Rat study shows elevated maternal testosterone leads to ASD-like traits in offspring, suggesting a role for DHA in neurodevelopment.
Key Points
Elevated maternal testosterone resulted in ASD-like cognitive and social deficits in offspring, indicating significant neurodevelopmental risks.
T-exposed offspring exhibited reduced vocalizations and lower birth weights, showing the impact of maternal testosterone on early development.
The study revealed sex-specific neural changes, with males facing neuron loss while females showed reduced myelination, highlighting differential impacts.
Findings suggest maternal testosterone affects brain docosahexaenoic acid levels, pointing to lipid metabolism as a potential therapeutic target.