Valproic acid is neuroprotective in the rotenone rat model of Parkinson's disease: involvement of alpha-synuclein.

Valproic acid (VPA), an established antiepileptic and antimanic drug, has recently emerged as a promising neuroprotective agent. Among its many cellular targets, VPA has been recently demonstrated to be an effective inhibitor of histone deacetylases. Accordingly, we have adopted a schedule of dietary administration (2% VPA added to the chow) that results in a significant inhibition of histone deacetylase activity and in an increase of histone H3 acetylation in brain tissues of 4 weeks-treated rats.