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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Transgenerational consequences of maternal immune activation
Daniela D Pollak1, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer2
1Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Maternal immune activation during pregnancy can impact brain development and behavior across multiple generations, increasing the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders. Understanding these transgenerational effects is key for new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to infections or inflammation is linked to neuropsychiatric diseases like schizophrenia and autism.
- Maternal immune activation (MIA) can cause lasting pathological effects on brain and behavior across generations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the transgenerational consequences of MIA on brain and behavior.
- To explore mechanisms of transmission and influencing factors for phenotype specificity.
- To highlight the relevance for infection-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on MIA and its intergenerational effects.
- Discussion of potential molecular and environmental mechanisms of transmission.
- Analysis of how these mechanisms influence brain development and behavior across generations.
Main Results:
- MIA can induce generation-spanning changes in brain development and function.
- External factors can modulate the specificity of observed phenotypes across generations.
- Mechanisms of transmission extend beyond genetic inheritance.
Conclusions:
- Understanding MIA's transgenerational impact is crucial for neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Considering ancestral infectious history is vital for developing preventive strategies.
- This knowledge aids in identifying complex patterns of disease transmission.
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09:09Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
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