Abstract of last year's article in Molecular Psychology

[Guest guest]

,

Have you read the information at _www.generationrescue.org_

(http://www.generationrescue.org) . This is a website developed by parents JB

& Handley.

There are lots of articles you can use for educating others.

Ann

[Guest guest]

I'm gathering articles and abstracts to post in hopes of helping

those that need the support of a doctor or healthcare professional.

There is not a doc for miles of us that knows how to treat autism.

I'm gathering info to present. If you have something, please post it

or you can email me privately. Thanks so much,

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M Hornig1, D Chian1 and W I Lipkin1,2

1Jerome L and Dawn Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department

of Epidemiology,

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY,

USA

2Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Columbia University College

of Physicians and

Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

Correspondence to: M Hornig, Jerome L and Dawn Greene Infectious

Disease Laboratory,

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia

University, 722

West 168th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10032 USA. E-mail:

mady.hornig@...

Received 2 February 2004; revised 29 April 2004; accepted 4 May 2004;

published online 8

June 2004

Abstract

The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to the neurotoxic hazard

posed by mercurials.

Host differences in maturation, metabolism, nutrition, sex, and

autoimmunity influence

outcomes. How population-based variability affects the safety of the

ethylmercury-containing

vaccine preservative, thimerosal, is unknown. Reported increases in

the prevalence of autism,

a highly heritable neuropsychiatric condition, are intensifying

public focus on environmental

exposures such as thimerosal. Immune profiles and family history in

autism are frequently

consistent with autoimmunity. We hypothesized that autoimmune

propensity influences

outcomes in mice following thimerosal challenges that mimic routine

childhood immunizations.

Autoimmune disease-sensitive SJL/J mice showed growth delay; reduced

locomotion;

exaggerated response to novelty; and densely packed, hyperchromic

hippocampal neurons

with altered glutamate receptors and transporters. Strains resistant

to autoimmunity,

C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ, were not susceptible. These findings implicate

genetic influences

and provide a model for investigating thimerosal-related

neurotoxicity.

Full copy is available at Molecular Psychology.