Effects of Prenatal and Early Postnatal Administration of Valproate on Behavior and Cyhtological Characteristics in Wistar Rats

Prenatal administration of valproic acid (VA) and its salts is a common approach to modeling impairments to nervous system development; the sequelae of postnatal VA administration have received significantly less study. This study compared the behavioral characteristics of two groups of infant mice exposed to sodium valproate pre- and postnatally; neurocytological methods were also used. Behavioral studies were started from the early postnatal period and ended at age 36 days. Comparison of models showed a delay in early motor development and hyperactivity in both cases, though decreases in interest in new social contacts (interaction with rat pups of the same age) were seen only in animals given postnatal VA injections. In addition, a significant increase in the number of perineuronal satellite oligodendrocytes was seen in the anterior cingulate cortex of animals in both series – pre- and postnatal VA. Studies of the cingulate cortex, a component of the limbic system, are important in considering social interactions and the processes forming and regulating emotional behavior, as well as pathological reactions in different impairments to higher brain functions.