Papers of the Week

Valproic acid (VPA), a widely prescribed antiepileptic drug and an effective treatment for bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain, results in multiple developmental defects following in utero exposure. Uterine decidua provides nutritional and physical support during implantation and early embryonic development. Perturbations in the molecular mechanisms within decidual tissue during early pregnancy might affect early embryonic growth, result in early pregnancy loss or cause complications in the later gestational stage. VPA is a known histone deacetylase inhibitor and epigenetic changes such as histone hyperacetylation and methylation have been proposed as a mechanism of VPA-induced teratogenesis.