Ertugliflozin improves animal behaviours associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in a BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition typified by difficulties in social interactions, repetitive and restricted behaviour and heightened anxiety. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory processes are crucial in the development of these behavioural abnormalities. Ertugliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor approved by the FDA for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, has also been reported to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice are widely used as a preclinical model of autism spectrum disorder, as they show core autism-like behavioural features. The present study investigated whether ertugliflozin could ameliorate autism spectrum disorder-like behaviour in BTBR mice and explored the associated mechanisms. It was found that ertugliflozin treatment significantly improved social interaction while reducing repetitive behaviours and anxiety-like responses compared with untreated BTBR mice. Ertugliflozin (20 mg/kg/day), administered orally, reduced neuronal loss in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. In addition, ertugliflozin reduced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by decreased malondialdehyde levels, restoration of glutathione content and improved activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. A significant suppression of inflammatory cytokines accompanied these biochemical improvements. Furthermore, ertugliflozin significantly inhibited microglial activation in BTBR mice. Collectively, the findings indicate that ertugliflozin alleviates autism spectrum disorder-like behavioural deficits in BTBR mouse models, at least in part, by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This study highlights ertugliflozin as a potential therapeutic candidate for the management of autism spectrum disorder.