Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
Published on: July 12, 2024
Dataset describing maternal prenatal restraint stress effects on immune factors in mice
Serena Banu Gumusoglu1,2,3, Sara Victoria Maurer2,3, Hanna Elizabeth Stevens1,2,3
1Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.
Maternal immune dysregulation, caused by gestational psychological stress, infection, and other perturbations, results in altered offspring neurodevelopment and increases risk for psychiatric disorders. Prior work has found that multiple cytokines play critical roles in shaping offspring neurodevelopment after gestational stress, though how maternal psychological stress impacts maternal, placental, and fetal cytokine levels more broadly remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to assess changes to IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IFNγ, and TNFα in a widely-used mouse prenatal restraint stress model. After repetitive restraint stress on gestational days 12-14, stressed dams had increased serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. Embryonic day 14 IL-2 and IL-1β levels were decreased in prenatally stressed male fetal forebrain, while placental IL-2 was decreased by stress regardless of offspring sex. Placental and fetal forebrain IL-2 levels were negatively correlated. These data provide important insights into the immune changes that occur with prenatal restraint stress.
Maternal immune dysregulation, caused by gestational psychological stress, infection, and other perturbations, results in altered offspring neurodevelopment and increases risk for psychiatric disorders. Prior work has found that multiple cytokines play critical roles in shaping offspring neurodevelopment after gestational stress, though how maternal psychological stress impacts maternal, placental, and fetal cytokine levels more broadly remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to assess changes to IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IFNγ, and TNFα in a widely-used mouse prenatal restraint stress model. After repetitive restraint stress on gestational days 12-14, stressed dams had increased serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. Embryonic day 14 IL-2 and IL-1β levels were decreased in prenatally stressed male fetal forebrain, while placental IL-2 was decreased by stress regardless of offspring sex. Placental and fetal forebrain IL-2 levels were negatively correlated. These data provide important insights into the immune changes that occur with prenatal restraint stress.
