Reversing behavioural abnormalities in mice exposed to maternal inflammation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Viral infections during pregnancy are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Maternal immune activation (MIA) in mice models this phenomenon.
• Previous work implicated T helper 17 cells in MIA-induced abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pinpoint the specific brain region responsible for MIA-associated behavioral changes.
• To investigate the role of neural activity within this region.
• To understand how specific neural circuits mediate social and repetitive behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mouse model of maternal immune activation (MIA).
• Focused on the primary somatosensory cortex, specifically the dysgranular zone (S1DZ).
• Manipulated neural activity in S1DZ pyramidal neurons and their efferent targets.

Main Results:

• Cortical abnormalities in MIA offspring are concentrated in the S1DZ.
• Activating S1DZ neurons induced MIA-related behaviors in control mice.
• Reducing S1DZ neural activity ameliorated behavioral deficits in MIA offspring.
• Behavioral phenotypes were modulated by targeting specific S1DZ efferent pathways.

Conclusions:

• The S1DZ is a critical node in the neural network underlying MIA-induced behavioral abnormalities.
• Neural activity within the S1DZ plays a causal role in these deficits.
• Targeting the S1DZ offers a potential strategy for mitigating neurodevelopmental issues.