In many neurodevelopmental disorders, it has been observed that one of the primary etiology is an underdeveloped gut system. It will be really helpful if somebody can shed light on this.
I read a paper published in PNAS showed that the bacteria inhabit our intestines, have a significant impact on brain development and subsequent adult behaviors. These bacteria implicate in the development of neurological and behavioral disorders. For example, gut bacteria may have an influence on the body’s use of vitamin B6, which in turn has profound effects on the health of nerve and muscle cells. The scientists raised mice lacking normal gut microflora, then compared their behavior, brain chemistry and brain development to mice having normal gut bacteria. The microbe-free animals were more active and, in specific behavioral tests, were less anxious than microbe-colonized mice. Because the type of bacteria usually correlate to the development of gastrointestinal system, it may have a link between neurodevelopment and gastrointestinal tract development. Please check these websites.
http://www.pnas.org/content/108/7/3047
http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/blog/2014/guest-blog-gut-bacterias-influence-on-brain-development
Its my observation that many gene deletion-related conditions are accompanied by both the ASD behavioral phenotype and GI problems, but it could be the case that both sets of symptoms may have a common cause rather than one causing the other.
Hmm. That's an interesting question! Chao's answer above is really intriguing. Another potential angle could be to look at disruptions to the development of the enteric nervous system compared to the central nervous system. There are a lot of neurons involved in gut function and perhaps there's early interactions between the neurons near the gut and GI cell populations that could cause part of the underdevelopment. Possibly due to the same sort of alterations that affect the more 'traditional' neurodevelopmental disorder symptoms in the CNS, as Carl has said above.
Altered intestinal bacteria leads to altered intestinal immune system (mast cell alteration and inflammatory cytockines in addition to altered nerve cells and adrenergic nerve---hypothalamus----pituitary--adrenals---circulation--excessive cortisol
Bidirectional Gut-Brain Axis that be involved in the modulation of emotions, pain perception, mucosal immune activity and general well-being.Our bacterial, viral, and fungal co-inhabitants shape our immune systems as children and are involved in physiologic and metabolic stability
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