Vitamins D and E Improve Valproic Acid-Induced Autistic-Like Behaviors and Oxidative Stress in the Rat Offspring

Autism spectrum is a type of developmental-neurodegenerative disease commonly reflected in social communications and associated with oxidative stress in the brain. Vitamins D and E, as strong antioxidants, may improve autistic-like behavioral disorders.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of vitamins D and E on pain, threshold, motor coordination, and anxiety behavior, as well as oxidative stress parameters in an autistic model in rats.

We induced an experimental model of congenital autism in the rat by injection of valproic acid (500 mg/kg) into pregnant rats on the day 12.5th of gestation. From postnatal day 30 to 60, male offspring received daily injections of vitamins D (5 µg/kg) and/or E (10 mg/kg) or vehicle. Next, their anxiety levels were assessed with the elevated plus maze and open field, pain thresholds with hot plate, motor and balance with rotarod, and spatial learning and memory with T-maze. The rat brain was then removed to measure oxidative markers, including Malondialdehyde, Glutathione, and Catalase.

Results indicated that injection of valproic acid-induced autistic-like behaviors, including increased pain threshold, increased anxiety, decreased exploring behaviors, reduced balance power, and motor learning, and produced oxidative stress. Administration of vitamins D and E significantly ameliorated these symptoms.

These findings may indicate that vitamins D and E improved sensory, motor, anxiety, and cognitive deficits in an experimental model of autism, probably by reducing the oxidative stress and inflammatory process or maintaining balance in the neurotransmitter system.