The effect of prenatal valproic acid exposure on the developing brain : face, construct, and predictive validity of an animal model of autism

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dc.contributor.authorRaza, Sarah
dc.contributor.supervisorGibb, Robbin L.
dc.contributor.supervisorKolb, Bryan
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-25T16:22:01Z
dc.date.available2015-05-25T16:22:01Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.description.abstractAutism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction, communication, and aberrant repetitive behaviors. Behavioral phenotyping in laboratory animals to simulate core symptomology has been a large research focus with the aim to not only elucidate the behavioral basis and neural underpinnings of the disorder, but also study potential remedial treatments. The present thesis evaluated the validity of the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism by examining perturbations in the neurodevelopmental trajectories – behavioral and neurobiological – of juvenile and adult rats prenatally exposed to VPA, as well as the therapeutic effects of early tactile stimulation on the synergistic brain-behavior relationship. Behavioral and neuroanatomical findings confirmed the face, construct, and predictive validity of the VPA rat model, given the ethological, etiological, and therapeutic similarities to facets of human autism; thus, reinforcing the VPA model as a viable model for the study of autism in rats.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Alberta Health Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS),Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Program in Child Brain Developmenten_US
dc.embargoNoen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3690
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.proquest.subject0317en_US
dc.proquest.subject0602en_US
dc.proquest.subject0349en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectValproic Aciden_US
dc.subjectAutismen_US
dc.subjectBrain Developmenten_US
dc.subjectBehavioren_US
dc.titleThe effect of prenatal valproic acid exposure on the developing brain : face, construct, and predictive validity of an animal model of autismen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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