Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Application of Chronic Stimulation to Study Contractile Activity-induced Rat Skeletal Muscle Phenotypic Adaptations
09:50

Application of Chronic Stimulation to Study Contractile Activity-induced Rat Skeletal Muscle Phenotypic Adaptations

Published on: January 25, 2018

7.1K

Selective modulator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α protects propionic acid induced autism-like

Roohi Mirza1, Bhupesh Sharma2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India.

Life Sciences
|October 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Fenofibrate, a PPAR-α modulator, improved autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in rats by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. This study suggests fenofibrate

Area of Science:

  • Neuropharmacology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders Research
  • Animal Models of Neurological Disorders

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • Propionic acid administration in Wistar rats induces autism-related neurobehavioral and neurobiochemical alterations.
  • Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) plays a role in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuropharmacological effects of fenofibrate, a PPAR-α modulator, on a rat model of ASD.
  • To assess fenofibrate's impact on social behavior, repetitive actions, locomotor activity, anxiety, and exploratory behavior.
  • To evaluate fenofibrate's influence on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation markers in key brain regions.

Main Methods:

  • ASD-like phenotype induced in Wistar rats via postnatal propionic acid administration.
  • Treatment with fenofibrate (100 and 200 mg/kg) administered orally from postnatal day 24 to 48.
  • Assessment of neurobehavioral parameters (social interaction, repetitive behavior, locomotion, anxiety, exploration) and biochemical markers (oxidative stress, neuroinflammation) in specific brain regions.

Main Results:

  • Propionic acid-induced rats exhibited social deficits, repetitive behaviors, hyperactivity, anxiety, and reduced exploration.
  • Elevated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation (increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines) were observed in propionic acid-treated rats.
  • Fenofibrate treatment significantly ameliorated the behavioral deficits and reduced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Fenofibrate demonstrates significant neurobehavioral and neurobiochemical benefits in a rat model of ASD.
  • PPAR-α agonism by fenofibrate may offer a therapeutic avenue for managing ASD-related symptoms.
  • Further research is warranted to explore fenofibrate's potential clinical application in individuals with ASD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderFenofibrateNeuroinflammationOxidative stressPPAR-alphaPropionic acid

More Related Videos

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission07:16

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission

Published on: August 16, 2018

14.3K
Imaging of Estrogen Receptor-α in Rat Pial Arterioles using a Digital Immunofluorescent Microscope07:42

Imaging of Estrogen Receptor-α in Rat Pial Arterioles using a Digital Immunofluorescent Microscope

Published on: November 29, 2011

12.8K

Related Concept Videos

Peroxisomes and Mitochondria01:30

Peroxisomes and Mitochondria

Peroxisomes and mitochondria are two important oxygen-utilizing organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration—the process that converts energy from food into ATP. Peroxisomes carry out a variety of functions, primarily breaking down different substances, such as fatty acids.
The peroxisome is a single membrane-bound cellular organelle that can perform several different functions, including lipid metabolism and chemical detoxification. The enzymes within...
95.6K
Peroxisomes01:24

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes are specialized organelles present in fungi, plant, and animal cells. It can vary in number, size, morphology, and activity depending on the type of tissue and the nutritional state of the cell. For example, cells with active lipid metabolism, such as adipocytes, neurons, and hepatocytes, have more peroxisomes than other cells in the body. Besides their primary role in breaking down complex organic molecules, peroxisomes can also synthesize specific macromolecules and participate in...
21.1K
Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.7K
Acid-Catalyzed α-Halogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones01:21

Acid-Catalyzed α-Halogenation of Aldehydes and Ketones

By replacing an α-hydrogen with a halogen, acid-catalyzed α-halogenation of aldehydes or ketones yields a monohalogenated product
In the first step of the mechanism, the acid protonates the carbonyl oxygen resulting in a resonance-stabilized cation, which subsequently loses an α-hydrogen to form an enol tautomer. The C=C bond in an enol is highly nucleophilic because of the electron-donating nature of the –OH group. Consequently, the double bond attacks an electrophilic halogen to form a...
4.9K
α-Halogenation of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Overview01:14

α-Halogenation of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Overview

Unlike aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids do not readily participate in α halogenation reactions via enols or enolate intermediates. However, α-halogenated acids are obtained through other methods. One of the approaches is the Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky (HVZ) reaction, wherein the carboxylic acid is treated with halogen in the presence of PBr3. It involves the conversion of acid to acid halide, which exists in equilibrium with its enol form. The enol attacks the...
4.1K
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
16.1K