Researchers report that mice prenatally exposed to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) exhibited greater seizure severity and reduced expression of cell migration-associated genes in neural stem/progenitor cells as adults, compared with control mice, as well as abnormal migration of newborn neurons in the hippocampus; voluntary exercise alleviated VPA-induced effects, suggesting possible therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders resulting from prenatal VPA exposure.
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Article #17-16479: "Ectopic neurogenesis induced by prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure augments seizure susceptibility in adult mice," by Atsuhiko Sakai et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kinichi Nakashima, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, JAPAN; tel: +81-92-642-6195; e-mail: kin1@scb.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences