Ameliorating age-dependent effects of resveratrol on VPA-induced social impairments and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of neurodevelopmental disorder.

Although anxiety disorders, as well as difficulties in social interaction, are documented in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a neurodevelopmental disorder, the effectiveness of potential therapeutic procedures considering age and sex differences is under serious discussion. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol (RSV) on anxiety-like behaviors and social interaction in juvenile and adult rats of both sex in a valproic acid (VPA)-induced autistic-like model. Prenatal exposure to VPA was associated with increased anxiety, also causing a significant reduction in social interaction in juvenile male subjects. Further administration of RSV attenuated VPA-induced anxiety symptoms in both sexes of adult animals and significantly increased the sociability index in male and female juvenile rats. Taken together, it can be concluded that treatment with RSV can attenuate some of the harsh effects of VPA. This treatment was especially effective on anxiety-like traits in adult subjects of both sexes regarding their performance in open field and EPM. We encourage future research to consider the sex and age-specific mechanisms behind the RSV treatment in the prenatal VPA model of autism.

Prenatal Pregabalin Exposure Alters Postnatal Pain Sensitivity and Some Behavioral Responses in Adult Offspring Rats.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure could demonstrate both congenital malformations and behavioral impairments in offspring. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess the effects of prenatal exposure to pregabalin (PGB) on pain response, anxiety, motor activity and some behavior of adult offspring rats. METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats received PGB (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg/ip) during embryonic days 9.5- 15.5. The pain response, anxiety-like behaviors, locomotor activity, motor balance and coordination and anhedonia of adult offspring were examined by tail-flick and hot plate test, open field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), beam balance test and sucrose preference test in their 60th day of life, respectively. RESULTS: Prenatal exposure to PGB revealed significant dose-dependent reduction in pain sensitivity (increase in pain latency response) in the hot plate test, especially in females, while anxiety-like behavior assessed in EPM and open field significantly reduced in males. In the open field, locomotor activity reduced significantly after exposure to PGB 30 mg/kg and motor coordination decreased dose-dependently, especially in males. Anhedonia, as an indication of sucrose preference or pleasure response, was not changed. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that prenatal PGB exposure could be associated with significant changes in pain response, anxiety, locomotor activity and coordination in adult offspring rats.