Metabolite Profiling of Whole Murine Embryos Reveals Metabolic Perturbations Associated with Maternal Valproate-Induced Neural Tube Closure Defects

摘要

BackgroundValproic Acid (VPA) is prescribed therapeutically for multiple conditions, including epilepsy. When taken during pregnancy, VPA is teratogenic, increasing the risk of several birth and developmental defects including neural tube defects (NTDs). The mechanism by which VPA causes NTDs remains controversial and how VPA interacts with folic acid, a vitamin commonly recommended for the prevention of NTDs, remains uncertain. We sought to address both questions by applying untargeted metabolite profiling analysis to neural tube closure stage mouse embryos.