Tadpole model links drug exposure to autism-like effects

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Tadpole model links drug exposure to autism-like effects

02/18/2015 05:27 PM EST

In utero exposure to the epilepsy drug valporic acid (VPA) appears to elevate the risk to babies of developing an autism spectrum disorder. A new Brown University study used a tadpole model to investigate VPA's effects on developing neural physiology and behavior. Researchers now hope to use the model to develop an intervention and to learn more about the underlying causes of neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly.

Full story at https://news.brown.edu/articles/2015/02/tadpoles

Source
Brown University

This is an NSF News From the Field item.