Mice lacking CNTNAP2 exhibit robust autism-like behavioral traits, including stereotyped behaviors and excessive self-grooming. By using high resolution morpho-anatomical imaging in CNTNAP2 mutant mice, we identified marked volumetric alterations subcortical substrates implicated in ASD motor stereotypy, with a prominent involvement of the dorsal striatum. Importantly, we also show that in mutant mice, striatal but not cortical regions, exhibit dramatically expanded gray matter network extension, encompassing aberrant trophic interaction between limbic, subcortical and prefrontal regions. The observed striatal volumetric and gray matter network abnormalities serve as a plausible morpho-anatomical substrate for some of the stereotypy exhibited by CNTNAP2 mutant mice.
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