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Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
Published on: March 25, 2016
Exploring offspring behaviour after prenatal COVID-19 vaccination in mice
Lilla Otrokocsi1, Fruzsina Maácz1,2, Pál Tod1
1Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
Translational Psychiatry
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Prenatal COVID-19 vaccination did not cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behaviors in mice. Influenza vaccination showed mild, temporary effects, suggesting no widespread neurodevelopmental disruption from these vaccines during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Maternal immunization transfers antibodies to offspring, protecting them from infection.
- The long-term neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal vaccination, including for COVID-19 and influenza, require further investigation.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with social and behavioral alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure to COVID-19 mRNA (BNT162b2) and influenza vaccines on neurodevelopment and autism-related behaviors in juvenile and adult mice.
- To assess maternal and fetal immune responses, including cytokine, P2X7 receptor, BDNF, CRP, and lipid peroxidation levels.
- To compare vaccine effects with a positive control (poly(I:C)) known to induce inflammation and neurodevelopmental changes.
Main Methods:
- Mice were exposed prenatally to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, influenza vaccine, or poly(I:C).
- Offspring behavior was assessed at 4 and 8 weeks using tests like the elevated plus maze and open field.
- Maternal plasma and fetal brain tissues were analyzed for immune markers (cytokines, CRP), neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and lipid peroxidation.
Main Results:
- Prenatal COVID-19 vaccination caused mild, transient maternal cytokine increases but no fetal brain inflammation. Offspring showed minor, age/sex-dependent behavioral changes, without a clear ASD phenotype.
- Prenatal influenza vaccination induced mild, age-dependent behavioral alterations (e.g., circling, reduced sociability) without detectable maternal/fetal inflammation.
- Maternal poly(I:C) induced robust inflammation and significant fetal brain effects, including elevated cytokines, CRP, P2X7 receptor, and reduced adult BDNF.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal COVID-19 vaccination did not result in persistent ASD-like phenotypes or widespread neurodevelopmental alterations in this mouse model.
- Prenatal influenza vaccination had limited and transient behavioral effects.
- These findings suggest that, within this experimental model, maternal vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza does not lead to significant long-term neurodevelopmental disruption.
