Increased activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in the frontal cortex and cerebellum of autistic individuals

AimsNa+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase are enzymes known to maintain intracellular gradients of ions that are essential for signal transduction. The aim of this study was to compare the activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in postmortem brain samples from the cerebellum and frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices from autistic and age-matched control subjects.Main methodsThe frozen postmortem tissues from different brain regions of autistic and control subjects were homogenized. The activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase were assessed in the brain homogenates by measuring inorganic phosphorus released by the action of Na+/K+- and Ca2+/Mg2+-dependent hydrolysis of ATP.Key findingsIn the cerebellum, the activities of both Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase were significantly increased in the autistic samples compared with their age-matched controls. The activity of Na+/K+-ATPase but not Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase was also significantly increased in the frontal cortex of the autistic samples as compared to the age-matched controls. In contrast, in other regions, i.e., the temporal, parietal and occipital cortices, the activities of these enzymes were similar in autism and control groups.SignificanceThe results of this study suggest brain-region specific increases in the activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in autism. Increased activity of these enzymes in the frontal cortex and cerebellum may be due to compensatory responses to increased intracellular calcium concentration in autism. We suggest that altered activities of these enzymes may contribute to abnormal neuronal circuit functioning in autism.