Neurological consequences of exercise during prenatal Zika virus exposure to mice pups
Ricardo Augusto Leoni De Sousa1,2,3, Marco Fabrício Dias Peixoto1,2,4, Hércules Ribeiro Leite1,2
1School of Biological Sciences and Health, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Insights
Prenatal exercise during Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure in mice pups prevented brain atrophy and neurobehavioral deficits. This intervention also reduced markers of neuroinflammation and normalized brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is linked to severe neurological issues in newborns, including microcephaly and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Prenatal exercise is a potential strategy for mitigating these adverse effects and promoting neuroprotection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurological consequences of exercise during prenatal exposure to Zika virus in mice pups.
- To assess the impact of maternal exercise on brain development and behavior in offspring exposed to ZIKV.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant mice were divided into control, ZIKV-exposed (untrained), and ZIKV-exposed (swimming) groups.
- Maternal swimming exercise was conducted for 4 weeks prior to and during early gestation.
- ZIKV or saline was administered at embryonic day 10.5; pup brain weight, behavior, and hippocampal markers (GFAP, IBA-1, BDNF, syntaxin-1) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Prenatal exercise significantly prevented brain atrophy and corrected depression, anxiety, and social behavior disruptions in ZIKV-exposed pups.
- Exercise inhibited the overexpression of microglia (IBA-1) and astrocytes (GFAP) and reduced BDNF levels in the hippocampus.
- No significant changes in syntaxin-1 levels were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Exercise during pregnancy offers neuroprotective benefits against Zika virus-induced developmental abnormalities in offspring.
- Maternal exercise can mitigate ZIKV-related neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
Purpose/Aim:
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during the pregnancy period is related to microcephaly and neurobehavioral disorders at birth, while prenatal exercise is supposed to provide neuroprotection in newborns pups. The aim of this study was to investigate the neurological consequences of exercise during prenatal ZIKV exposure to mice pups.
Material And Methods:
Twelve weeks female mice were randomly assigned into three groups: Control group, intraperitoneally injected with saline (Control); untrained group, intraperitoneally injected with ZIKV (ZIKV); and trained group, intraperitoneally injected with ZIKV (ZIKV/swim). There was one familiarization week prior to the beginning of the swimming training. Dams swam for 60 min/session, 5 days/week, during 4 weeks. Mating occurred between the fifth and seventh day of the first week of the swimming training. ZIKV 106 plaque-forming units/100 µl (106 PFUs/100 µl) or an equal volume of saline was intraperitoneally injected in the pregnant mice at embryonic day 10.5. Pup's body mass and brain weight were measured at postnatal day 1 (P1). Behavioral tests were performed from P30 to P35. Thereafter, hippocampal levels of syntaxin-1, GFAP, IBA-1, and BDNF were measured.
Results:
Exercise during prenatal ZIKV exposure prevented brain atrophy, development of depression, anxiety, and disruption of social behavior. Exercise during prenatal ZIKV exposure inhibited the overexpression of microglia (IBA-1) and astrocytes (GFAP), with reduction of BDNF levels in the hippocampi of female and male mice pups. No significant changes were seen in syntaxin-1 levels.
Conclusion:
Our findings reveal beneficial effects of exercise during pregnancy exposure to ZIKV in mice pups.
