Maternal valproic acid exposure leads to neurogenesis defects and autism-like behaviors in non-human primates.

ABSTRACT: Despite the substantial progress made in identifying genetic defects in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the etiology for majority of ASD individuals remains elusive. Maternal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug during pregnancy in human, has long been considered a risk factor to contribute to ASD susceptibility in offspring from epidemiological studies in humans. The similar exposures in murine models have provided tentative evidence to support the finding from human epidemiology. However, the apparent difference between rodent and human poses a significant challenge to extrapolate the findings from rodent models to humans. Here we report for the first time the neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes of maternal VPA exposure in non-human primates. M

SUBMITTER: Zhao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6803711 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature