Study of the serum levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the expression of related liver metabolic enzymes in a rat valproate-induced autism model.
To investigate whether the decreased level of serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in patients with autism is associated with the expression of related liver metabolic enzymes, we selected rats that were exposed to valproic acid (VPA) on embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) as a model of autism. We observed the serum levels of PUFAs and the expression of related liver metabolic enzymes, including Δ5-desaturase, Δ6-desaturase and elongase (Elovl2), in VPA-exposed and control rats on postnatal day 35 (PND35) and conducted sex dimorphic analysis. We found that the levels of serum PUFAs and related liver metabolic enzymes in the VPA rats were significantly reduced, in association with autism-like behavioral changes, the abnormal expression of apoptosis-related proteins and hippocampal neuronal injury, compared to the control rats and showed sex difference in VPA group. This finding indicated that rats exposed to VPA at the embryonic stage may exhibit reduced synthesis of serum PUFAs due to the down-regulation of liver metabolic enzymes, thereby inducing nervous system injury and behavioral changes, which is affected by sex in the meantime.
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Gang
G
Zhao
Department of Nursing, Daqing Campus of Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China.
Jingquan
J
Gao
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Shuang
S
Liang
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Xuelai
X
Wang
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Caihong
C
Sun
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Wei
W
Xia
Department of Pediatric, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Yanqiu
Y
Hao
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Xiang
X
Li
Department of Pharmacology, Daqing Campus of Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China. Electronic address: 437343482@qq.com.
Yonggang
Y
Cao
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China. Electronic address: wulijiehyd@126.com.
Lijie
L
Wu
D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D014635:Valproic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D053148:Caspase 3
Animal model; Autism; Desaturases; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Sexual dimorphism; Valproic acid