Degraded cortical temporal processing in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism. (15th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Yuan; Tang, Binliang; Zhang, Guimin; An, Pengying; Sun, Yutian; Gao, Ming; Zhang, Yifan; Shan, Ye; Zhang, Jiping; Liu, Qiaoyun; Lai, Cora Sau Wan; de Villers-Sidani, Étienne; Wang, Yunfeng; Zhou, Xiaoming
• Is Part Of: Neuropharmacology. Volume 209(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05-15
• Subjects: Auditory cortex -- Auditory-related behavior -- Autism -- Cortical processing -- VPA exposure; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Autonomic Agents -- Periodicals; Neuropsychopharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychopharmacology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3908

Abstract

Abstract: Hearing disorders, such as abnormal speech perception, are frequently reported in individuals with autism. However, the mechanisms underlying these auditory-associated signature deficits in autism remain largely unknown. In this study, we documented significant behavioral impairments in the sound temporal rate discrimination task for rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), a well-validated animal model for studying the pathology of autism. In parallel, there was a large-scale degradation in temporal information-processing in their primary auditory cortices (A1) at both levels of spiking outputs and synaptic inputs. Substantially increased spine density of excitatory neurons and decreased numbers of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-labeled inhibitory inter-neurons were also recorded in the A1 after VPA exposure. Given the fact that cortical temporal processing of sound is associated with speech perception in humans, these results in the animal model of VPA exposure provide insight into a possible neurological mechanism underlying auditory and language-related deficits in individuals with autism. Highlights: Prenatal VPA exposure impairs sound temporal rate discrimination. Peripheral hearing sensitivity remains intact after VPA exposure. VPA degrades auditory cortical processing at both neuronal and synaptic levels. VPA disrupts excitatory/inhibitory balance of the cortical network.