Exploring the cerebellum with a new tool: Neonatal Borna disease virus (BDV) infection of the rat's brain

Cerebellar pathology has been associated with a number of developmental behavioral disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. Despite the fact that perinatal virus infections have been implicated in neurodevelopmental damage, few animal models have been developed to study the pathogenesis involved. One of the most interesting in vivo models of virus-induced cerebellar damage is the neonatal Borna disease virus (BDV) infection of the rat brain. The present review describes molecular, cellular, neuroanatomical, neurochemical and behavioral features of the BDV model and also provides a basis for a new understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of cerebellar malformation and associated behavioral deficits.