NOS1 and autism: While an involvement of nNOS interneurons in autism is rather undoubted, it remains unclear whether the observed reduced nNOS-expressing cells in the BLA of autism are the result of: (I) a truly decreased number of nNOS-positive interneurons due to developmentally immature or perturbed state (e.g., region-improper localization of nNOS-containing cells, enhanced susceptibility, precursor and premature neuronal death) or (II) alternatively from the reduction of nNOS protein (or mRNA) levels or the inability to express sufficient levels of the protein (or mRNA).