Regional Alterations in Purkinje Cell Density in Patients with Autism

摘要: Neuropathological studies, using a variety of techniques, have reported decrease in Purkinje cell (PC) density the cerebellum autism. We used systematic sampling technique that significantly reduces experimenter bias and variance to estimate PC densities postmortem brains eight clinically well-documented individuals with autism, age- gender-matched controls. Four cerebellar regions were analyzed: sensorimotor area comprised hemispheric lobules IV–VI, crus I & II posterior lobe, lobule X flocculonodular lobe. Overall was thus estimated data from all three lobes found be lower cases autism as compared controls, an effect most prominent (p<0.05). Lobule demonstrated trend towards only males (p = 0.05). Brain weight, correlate tissue volume, contribute observed but not finding II. Therefore, is more likely due number PCs. The ADI-R measure patient's use social eye contact (R2 −0.75, p 0.012). These findings support hypothesis abnormal may selected clinical features phenotype.