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P50 Sensory Gating in Infants
Published on: December 26, 2013
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Schizophrenia associated sensory gating deficits develop after adolescent microglia activation
Manuela Eßlinger1, Simone Wachholz1, Marie-Pierre Manitz1
1Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Department of Psychiatry, Center of Clinical Research 1 (ZKF1 2/052), Universitätsstraße 150, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1, D-44791 Bochum, Germany.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|May 29, 2016
Summary
Prenatal exposure to Poly(I:C) causes schizophrenia-like sensory gating deficits in adult female mice. This is linked to specific pro-inflammatory microglia activation during puberty, not in males or peripheral immune cells.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Maternal infection during pregnancy is a known risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Prenatal Poly(I:C) administration in mice models schizophrenia-related neurodevelopmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microglia's functional profile in relation to behavioral changes in a Poly(I:C) mouse model.
- To determine the role of microglia activation in sex-specific sensory gating deficits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Poly(I:C) BALB/c mouse model.
- Assessed pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) for sensory gating deficits.
- Analyzed microglia polarization using flow cytometry for pro- and anti-inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- Prenatal Poly(I:C) induced sensory gating deficits (PPI) in adult females, but not males, appearing after puberty.
- A pro-inflammatory M1-type microglia polarization pattern was observed during puberty in affected females.
- Microglia activation was transient and not observed in peripheral immune cells.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal Poly(I:C) exposure leads to post-pubertal sensory gating deficits in female offspring.
- Transient, puberty-specific pro-inflammatory microglia activation precedes these deficits.
- This microglia activation pattern is sex-specific and not mirrored peripherally.
