Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Central and peripheral neuroimmune responses: hyporesponsiveness during pregnancy
Sarah J Spencer1, Abdeslam Mouihate, Michael A Galic
1Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract:
There are periods in the life of a healthy animal (including humans) when the febrile response to an immune challenge is suppressed. One such period is during late pregnancy, particularly around the time of parturition. In the 30 or so years since this 'febrile hyporesponsiveness' was first noted, much work has been done to investigate the mechanisms and adaptive significance of this phenomenon. In this review we present some insight into how and why the body deliberately re-programmes itself to develop smaller fevers in response to an immune challenge and therefore to be potentially less successful at fighting infection.
Related Concept Videos
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions
Allergic Drug Reactions
Hypersensitivities
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions

