CX3CR1 and autism: <h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the potential toxic effects of prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) on microglia-neuron communication in the brain, with a specific focus on the alterations in key molecules involved in this process, namely CX3CL1/CX3CR1 and CD200/CD200R, during the early stages of life in a rat model of autism.<h4>Methods</h4>Pregnant female rats were administered either sterile saline or VPA on embryonic day 12.5.