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Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
Published on: March 25, 2016
Prenatal origins of individual variation in behavior and immunity
Christopher L Coe1, Gabriele R Lubach
1Department of Psychology, Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 22 North Charter, Madison, WI 53715, USA. ccoe@wisc.edu
Insights
Prenatal stress in rhesus monkeys impacts infant development, leading to neurological and immune system deficits. These early-life challenges can cause long-term health issues, increasing susceptibility to illness.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- The in utero environment is crucial for physiological system development.
- Prenatal disturbances can alter a baby's maturation and lead to chronic postpartum health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies in rhesus monkeys examining the impact of prenatal disturbances on infant development and health.
- To identify mediating pathways linking prenatal events to postnatal outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies involving psychological disturbance or pharmacological stimulation of the gravid female's pituitary-adrenal axis in rhesus monkeys.
- Assessment of infant neurological development, immune responses, and gastrointestinal microflora.
Main Results:
- Prenatal stress resulted in immature neuromotor reflexes, increased emotionality, and smaller hippocampi in infant monkeys.
- Reduced lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer activity, and cytokine production were observed in infants.
- Impaired establishment of beneficial gut microflora increased the risk of enteric infection.
Conclusions:
- Fetal life events significantly influence postnatal physiology and long-term health.
- Prenatal disturbances can persistently shift the balance away from health and towards illness.
- Mediating pathways include placental hormone/nutrient transfer and altered responses to the rearing environment.
Abstract:
The in utero environment plays a critical role in initiating the normal ontogeny of many physiological systems. As a consequence, disturbances during prenatal life can affect the baby's maturational trajectory and sometimes cause chronic alterations that influence health postpartum. Our review summarizes a series of studies in rhesus monkeys supporting these conclusions. Psychological disturbance or pharmacological stimulation of the gravid female's pituitary-adrenal axis affected the infant's neurological development: monkeys evinced immature neuromotor reflexes at birth, greater emotionality during the first year of life, and a smaller hippocampus as juveniles. Immune responses of the infants were also affected: lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer activity and cytokine production were reduced. Several mediating pathways were implicated, including the placental transfer of hormones and nutrients, and a differential response of the infant monkey to the rearing environment. For example, the establishment of beneficial types of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract was significantly reduced, which was associated with a greater risk for enteric infection. These findings indicate that events during fetal life can persistently influence physiology after birth and tilt the balance away from health and toward illness.
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