Palmitoylethanolamide counteracts autistic-like behaviours in BTBR T+tf/J mice: Contribution of central and peripheral mechanisms

Claudia Cristiano, Claudio Pirozzi, Lorena Coretti, Gina Cavaliere, Adriano Lama, Roberto Russo, Francesca Lembo, Maria Pina Mollica, Rosaria Meli, Antonio Calignano, Giuseppina Mattace Raso. Brain Behav Immun. 2018 Nov;74:166-175.

Laboratory studyOther animals

Design

Laboratory study

Subjects

BTBR T+tf/J mice, a strain with autistic-like behaviour

Dose used in the study

Not stated in the abstract

Duration

Not stated in the abstract

What was measured

Autistic-like behavioural phenotype, hippocampal BDNF signalling, mitochondrial function, inflammatory cytokines (hippocampus, serum, colon), gut permeability, colonic tight junctions and gut microbiota

What the authors reported

PEA reversed the altered behavioural phenotype of BTBR mice, an effect tied to PPARalpha activation. PEA restored hippocampal BDNF signalling, improved mitochondrial function, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines at hippocampal, serum and colonic levels, reduced gut permeability and changed gut microbiota composition.

Limits of this study

A mouse model of autistic-like behaviour; it cannot show effect in people with autism spectrum disorder. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.

Source

PubMed 30193877 · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2018.09.003

Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.