The effects of valproic acid, vitamin E and folic acid on ribs of rat fetuses in the prenatal period.

The present study was undertaken to determine histopathologic differences in the ribs of Wistar-albino rat fetuses prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), folic acid (FA) and vitamin E (Vit E), and to compare their differential developmental susceptibility and morphological association with skeletal anomalies. VPA (300 mg/ kg), FA (300mg/kg) and Vit E (250mg/kg) were administered to rats on each of gestation days (GD) 7-9. Fetuses were collected on GD 21 and their ribs were examined for malformations. The fetuses were divided into four groups: blind-trial group, VPA group (vpa), VPA and Vit E group (vpa+vit e), valproic and FA group (vpa+fa). In each group; drug procedure, surgical procedure and histological methods were performed. Later, weights and lengths of fetuses in each group were compared and analyzed by one-way Anova test. As a result, maLformations in fetuses were determined and photographed by Nikon SMZ-2 steromicroscopy, using 2 x objective. Administration of single doses of VPA (300 mg/kg) resulted in weight and length loss between blind-trial and vpa group. However, length and weight differences between the other groups were not significant. The objective of the present study is to analyze morphological and histopathologic changes which may occur in a high-risk experimental model after the administration of VPA. In addition, protective roles of the administration of FA and Vit E are assessed.