The protective effect of prenatally administered vitamin E on behavioral alterations in an animal model of autism induced by valproic acid

Abstract

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that has a powerful antioxidant activity. Previous studies reported reduced plasma levels of vitamin E in autism-spectrum patients and also as the result of treatment with valproic acid (VPA). The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of prenatally vitamin E on autism-like behavior in prenatally VPA-exposed rats. Animals were divided into four groups. Sham (saline-treated 1 ml/kg), Vit E (were injected 500 mg/kg vitamin E), VPA (400 mg/kg valproic acid dissolved in saline), and Vit E + VPA received vitamin E (500 mg/kg) plus VPA (400 mg/kg). VPA was injected intraperitoneally on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of pregnancy and Vitamin E one hour before VPA administration. Prenatal administration of vitamin E resulted in a significant reduction of the repetitive/stereotypic-like activities, anxiety-like behaviors, and sociability impairments in rats prenatally exposed to VPA.

Keywords:

• Autism
• Vitamin E
• valproic acid
• anxiety
• social interaction
• repetitive/stereotypic behaviors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Kerman Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran [Grant ID: 97000906].