الفهرس 
Functional Anatomy of CerebellumOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
ABSTRACT: Valproic acid is used as an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing agent for the treatments of epilepsy and bipolar disorder and as one of the mood stabilizing agents in patients with anxiety disorder and as a prophylactic treatment of migraine. No one questioned the need for anticonvulsant prophylaxis in women of childbearing potential. Since convulsive seizures were also considered harmful to the developing embryo. Exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during the first trimester of pregnancy was found to be associated with increased risks of several congenital malformations and also in utero exposure to valproic acid in rats caused cerebellar anomalies.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for the DNA synthesis and certain biological reactions. Adequate folate intake during preconception period helped in protection against congenital malformations including neural tube defects.
Aim of the work: to investigate the effect of prenatal exposure to valproic acid on the cerebellum of albino rat’s offspring and to clarify the possible protective role of Folic acid.
Material and Methods: twenty four pregnan albino rats were divided into four groups six rats each; group (A) a control group, group (B) rats received a dose of 400 mg/Kg. B.W of sodium valproate starting on gestational day 13 daily till the end of pregnancy by oral gavage, group (C) rats received a dose of 4 mg/Kg. B.W of folic acid starting from first day of pregnancy dissolved in distilled water, daily till the end of pregnancy by oral gavage and group (D) rats received a dose of 4 mg/Kg. B.W of folic acid as in group (C) and same dose of sodium valproate as in group (B) on gestational day 13 daily till the end of pregnancy by oral gavage. At the end of the experiment, six male pups from each group were sacrificed on the postnatal day fourteen, the cerebella were extracted and processed for light microscopic examination using H&E and tolouidine blue for semi-thin sections, GFAP for astrocytes and morphometric study to measure the thickness of cerebellar cortex, number of Bergmann cells, number of apparently normal Purkinje cells and GFAP percentage area.
Results: The general architecture of the cerebellar cortex was greatly affected in group (B) where the external granular layer was detected on the cerebellar surface in some sections if compared with control group, the Purkinje cells appeared, degenerated with deeply stained pyknotic nuclei. The number of Bergmann cells was significantly increased. Some granule cells appeared pyknotic with deeply stained nuclei also a strong positive reaction to GFAP with significantly high percentage area was detected. Examination of group (D) showed apparently normal arrangement of layers, Purkinje cells restored their normal shape and arrangement in single row, flask shaped appearance in semi-thin sections with Bergmann glia in between, Also they gave a mild positive reaction to GFAP.
Conclusions: from the present work it could be concluded that VPA had a toxic effect on the cerebellar cortex and the neuronal development and that if VPA should be administrated with pregnancy it is recommended to be in the least effective doses and that folic acid co-administration is highly recommended to reduce its toxic effects on the cerebellum of the offspring