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<p>Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display abnormalities in neuronal development, synaptic function and neural circuits. The imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) synaptic transmission has been proposed to cause the main behavioral characteristics of ASD. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can directly or indirectly induce excitability and synaptic plasticity changes in the brain noninvasively. However, whether rTMS can ameliorate autistic-like behaviors in animal model via regulating the balance of E/I synaptic transmission is unknown. By using our recent reported animal model with autistic-like behaviors induced by neonatal isolation (postnatal days 1–9), we found that low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS, 1 Hz) treatment for 2 weeks effectively alleviated the acquired autistic-like symptoms, as reflected by an increase in social interaction and decrease in self-grooming, anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in young adult rats compared to those in untreated animals. Furthermore, the amelioration in autistic-like behavior was accompanied by a restoration of the balance between E/I activity, especially at the level of synaptic transmission and receptors in synaptosomes. These findings indicated that LF-rTMS may alleviate the symptoms of ASD-like behaviors caused by neonatal isolation through regulating the synaptic GABA transmission, suggesting that LF-rTMS may be a potential therapeutic technique to treat ASD.</p

Seasonal patterns and monthly dynamics of the total soil respiration (•), litter respiration (○), and the litter-free soil respiration (▾) in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests (mean ±1SD, <i>n</i> = 9).

<p>Seasonal patterns and monthly dynamics of the total soil respiration (•), litter respiration (○), and the litter-free soil respiration (▾) in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests (mean ±1SD, <i>n</i> = 9).</p

Effects of forest age and sampling time on the total soil respiration, litter-free soil respiration, and litter respiration in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests tested using repeated measures ANOVAs.

<p>Effects of forest age and sampling time on the total soil respiration, litter-free soil respiration, and litter respiration in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests tested using repeated measures ANOVAs.</p

Initial substrate quality (mean ±1SD, <i>n</i> = 3) of leaf litter in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests studied.

<p>Note: different letters within a row indicate significant difference (<i>P</i><0.05) among the stands.</p

Observed (•) and predicted (○) values of litter dry mass remaining across the experimental period in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests (mean ±1SD, <i>n</i> = 9).

<p>Observed (•) and predicted (○) values of litter dry mass remaining across the experimental period in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests (mean ±1SD, <i>n</i> = 9).</p

Relationships between the total soil respiration (a, b), litter respiration (c, d), litter-free soil respiration (e, f) and soil temperature at 5 cm depth or soil water content at 5 cm depth in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests during the 18-months field observations.

<p>Relationships between the total soil respiration (a, b), litter respiration (c, d), litter-free soil respiration (e, f) and soil temperature at 5 cm depth or soil water content at 5 cm depth in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests during the 18-months field observations.</p

Relationships between litter decomposition (%) and soil temperature (a) or soil water content (b) in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests.

<p>Relationships between litter decomposition (%) and soil temperature (a) or soil water content (b) in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests.</p

Relationships between mean monthly litter decomposition and the total soil respiration (a), litter respiration (b), and litter-free soil respiration rate (c) for different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests.

<p>Note: respiration rate is the mean value across the litter decomposition period.</p

The functions and model fit parameters (<i>n</i>, <i>R</i>² and <i>P</i>-values) between measured soil respiration with soil temperature (T), soil moisture content (SWC) and litter water content (LWC) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests.

<p>The functions and model fit parameters (<i>n</i>, <i>R</i>² and <i>P</i>-values) between measured soil respiration with soil temperature (T), soil moisture content (SWC) and litter water content (LWC) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests.</p

Soil temperature (5 cm soil depth), soil water content (5 cm soil depth) and litter water content in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests studied across the experiment period.

<p>Soil temperature (5 cm soil depth), soil water content (5 cm soil depth) and litter water content in different-aged <i>Pinus massoniana</i> forests studied across the experiment period.</p