Valproic acid treatment leads to neurogenesis defects in the embryo brain of non-human primates

Here, we report for the first time the neurodevelopmental defects caused by VPA in non-human primates. VPA treatment significantly decreased the density of total cells and NeuN-positive cells in prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, and increased the density of GFAP-positive astrocytes in PFC. Furthermore, RNA profiling revealed that prenatal VPA exposure disrupts the expression of genes associated with neurodevelopment in embryo brains. These results demonstrate that VPA disturbs the gene expressions and development of monkey brains. Behavior test suggested that the VPA-treated juvenile offspring showed social interaction defects and pronounced stereotypies. This study provides a novel insight into the neuropathology associated with VPA treatment in human brain.