Increased sociability and gene expression of oxytocin and its receptor in the brains of rats affected prenatally by valproic acid

To sum up, we observed that a single prenatal injection of VPA increased social behaviour and gene expression of OT and OTR in neurological structures connected with the social behaviour of rats. One unanticipated finding was the absence of one of the core symptoms of autism in VPA rats, suggesting a decreased ability to understand intraspecific communication signals.