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Fig. 1 | Molecular Autism

Fig. 1

From: Testing the excitation/inhibition imbalance hypothesis in a mouse model of the autism spectrum disorder: in vivo neurospectroscopy and molecular evidence for regional phenotypes

Fig. 1

Nf1 +/− mutation induces imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory systems. Localization of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) voxel (blue square) in the hippocampus (HIP; a), prefrontal cortex (PFC; c), and striatum (STR; e) of representative Nf1 +/− mice. GABA and glutamate levels in hippocampus (b), prefrontal cortex (d), and striatum (f) of wild-type (black circle) and Nf1 +/− (gray circle) mice. MRS measurements revealed that hippocampal GABA and glutamate concentration are decreased (b) as well as striatal levels of glutamate (f). However, no changes are found in Nf1 +/− prefrontal cortex (d). The analyses indicated an upregulation of the GABA/glutamate ratio in mutant prefrontal cortex and striatum (g). Graphs depict individual values, mean, and standard error (n = 12–14). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, statistical significance using the Mann-Whitney’s test

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