronal arbors, suggesting the microbiota modulates arborization via a neuro-immune route. Our work establishes a foundation for study of microbial and host mechanisms that link the microbiota and social behavior in an experimentally tractable model vertebrate.

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Autism spectrum disorder and birth spacing: Findings from the study to explore early development (SEED)

Autism Research ◽

10.1002/aur.1887 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 81-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Laura A. Schieve ◽

Lin H. Tian ◽

Carolyn Drews-Botsch ◽

Gayle C. Windham ◽

Craig Newschaffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Early Development ◽

Birth Spacing ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder

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Associations between parental broader autism phenotype and child autism spectrum disorder phenotype in the Study to Explore Early Development

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361317753563 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 436-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Eric Rubenstein ◽

Lisa D Wiggins ◽

Laura A Schieve ◽

Chyrise Bradley ◽

Carolyn DiGuiseppi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Developmental Delay ◽

Early Development ◽

Broader Autism Phenotype ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Motor Delay ◽

Motor Behaviors ◽

Repetitive Motor ◽

Autism Phenotype

The autism spectrum disorder phenotype varies by social and communication ability and co-occurring developmental, behavioral, and medical conditions. Etiology is also diverse, with myriad potential genetic origins and environmental risk factors. Examining the influence of parental broader autism phenotype—a set of sub-clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder—on child autism spectrum disorder phenotypes may help reduce heterogeneity in potential genetic predisposition for autism spectrum disorder. We assessed the associations between parental broader autism phenotype and child phenotype among children of age 30–68 months enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development (N = 707). Child autism spectrum disorder phenotype was defined by a replication of latent classes derived from multiple developmental and behavioral measures: Mild Language Delay with Cognitive Rigidity, Mild Language and Motor Delay with Dysregulation (e.g. anxiety/depression), General Developmental Delay, and Significant Developmental Delay with Repetitive Motor Behaviors. Scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale-Adult measured parent broader autism phenotype. Broader autism phenotype in at least one parent was associated with a child having increased odds of being classified as mild language and motor delay with dysregulation compared to significant developmental delay with repetitive motor behaviors (odds ratio: 2.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.16, 5.09). Children of parents with broader autism phenotype were more likely to have a phenotype qualitatively similar to broader autism phenotype presentation; this may have implications for etiologic research.

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Self-injurious behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361316689330 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 625-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gnakub Norbert Soke ◽

Steven A Rosenberg ◽

Cordelia Robinson Rosenberg ◽

Roma A Vasa ◽

Li-Ching Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Early Development ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Birth Certificates ◽

Future Research

We assessed potential factors associated with “current” or “ever” self-injurious behaviors, reported in the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised, among children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 692) from the Study to Explore Early Development. Data on factors examined were obtained from questionnaires, standardized clinical instruments, and birth certificates. We employed a log-binomial regression to assess these associations. Although most associations were quite similar for currently and ever exhibiting self-injurious behaviors, a few differences were noted. We documented previously unreported associations of current self-injurious behaviors with maternal age and cesarean delivery, and ever self-injurious behaviors with maternal age, child sex, gestational age, and maternal race. We also confirmed previously reported associations with adaptive skills, somatic conditions (sleep, gastrointestinal, and sensory abnormalities), and other behavioral problems. These findings are informative for clinical practice and future research.

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