Figure 1. Correction of the Core Behavioral Features of the Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

(A) Social Preference. MIA males had a 54% decrease in social preference compared to controls (PIC-Sal 12.5+/−4.2% vs Sal-Sal 27.6+/−2.6%; one-way ANOVA F(3,42) = 3.74; with Newman-Keuls post-hoc testing; n = 9–15 males per group; age = 10-weeks; p<0.02). This was corrected by suramin treatment (PIC-Sur 28.1% vs Sal-Sal 27.6%; p = ns). (B) Social Preference as the time spent with stranger mouse vs. inanimate cup from 0–5 minutes. Analyzed by 2-Way ANOVA with Bonferroni pair-wise post testing (*p<0.05; ***p<0.001; ****p<0.0001). Treatment with suramin had little effect on normal behavior (Sal-Sal vs Sal-Sur), but a strong effect in improving social behavior in the MIA group (PIC-Sal vs. PIC-Sur). Zone x treatment interaction F(3,43) = 3.72; p<0.05; n = 9–15 males per group; age = 10-weeks. (C) Rotarod Training Curves. MIA (PIC-Sal) animals displayed deficits that were corrected by suramin treatment. Analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post testing: Sal-Sal vs. PIC-Sal q = 6.749, p<0.01; PIC-Sal vs PIC-Sur q = 11.13, p<0.001; n = 9–16 males per group; age = 11-weeks. (D) Rotarod Sensorimotor Coordination. MIA animals had a 28% decrease in sensorimotor coordination as measured by latency to fall by rotarod testing (PIC-Sal = 17.7+/−1.6 sec vs Sal-Sal = 24.5+/−2.2 sec; one-way ANOVA F(3,46) = 7.08; n = 9–16 males per group; age = 11-weeks; p<0.001). This was corrected by suramin treatment (PIC-Sur 27.2+/−1.6 sec vs Sal-Sal 24.5+/−2.2 sec; p = ns). Values are expressed as mean +/− SEM.