A Study of the Effect of Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid on the Cerebellum of Albino Rat’s Offspring and the Possible Protective Role of Folic Acid

Abstract

The need for anticonvulsant prophylaxis in women of childbearing potential couldn’t be prevented since convulsive seizures are also considered harmful to the developing embryo, so physician’s approach involved choosing the anti-epileptic drug that is most likely to control the patient’s seizure type(s) at relatively low dosages. Folic acid or folate is a B vitamin, which is essential for numerous body functions. Adequate folic acid intake during the preconception period helps to protect against many congenital malformations, including neural tube defects. So, the aim of the present work was to study the effect of the prenatal exposure to VPA on the histological structure and development of the cerebellum of albino rat’s offspring and clarify the possible protective role of folic acid against its effect. Forty adult female albino rats were used