1
|
Chou S, Wu R, Li M. Long-term impacts of prenatal maternal immune activation and postnatal maternal separation on maternal behavior in adult female rats: Relevance to postpartum mental disorders. Behav Brain Res 2024; 461:114831. [PMID: 38142861 PMCID: PMC10872411 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Early life adversities are known to exert long-term negative impacts on psychological and brain functions in adulthood. The present work examined how a prenatal brain insult and a postnatal stressor independently or interactively influence the quality of maternal care of postpartum female rats and their cognitive and emotional functions, as a way to identify the behavioral dysfunctions underlying childhood trauma-induced postpartum mental disorders (as indexed by impaired maternal care). Sprague-Dawley female offspring born from mother rats exposed to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C, 4.0-6.0 mg/kg) intended to cause gestational maternal immune activation (MIA) or saline were subjected to a repeated maternal separation stress (RMS, 3 h/day) or no separation for 9 days in the first two weeks of life (a 2 × 2 design). When these offspring became mothers, their attentional filtering ability (as measured in the prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle reflex test), positive hedonic response (as measured in the sucrose preference test), and negative emotional response (as measured in the startle reflex and fear-potentiated startle test) were examined, along with their home-cage maternal behavior. Virgin littermates served as controls in all the behavioral tests except in maternal behavior. Results showed that mother rats who experienced RMS displayed impaired nest building and crouching/nursing activities. RMS also interacted with MIA to alter pup retrieval latency and startle reactivity, such that MIA-RMS dams demonstrated significantly slower pup retrieval latency and higher startle magnitude compared to either RMS-only and MIA-only mothers. MIA also disrupted attentional filtering ability, with significantly lower prepulse inhibition. However, neither prenatal MIA nor postnatal RMS impaired sucrose preference or the acquisition of fear-potentiated startle. These results indicate that prenatal stress and postnatal adversity could impair maternal behavior individually, and interact with each other, causing impairments in attention, emotion and maternal motivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shinnyi Chou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ruiyong Wu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Psychology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Intergenerational effects of pre-pregnancy chronic lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis on the learning, memory and seizure susceptibility of offspring. Arch Oral Biol 2021; 125:105076. [PMID: 33636410 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-pregnancy chronic exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS (Pg LPS) on the learning, memory, and seizure susceptibility of the offspring. DESIGN To achieve periodontitis, Pg LPS (5 μg/kg) was injected into the gingival of five female rats every 48 h for three weeks. Five control female rats received saline (0.9 %) and five female were kept intact. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in the blood samples. One week after the final injection, females were mated with intact males. Following birth and weaning, two male and two female offspring were randomly selected from each mother, and new groups of male and female offspring were defined for behavioral assessments. Morris water maze was used to evaluate spatial memory, shuttle box was used to investigate avoidance memory and a pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure was used to evaluate seizure susceptibility in the offspring. RESULTS Spatial learning and avoidance memory significantly decreased in both male and female offspring of Pg LPS-exposed female rats, compared to the control offspring. Latency to reach seizure stages 1 and 2 significantly increased in the male offspring, but not the female offspring of Pg LPS-exposed female, compared to the control offspring. However, no significant difference was found in latency to reach stages 3-5. CONCLUSION Pre-pregnancy exposure to Pg LPS could affect some behavioral functions in both male and female offspring intergenerationally.
