Prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala plasticity in a rat model of autism spectrum: Cortical Size in VPA Model
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal administration of valproic acid (VPA) (500 mg/kg) at embryonic day 12.5 on the anatomical properties of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala, at three different ages: immediately after weaning (postnatal day 21 [PD21]), prepubertal (PD35), and postpubertal (PD70) ages in a rat model of autistic spectrum disorder. Quantitative analysis of the thickness of the prefrontal cortex revealed a reduced size at all study ages in the cingulate 1 area of the prefrontal cortex and CA1 of the dorsal hippocampus in prenatally exposed animals compared to controls. At the level of the basolateral amygdala, a reduction in the size was observed at PD35 and PD70 in the VPA group. In addition, a reduced thickness was observed in the prelimbic region of the prefrontal cortex in VPA animals at PD35. Interestingly, no differences in cortical thickness were observed between control and VPA animals in the infralimbic region of the prefrontal at any age. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to VPA differentially alters cortical limbic regions anatomical parameters, with implication in the autistic spectrum disorder.
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VPA exposure leads to decreased thickness of the PFC and basolateral amygdala at early ages, and of the hippocampal CA1 at all ages.
“VPA exposure leads to decreased thickness of the PFC and the basolateral amygdala at early ages, and of the hippocampal CA1 at all ages [332].”
From Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models (2017) · cites this paper as [332]
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Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models
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- Authors
- Sosa-Díaz, N., Bringas, M. E., Atzori, M., & Flores, G.
- Affiliations
- Laboratorio de Neuropsiquiatría; Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; Puebla México
- The University of Texas at Dallas (US)
- Corresponding author
- Flores, Gonzalo
- Venue
- Synapse
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-07-09
- Volume
- 68
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 468-473
- ISSN
- 0887-4476 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1559670248
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 1.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Synapse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- CONACyT-Mexico (129303)
- VIEP-BUAP (FLAG-SAL 14-Ind)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, valproic acid, prenatal drug exposure, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, basolateral amygdala, cortical thickness, CA1, cingulate cortex, prelimbic cortex, infralimbic cortex, limbic system, rat model
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Disease Models, Animal, Hippocampus, Male, Neuronal Plasticity, Valproic Acid, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Prefrontal Cortex, Basolateral Nuclear Complex
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