Autism-Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Tool for the Study of Mouse Models of Autism

Jacob Ellegood*, R. Mark Henkelman and Jason P. Lerch

Autism is a heterogeneous disorder, in both its behaviour and genetics. This heterogeneity has led to inconsistencies in the neuroanatomical findings in human autistic patients. The benefit of a model system, such as the mouse, is that there could be a decrease in the heterogeneity of the genetics and standardization of the environment could be done, in order to determine a specific anatomical phenotype, which is representative of a specific genotype. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been used quite extensively to examine morphological changes in the mouse brain; however, examining volume and tissue microstructure changes in mouse models of autism with MRI, is just in its infancy. This review will discuss the current research on anatomical phenotyping in mouse models of autism.