GABA_A receptor availability is not altered in adults with autism spectrum disorder or in mouse models

Preliminary studies have suggested that γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptors, and potentially the GABA_A α5 subtype, are deficient in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, prior studies have been confounded by the effects of medications, and these studies did not compare findings across different species. We measured both total GABA_A and GABA_A α5 receptor availability in two positron emission tomography imaging studies. We used the tracer [¹¹C]flumazenil in 15 adults with ASD and in 15 control individuals without ASD and the tracer [¹¹C]Ro15-4513 in 12 adults with ASD and in 16 control individuals without ASD. All participants were free of medications. We also performed autoradiography, using the same tracers, in three mouse models of ASD: the Cntnap2 knockout mouse, the Shank3 knockout mouse, and mice carrying a 16p11.2 deletion. We found no differences in GABA_A receptor or GABA_A α5 subunit availability in any brain region of adults with ASD compared to those without ASD. There were no differences in GABA_A receptor or GABA_A α5 subunit availability in any of the three mouse models. However, adults with ASD did display altered performance on a GABA-sensitive perceptual task. Our data suggest that GABA_A receptor availability may be normal in adults with ASD, although GABA signaling may be functionally impaired.