Table 1 Recommended assays for ASD-related changes in rodent models
| Levels of analysis | Specific assays |
|---|---|
| Molecular assays |
Focused biochemical and molecular assays directed at the targeted gene and pathway Unbiased proteomic and genome-wide gene expression analysis, with pathway and network analysis |
| Nervous system morphology assays |
Gross pathology Analyses of neuronal fate and neuronal migration including tract-tracing Assessment of neuronal morphology, dendritic and spine integrity, and synaptic morphology |
| Electrophysiological assays |
Use of evoked field potentials to assess basal synaptic properties, short-term plasticity, long-term plasticity, and analysis of seizure-like activity Patch-clamp recording for basic membrane properties, characterization of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channel currents, and assessment of spontaneous neurotransmission |
| Neurological assays |
General observations, spontaneous and elicited behaviors Assessment of grip strength, sensitivity to pain, gait, accelerating rotarod, acoustic startle, and prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle Analysis of seizure susceptibility |
| Higher-order behavioral assays |
Assessment of anxiety, open field/spontaneous locomotor behavior Analysis of social interaction/recognition, including ultrasonic vocalizations Assessment of learning and memory, including cued and contextual fear conditioning, Morris water maze, radial arm maze, and passive avoidance Recording of behavioral stereotypes |