- The study was conducted in a rat animal model of autism. Use of valproic acid during pregnancy is a risk factor for in human autism. In fact, autism like behavior can be induced in rats exposed to valproate during fetal life.
- On embryonic day 12, pregnant rats were injected with valproic acid or control solution without valproic acid.
- The gut of the resulting rat babies was analyzed at age 4 weeks.
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- The gut was slow. This is consistent with frequent finding of constipation in human autism.
- There was thinning of the stomach and terminal small intestinal wall consistent with the leaky gut hypothesis in autism.
- There were fewer absorptive cells in small intestine which is consistent with reports of digestive problems encountered in autism.
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