Testosterone interrupts binding of Neurexin and Neuroligin that are expressed in a highly socialized rodent, Octodon degus

Octodon degus is said to be one of the most human-like rodents because its improved cognitive function. Focusing on high sociality, we cloned and characterized some sociality-related genes degus, in order establish as a highly socialized animal model molecular biology. We Neurexin Neuroligin genes, which are genetically related autism spectrum disorder human. According our results, amino acid sequences expressed brain, conserved that human sequences. Most notably, Neuroligin4 similar Neuroligin4X, important autism-related whereas mouse known poorly Neuroligin4X. Furthermore, work also indicated testosterone directly binds intercepts intercellular Neurexin-Neuroligin binding. Moreover, it interest another key molecule higher incidence male. These results has potential for furthermore may promote understanding toward pathogenic mechanism autism.