The amygdala is enlarged in children but not adolescents with autism; The hippocampus is enlarged at all ages
The amygdala is enlarged in children but not adolescents with autism; The hippocampus is enlarged at all ages
复制标题
DOI：
10.1523/jneurosci.1297-04.2004
复制
发表时间：
2004-07-14
影响因子：
5.3
通讯作者：
Amaral, DG
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Schumann, CM;Hamstra, J;Amaral, DG
自闭症是一种神经发育障碍，其特征是相互社会互动障碍，语言和非语言交流缺陷，以及活动或兴趣的限制。我们进行了一项磁共振成像研究，以更好地定义自闭症谱系障碍的神经病理学。在这里，我们报告杏仁核和海马形成的发现。研究人员确定了男性儿童（7.5 - 18.5岁）的杏仁核、海马体和大脑的边界，并测量了它们的体积，这些儿童被分为四个诊断组：有智力迟钝的自闭症、无智力迟钝的自闭症、阿斯伯格综合症和与年龄匹配的典型发育对照组。虽然两组之间的脑容量没有差异，但自闭症儿童（7.5 - 12.5岁）的左右杏仁核体积比对照组儿童大。青少年组（12.75 ~ 18.5岁）的杏仁核体积没有差异。有趣的是，在正常发育的儿童中，杏仁核的体积在7.5岁到18.5岁之间显著增加。因此，自闭症儿童的杏仁核最初更大，但不像正常发育的儿童那样经历与年龄相关的增长。患有自闭症的儿童，无论是否有智力障碍，其右侧海马体体积都比正常发育的对照组大，即使在控制了总脑容量之后也是如此。与对照组相比，患有自闭症但没有智力迟钝的儿童的左海马体积也更大。这些横断面研究结果表明，自闭症患者早期杏仁核发育异常，海马发育异常模式持续整个青春期。自闭症中杏仁核和海马异常的原因目前尚不清楚。
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in reciprocal social interaction, deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, and a restricted repertoire of activities or interests. We performed a magnetic resonance imaging study to better define the neuropathology of autistic spectrum disorders. Here we report findings on the amygdala and the hippocampal formation. Borders of the amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebrum were defined, and their volumes were measured in male children (7.5 - 18.5 years of age) in four diagnostic groups: autism with mental retardation, autism without mental retardation, Asperger syndrome, and age-matched typically developing controls. Although there were no differences between groups in terms of total cerebral volume, children with autism ( 7.5 - 12.5 years of age) had larger right and left amygdala volumes than control children. There were no differences in amygdala volume between the adolescent groups (12.75 - 18.5 years of age). Interestingly, the amygdala in typically developing children increases substantially in volume from 7.5 to 18.5 years of age. Thus, the amygdala in children with autism is initially larger, but does not undergo the age-related increase observed in typically developing children. Children with autism, with and without mental retardation, also had a larger right hippocampal volume than typically developing controls, even after controlling for total cerebral volume. Children with autism but without mental retardation also had a larger left hippocampal volume relative to controls. These cross-sectional findings indicate an abnormal program of early amygdala development in autism and an abnormal pattern of hippocampal development that persists through adolescence. The cause of amygdala and hippocampal abnormalities in autism is currently unknown.