sodium valproate/valproic acid / Generic mfg. - LARVOL DELTA

[PREPRINT] Valproic acid exposure affects social visual lateralization and asymmetric gene expression in zebrafish larvae (bioRxiv) - “We exposed 5-hour post-fertilization zebrafish embryos to valproic acid (VPA), a compound used to model the core signs of ASD in many vertebrate species, and assessed social interaction, visual lateralization and gene expression in the thalamus and the telencephalon. VPA-exposed zebrafish exhibit social deficits and a deconstruction of social visual laterality to the mirror. We also observe changes in the asymmetric expression of the epithalamic marker leftover and in telencephalic gene expression in adult zebrafish. Our data indicate that VPA exposure neutralizes the animals’ visual field bias, with a complete loss of the left-eye use bias in front of their own mirror image, and alters brain asymmetric gene expression...”

Preclinical • Preprint • Autism Spectrum Disorder • CNS Disorders • Developmental Disorders

[PREPRINT] Valproic acid exposure alters social visual lateralization and asymmetric gene expression in zebrafish larvae (bioRxiv) - “We exposed zebrafish embryos at 5 hour post-fertilization to one micromolar dosage of valproic acid for 24 and 48 hours, assessed social interaction and visual lateralization in a social task, the mirror test, and measured gene expression changes in the thalamus and the telencephalon. We show that after exposure to valproic acid, zebrafish exhibit social deficits and alterations in lateralized social responses to their own reflected image. Valproic acid also induced changes in the asymmetric gene expression of the thalamic marker kctd12.1/leftover and had a significant effect on the expression of telencephalic genes known to be asymmetrically expressed in adult fish. Our data indicate that one micromolar doses of VPA are sufficient to neutralize both the visual field bias and the asymmetric epithalamic gene expression...”

Preclinical • Preprint • CNS Disorders

Valproic Acid: Its Role in Bipolar Disorder (Psychiatric Times) - "Valproate/divalproex was approved by the FDA for use in bipolar mania...In the last two published placebo-controlled trials of divalproex in acute mania (one in adults, one in adolescents and young adults), there were no differences from placebo, and in the study published just before those, the effects were statistically significant but quite small....Valproate/divalproex appears to be considerably overused in the US."

Review • Bipolar Disorder • CNS Disorders