Enhanced Long-Term Microcircuit Plasticity in the Valproic Acid Animal Model of Autism
Published in Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
A single intra-peritoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) on embryonic day (ED) 11.5 to pregnant rats has been shown to produce severe autistic-like symptoms in the offspring. Previous studies showed that the microcircuitry is hyperreactive due to hyperconnectivity of glutamatergic synapses and hyperplastic due to over-expression of NMDA receptors...
