Cited by 298Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Environmental Enrichment Reverses Behavioral Alterations in Rats Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid: Issues for a Therapeutic Approach in Autism

Schneider, Tomasz, Turczak, Joanna, Przewłocki, Ryszard·2006·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

Environmental enrichment has been repeatedly shown to affect multiple aspects of brain function, and is known to improve cognitive, behavioral, and histopathological outcome after brain injuries. The purpose of the present experiments was to determine the effect of an enriched environment on behavioral aberrations observed in male rats exposed to valproic acid on day 12.5 of gestation (VPA rats), and proposed on the basis of etiological, anatomical, and behavioral data as an animal model of autism. Environmental enrichment reversed almost all behavioral alterations observed in the model. VPA rats after environmental enrichment (VPA-E) compared to VPA rats reared in standard conditions have higher sensitivity to pain and lower sensitivity to nonpainful stimuli; stronger acoustic prepulse inhibition; lower locomotor, repetitive/stereotypic-like activity, and enhanced exploratory activity; decreased anxiety; increased number of social behaviors; and shorter latency to social explorations. In comparison with control animals (Con), VPA-E rats exhibited increased number of pinnings in adolescence and social explorations in adulthood, and were less anxious in the elevated plus maze. Similar differences in social behavior and anxiety were observed between control rats exposed to environmental enrichment (Con-E) and control group reared in standard conditions. These results suggest that postnatal environmental manipulations can counteract the behavioral alterations in VPA rats. We propose environmental enrichment as an important tool for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1038/sj.npp.1300767

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. De Moura-Serra J (1990). Le diagnostic de I'autisme dans la perspective de la neuropsychiayrie dèveloppementale. In: Messerschmitt P (ed). Clinique des Syndromes Autistiques. Meloine: Paris. pp 34–42.
  2. Miller MT, Strömland K (1993). Thalidomide embryopathy: an insight into autism? Teratology 47: 387–388.
  3. Tordjman S, Antoine C, Gauvain-Piguard A, Carlier M, Roubertoux P, Ferrari P (1999b). Etude des conduits autoagressives, de la reactivite a la douleur et de leurs interrelations chez les enfants autistes. Encephale 25: 122–134.
  4. Will BE, Kelche C (1990). Environnemant developpement normal et restauration fonctionnelle apresatteinte cerebrale. Neuropsychology 9: 510–520.

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Authors
Schneider, T., Turczak, J., & Przewłocki, R.
Affiliations
Maj Institute of Pharmacology (PL)
Corresponding author
Przewłocki, Ryszard
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2005-05-25
Volume
31
Issue
1
Pages
36-46
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2048283976
Cited by
298
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 13
FWCI
3.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
environmental enrichment, valproic acid, prenatal exposure, autism spectrum disorder, animal models of autism, pain sensitivity, anxiety, social behavior, repetitive behavior, locomotor activity, exploratory activity, autism treatment
MeSH terms
Animals, Anticonvulsants, Anxiety, Autistic Disorder, Behavior, Animal, Environment, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Motor Activity, Nociceptors, Pain, Pain Measurement, Physical Stimulation, Pregnancy, Social Behavior, Reflex, Startle, Stereotyped Behavior, Valproic Acid, Rats, Wistar, Pain Threshold, Maze Learning, Rats

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