MODELLING THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS BY EARLY SOCIAL ISOLATION IN RATS
Objective. To create a rat autism model by means of rearing in conditions of social isolation and experimental assessment of effects of neuroleptic triphtazine 0.35 mg/kg on motor and explorative activity, anxiety, social interactions and cognitive function of rats in this model. Methods.The tests of open field, elevated plus maze, resident-intruder and conditioned passive avoidance task were chosen to study behavioral responses. The rats were subsequently tested on 49-50<sup>th</sup>, 59<sup>th</sup> and 69<sup>th</sup> days of life. Results. The syndrome of attention deficit with hyperactivity was shown to develop in juvenal rats (2 months) if they were rearing in conditions of full social isolation from relatives and partial sensory isolation from 17<sup>th</sup> day of their life. The syndrome was characterized by motor hyperactivity, decreased explorative activity, appearance of anxiety elements, depression, aggression and cognitive deficit. This background was a control for assessment of psychopharmacological action of the drugs studied. The chronic administration of triphtazine (0.35 mg/kg, 3 cycles) did not change significantly motor behavior of rats but depressed all forms of explorative behavior and disinhibited grooming reactions and emotions as well as disordered passive avoidance response storage. The prolongation of administration of triphtazine disinhibited motor reactions and facilitated habituation phenomenon in advance. Conclusion. The results can be useful for development of drugs to treat the syndrome of attention deficit with hyperactivity and disorders of autistic spectrum.