Consequences of prenatal exposure to valproic acid in the socially monogamous prairie voles.

ABSTRACT: Environmental risk factors contribute to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) etiology. In particular, prenatal exposure to the highly teratogenic anticonvulsant valproic acid (VPA) significantly increases ASD prevalence. Although significant discoveries on the embryopathology of VPA have been reported, its effects on the ability to form enduring social attachment-characteristic of ASD but uncommonly displayed by rats and mice-remains unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of prenatal VPA exposure in the social, monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Compared to prenatal vehicle-exposed controls, prenatal VPA-exposed prairie voles had lower body weight throughout postnatal development, engaged in fewer social affiliative behaviors in a familial context, exhibited less social interac

SUBMITTER: Sailer L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6385222 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature