Intrauterine valproate exposure is associated with alterations in hippocampal cell numbers and folate metabolism in a rat model of valproate teratogenicity.

•Intrauterine VPA exposure leads to changes in hippocampal cell numbers and in folic acid metabolism.•Surprisingly, acetylation of histones and global DNA methylation are unaltered in brain tissue.•Further investigation of VPA teratogenicity and of of folate supplementation remains necessary.