Acute prenatal exposure to a moderate dose of valproic acid increases social behavior and alters gene expression in rats.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal exposure to moderate doses of valproic acid (VPA) produces brainstem abnormalities, while higher doses of this teratogen elicit social deficits in the rat. In this pilot study, we examined effects of prenatal exposure to a moderate dose of VPA on behavior and on transcriptomic expression in three brain regions that mediate social behavior. Pregnant Long Evans rats were injected with 350 mg/kg VPA or saline on gestational day 13. A modified social interaction test was used to assess social behavior and social preference/avoidance during early and late adolescence and in adulthood. VPA-exposed animals demonstrated more social investigation and play fighting than control animals. Social investigation, play fighting, and contact behavior also differed as a function of age; the frequen

SUBMITTER: Cohen OS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3870582 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature