An epilepsy drug already tied to birth defects may cause autism in children when taken by their mothers during pregnancy, a new study suggests.
In an animal study, Brown University researchers say they found that the drug valporic acid (VPA) produced anatomic and behavioral symptoms that would correspond to the development of an autism spectrum disorder.
Valproate products are FDA-approved drugs to treat seizures, and manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder), and to prevent migraine headaches. They are also used off-label for other conditions, particularly for psychiatric conditions.
Researcher found abnormal characteristics in the brain development of tadpoles exposed to the drug. They also compared behavioral characteristics between the VPA-exposed and normal tadpoles and found differences in how they schooled (like fish), avoided apparent collisions, tolerated startling noises, and became susceptible to seizures.
"These are not autistic behaviors in a tadpole, but they are the consequences of the same fundamental circuit malfunction that leads to autism in humans," said Carlos Aizenman, associate professor of neuroscience at Brown and the study’s senior author.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that the drug, if taken during pregnancy, can cause birth defects.
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