Sociability deficits after prenatal exposure to valproic acid are rescued by early social enrichment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interactions and repetitive patterns of behavior. Symptoms appear in early life and persist throughout adulthood. Early social stimulation can help reverse some of the symptoms, but the biological mechanisms of these therapies are unknown. By analyzing the effects of early social stimulation on ASD-related behavior in the mouse, we aimed to identify brain structures that contribute to these behaviors.

Methods

We injected pregnant mice with 600-mg/kg valproic acid (VPA) or saline (SAL) at gestational day 12.5 and evaluated the effect of weaning their offspring in cages containing only VPA animals, only SAL animals, or mixed. We analyzed juvenile play at PD21 and performed a battery of behavioral tes

SUBMITTER: Campolongo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6001054 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature