Antidepressants Cause Autism-Like
Gene Expression in Fish

Prozac, Effexor, and/or carbamazepine induce gene expression patterns in the brains of fathead minnows that mimic those thought to be associated with autism in humans, according to a study published yesterday (June 6, 2012) in PLoS One. The study found that the pattern of gene expression was specific to idiopathic (heredity x environment) autism, but not other autism diagnoses associated with specific mutations. The authors write that the findings are consistent with a theorized role of elevated serotonergic neurodevelopmental perturbations during pregnancy that may be associated with a dramatic increase of idiopathic autism. Article →  Related Items: New Scientist: Antidepressants in Water Trigger Autism Genes in Fish The Telegraph: Autistic Fish: the Anatomy of a (Potential) Health Scare