Altered Extended Locus Coeruleus and Ventral Tegmental Area Networks in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resting-State Functional Connectivity Study

• Main Authors: Huang Y, Yu S, Wilson G, Park J, Cheng M, Kong X, Lu T, Kong J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-04-01
• Series: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
• Subjects: autism spectrum disorder; locus coeruleus; ventral tegmental area; norepinephrine; dopamine; functional connectivity
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/altered-extended-locus-coeruleus-and-ventral-tegmental-area-networks-i-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDT

Yiting Huang,1,2 Siyi Yu,2 Georgia Wilson,2 Joel Park,2 Ming Cheng,2 Xuejun Kong,3 Tao Lu,1 Jian Kong2 1School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 3Martino Imaging Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Tao LuSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 East Road, North 3rd Ring Road, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail] KongDepartment of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 120 2nd Ave, Room 101C, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USAEmail [e-mail]: Previous studies have suggested that cerebral projections of the norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) systems have important etiology and treatment implications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate spontaneous resting state functional connectivity in boys aged 7– 15 years with ASD (n=86) and age-, intelligence quotient-matched typically developing boys (TD, n=118). Specifically, we investigated functional connectivity of the locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), the main source projection of neurotransmitters NE and DA, respectively.Results: 1) Both the LC and VTA showed reduced connectivity with the postcentral gyrus (PoCG) in boys with ASD, reflecting the potential roles of NE and DA in modulating the function of the somatosensory cortex in boys with ASD. 2) The VTA had increased connectivity with bilateral thalamus in ASD; this alteration was correlated with repetitive and restrictive features. 3) Altered functional connectivity of both the LC and VTA with brain regions such as the angular gyrus (AG), middle temporal gyrus visual area (MT/V5), and occipital face area (OFA) in ASD group.Discussion: Our findings implicate the role of LC-NE and VTA-DA systems from the perspective of functional neuroimaging and may shed light on pharmacological studies targeting NE and DA for the treatment of autism in the future.Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, locus coeruleus, ventral tegmental area, norepinephrine, dopamine, functional connectivity