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Updated: May 5, 2026
Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Resveratrol prevents offspring's behavioral impairment associated with immunogenic stress during pregnancy
Rener Mateus Francisco Duarte1, Erika Renata Ribeiro-Barbosa2, Frederico Rogério Ferreira3
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
Insights
Maternal immune activation during pregnancy can harm offspring neurodevelopment. Resveratrol (RSV) administration during this period significantly mitigated these negative effects, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prenatal maternal immunological stress is linked to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in offspring.
- The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to such stressors during critical neurodevelopmental periods.
- Polyphenols, like resveratrol, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of maternal immune activation (MIA) induced by an H1N1-derived antigen in offspring.
- To evaluate the protective efficacy of resveratrol (RSV) against MIA-induced neurodevelopmental and behavioral deficits.
- To explore RSV as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing stress-induced psychiatric disorders.
Main Methods:
- Maternal immune activation (MIA) was induced using an H1N1-derived antigenic solution.
- Resveratrol (RSV) was administered to pregnant dams from embryonic day 14 (E14) to E19.
- Offspring behavior was assessed in adulthood, including anxiety, risk assessment, memory, object recognition, and social interaction tests.
- In vitro antioxidant capacity of RSV was evaluated, and its structure was characterized using infrared spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- MIA induced significant behavioral changes in offspring, including anxiety, impaired memory and recognition, and social deficits resembling autism.
- RSV administration during the MIA period effectively counteracted these harmful effects.
- Adult offspring exposed to MIA and RSV treatment showed restored social behaviors, memory, and recognition, along with anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal MIA significantly impacts offspring neurodevelopment and behavior, increasing the risk for psychiatric disorders.
- Resveratrol demonstrates significant neuroprotective properties against MIA-induced developmental deficits.
- RSV presents a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of prenatal neurodevelopmental stressors and preventing associated psychiatric conditions.
Abstract:
Evidence suggests that prenatal maternal immunological stress is associated with an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders in the developing offspring. Protecting the embryo during this critical period of neurodevelopment, when the brain is especially vulnerable, is therefore crucial. Polyphenols, with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, offer promising therapeutic approaches. This study demonstrated a series of behavioral changes induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) triggered by an antigenic solution derived from the H1N1 virus. These changes include significant differences in anxiety and risk assessment behaviors, increased immobility in the forced swim test, impairments in memory and object recognition, and social deficits resembling autism. The phenolic compound resveratrol (RSV) was evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant capacity and characterized using infrared spectroscopy. Administering RSV from embryonic day 14 (E14) to embrionyc day 19 (E19) during MIA effectively reduced its harmful effects on the offspring. This was evidenced by a significant restoration of social behaviors, memory, and recognition, as well as anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in the adult offspring. These findings contribute to new therapeutic strategies for preventing psychiatric disorders associated with neurodevelopmental stressors.
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