Effect of prenatal valproic acid exposure on cortical morphology in female mice

We have recently shown that prenatal valproic acid (vpa) exposure causes autism spectrum disorders-like behavioral abnormalities and nissl-positive cell loss in both prefrontal and somatosensory cortices in male mice. we have also found that vpa-induced social interaction deficits are observed in male but not female offspring. this study demonstrated that the exposure to vpa at embryonic day 12.5 significantly decreased nissl-positive cell numbers in the prefrontal cortex,but not in the somatosensory cortex,in female offspring. these findings suggest that vpa-induced morphological abnormalities in the somatosensory cortex may be involved in the sex-dependent social interaction deficits. © the japanese pharmacological society.