The study found that the Kampo formula Kami-shoyo-san (KSS) can ameliorate autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors in female mice.
In this research, ovariectomized female mice (six-week-old ICR breed) were given the Kampo formula Kami-shoyo-san (KSS) an hour before each behavioural test. The behavioural tests included the resident-intruder test to analyze sociability, the mirror chamber test for social anxiety-like behavior, and the open field test for self-grooming behavior. Brain ALLO content was measured using ELISA after the behavioral experiments. Further, the impact of ovariectomy on neuro-signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex and striatum was examined using Western blotting.
The study found that the ovariectomy led to deficiencies in sociability, alterations in social anxiety-related behavior, but not changes in repetitive self-grooming behavior. These behavioral changes were accompanied by a decrease in brain allopregnanolone levels and an impairment of complex neuro-signalling activity in the prefrontal cortex. The Kampo formula, however, was found to significantly ameliorate the behavioural and neurochemical changes wrought by the ovariectomy, but it did not affect the brain allopregnanolone level. The study therefore suggests that KSS could have potential therapeutic benefits for treating ASD-like symptoms in females.
