AUTHORS: Va\u017ean, R., Belica, I., Ostatn\u00edkov\u00e1, D.<\/p>\n
ABSTRACT: Autism is a set of phenotypically heterogeneous neurodeve<\/span>lopmental conditions characterized by core symptoms in so<\/span>cial communication, interactions, interests and repetitive ste<\/span>reotyped behaviour. Therefore, the term \u2013 autistic spectrum <\/span>disorders, is preferred today. Due to the progress of autism in <\/span>recent decades, a wide range of studies have been done to <\/span>identify the etiology. Autism is very probably caused by mul<\/span>tiple etiological factors affecting central nervous system deve<\/span>lopment in critical periods of early life. High heritability sug<\/span>gests that genes play key role in autism etiology. A<\/span> number of <\/span>candidate genes, that control brain development, production <\/span>of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, have been identi<\/span>fied. Gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, dopamine, norad<\/span>renaline, serotonin, acetylcholine are in the centre of research <\/span>interest as well as the hormones \u2013 testosterone, melatonin and <\/span>oxytocin. Recently the interactions between susceptible genes <\/span>and environmental factors have been proposed as the major<\/span> Lek\u00e1rsky obzor. – Ro\u010d. 67, \u010d. 7-8 (2018), s. 234-238. – ISSN (print) 0457-4214<\/p>\n
mechanism of autism etiopathogenesis. This idea is supported <\/span>by huge phenotypic diversity of individuals with autistic <\/span>spectrum disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n