The development of new approaches for the clinical management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can only be realized through a better understanding of the neurobiological changes associated with ASD. One strategy for gaining deeper insight into the neurobiological mechanisms associated with ASD is to identify converging pathogenic processes associated with human idiopathic clinicopathology that are conserved in translational models of ASD. In this chapter, we first present the early overgrowth theory of ASD. Second, we introduce valproic acid (VPA), one of the most robust and well-known environmental risk factors associated with ASD, and we summarize the rapidly growing body of animal research literature using VPA as an ASD translational model. Lastly, we will detail the mechanisms of action of VPA and its impact on functional neural systems, as well as discuss future research directions that could have a lasting impact on the field.

只有通过更好地理解与自闭症谱系有关的神经生物学变化，才能实现自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）临床管理新方法的发展。深入了解与ASD相关的神经生物学机制的一种策略是，确定与人类特发性临床病理学相关的会聚病原过程，这些趋化过程在ASD的转化模型中得以保留。在本章中，我们首先介绍ASD的早期过度增长理论。其次，我们介绍丙戊酸（VPA），它是与ASD相关的最可靠，最著名的环境风险因素之一，并且我们总结了使用VPA作为ASD转化模型的动物研究文献，其发展迅速。最后，我们将详细介绍VPA的作用机理及其对功能神经系统的影响，