vitamins d and e improve valproic acid-induced autistic-like behaviors and oxidative stress in the rat offspring

Background: autism spectrum is a type of developmental-neurodegenerative disease commonly reflected in social communications and associated with oxidative stress in the brain. vitamins d and e, as strong antioxidants, may improve autistic-like behavioral disorders. objectives: the aim of this study was to determine the effects of vitamins d and e on pain, threshold, motor coordination, and anxiety behavior, as well as oxidative stress parameters in an autistic model in rats. methods: we induced an experimental model of congenital autism in the rat by injection of valproic acid (500 mg/kg) into pregnant rats on the day 12.5th of gestation. from postnatal day 30 to 60, male offspring received daily injections of vitamins d (5 µg/kg) and/or e (10 mg/kg) or vehicle. next, their anxiety levels were assessed with the elevated plus maze and open field, pain thresholds with hot plate, motor and balance with rotarod, and spatial learning and memory with t-maze. the rat brain was then removed to measure oxidative markers, including malondialdehyde, glutathione, and catalase. results: results indicated that injection of valproic acid-induced autistic-like behaviors, including increased pain threshold, increased anxiety, decreased exploring behaviors, reduced balance power, and motor learning, and produced oxidative stress. administration of vitamins d and e significantly ameliorated these symptoms. conclusions: these findings may indicate that vitamins d and e improved sensory, motor, anxiety, and cognitive deficits in an experimental model of autism, probably by reducing the oxidative stress and inflammatory process or maintaining balance in the neurotransmitter system.