The present investigation was conducted for exploring neuroprotective activity of ferulic acid in autistic male rat pups. Wistar female rats were injected with sodium valproate (400 mg/kg, s.c.) on gestational day 13 for inducing autism-like features in their pups. Ferulic acid (15, 30 -and 60 mg/kg) was orally administered to autistic male pups for 35 consecutive days (from postnatal day 24 to 58). Various behavioural paradigms like tail immersion test, actophotometer, tail suspension test, elevated zero maze, social interaction test and Morris’s water maze were employed. On postnatal day 58, animals were euthanized for obtaining brain and blood samples for biochemical estimations. Cerebellum part of their brain was used for histopathological studies. Reduced body weight at birth, prolonged eye-opening duration and impairment of motor coordination in male pups indicated induction of autism in them. There was significant reduction in pain sensitivity and increase of locomotion; depressive and anxious behaviors, impaired learning and memory; and deficits of social interaction in autistic pups. There was significant increase of oxidative stress (elevated malondialdehyde and nitrite levels; and decreased brain GSH and catalase activity), acetylcholinesterase and MAO-A activities in brain of pups. Plasma corticosterone levels were also significantly elevated in autistic pups. Ferulic acid significantly reversed above mentioned behavioural, biochemical and histopathological alterations in autistic male rat pups. Thus, ferulic acid significantly ameliorated autism- like behaviours in male rat pups exposed prenatally to sodium valproate...
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, sodium valproate, ferulic acid
How to cite this article: Singh, K., Dhingra, D.; Ferulic Acid Ameliorates Sodium Valproate Induced Autism-Like Behaviors in Male Rat Pups. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(1): 168-180. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.1.18