Collapse
|
3
|
Csatlosova K, Bogi E, Durisova B, Grinchii D, Paliokha R, Moravcikova L, Lacinova L, Jezova D, Dremencov E. Maternal immune activation in rats attenuates the excitability of monoamine-secreting neurons in adult offspring in a sex-specific way. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 43:82-91. [PMID: 33341344 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Higher risk of depression and schizophrenia in descendants of mothers experienced acute infection during the pregnancy has been reported. Since monoamines are fundamental in mentioned psychopathologies, it is possible that maternal immune activation leads to impaired functioning of serotonin (5-HT), noradrenaline, and dopamine neurons in offspring. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of maternal immune activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats on the excitability of monoamine-secreting neurons in the offspring. LPS was administered during days 15-19 of the gestation in the rising doses of 20-80 µg/kg; control dams received vehicle. During days 53-63 postpartum, rats were anesthetized and electrodes were inserted into the dorsal raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus, and ventral tegmental area for in vivo excitability assessment of 5-HT, noradrenaline, and dopamine neurons. Maternal immune activation suppressed the firing rate of 5-HT neurons in both sexes and stimulated the firing rate of dopamine neurons in males. Decrease in the firing rate of 5-HT neurons was accompanied with an increase, and increase in the firing rate of dopamine neurons with a decrease, in the density of spontaneously active cells. Maternal immune activation also decreased the variability of interspike intervals in 5-HT and dopamine neurons. It is possible that the alteration of excitability of 5-HT and dopamine neurons by maternal immune activation is involved in the psychopathologies induced by infectious disease during the pregnancy. Stimulation of dopamine excitability in males might be a compensatory mechanism secondary to the maternal immune challenge-induced suppression of 5-HT neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Csatlosova
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eszter Bogi
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Durisova
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniil Grinchii
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ruslan Paliokha
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Moravcikova
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Lacinova
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Jezova
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eliyahu Dremencov
- Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Frias HV, Alves CDS, Flório JC, Bondan EF, Bonamin LV, Coelho CP, Bernardi MM, Suffredini IB. Vertical exposition to Luffa operculata extract deregulates behavior and hypothalamus neurotransmitters in juvenile rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 264:113265. [PMID: 32858198 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn (Cucurbitaceae) is a traditional plant popularly used in the abortion induction, against sinusitis and is toxic. AIM OF THE STUDY To verify the influence of the aqueous extract obtained from the dry fruit of L. operculata (BNE) on the male rats vertically exposed to a subabortive dose of BNE, by evaluating alterations in behavior and neurochemical features in hypothalamus, striatum and frontal cortex, at a juvenile age, after receiving a stress challenge given by the use of the "New York subway stress" technique (NYS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant female rats (F0 generation) received 1.0 mg/kg BNE, or distilled water (100 mL/kg), by gavage, between gestation days GD17 and GD21. The pups were weaned at PND21 and were kept up to PND60 (juvenile age) in controlled environmental conditions. Four groups were obtained: control (CG), experimental (EG), stress control (SCG) and stress experimental (SEG) After being stressed, the animals were behavioral screened for in the open field (OF) and in light-dark box (LDB) apparatuses. They were euthanized, and the liver, kidneys and brain were removed for both macroscopic and microscopic analyses, and for quantification of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and the serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindolylacetic acid (5-HIAA) were accessed in the hypothalamus, frontal cortex and striatum. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION although most of the behavior changes were due to the stress challenge, the rats spent more time in the dark side of the LDB and were less likely to explore the light side, indicating that the treatment with BNE induced to fear. Interferences of BNE over behavior were due to impairment of VMA, NE, 5-HT and DA and increasing of DOPAC in the hypothalamus, and an increase of 5-HIAA in the frontal cortex, indicating alterations in the hypothalamic-hypophysis-adrenal axis (HHAA). No macroscopic or histopathological changes were observed in the liver, kidneys, or brain, although GFAP was diminished in the SCG, as expected for stressed rats. CONCLUSION the vertical exposition of juvenile rats to BNE led to the manifestation of fear and to a down regulation of the hypothalamic-hypophysis-adrenal axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Humberto V Frias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil
| | - Cinthia Dos S Alves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil
| | - Jorge C Flório
- Departamento de Patologia - VPT, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo F Bondan
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil
| | - Leoni V Bonamin
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil
| | | | - Maria M Bernardi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil
| | - Ivana B Suffredini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Ambiental e Experimental, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil; Núcleo de Pesquisas em Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Extração, Universidade Paulista - UNIP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trujillo Villarreal LA, Cárdenas-Tueme M, Maldonado-Ruiz R, Reséndez-Pérez D, Camacho-Morales A. Potential role of primed microglia during obesity on the mesocorticolimbic circuit in autism spectrum disorder. J Neurochem 2020; 156:415-434. [PMID: 32902852 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disease which involves functional and structural defects in selective central nervous system (CNS) regions that harm function and individual ability to process and respond to external stimuli. Individuals with ASD spend less time engaging in social interaction compared to non-affected subjects. Studies employing structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging reported morphological and functional abnormalities in the connectivity of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway between the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in response to social stimuli, as well as diminished medial prefrontal cortex in response to visual cues, whereas stronger reward system responses for the non-social realm (e.g., video games) than social rewards (e.g., approval), associated with caudate nucleus responsiveness in ASD children. Defects in the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway have been modulated in transgenic murine models using D2 dopamine receptor heterozygous (D2+/-) or dopamine transporter knockout mice, which exhibit sociability deficits and repetitive behaviors observed in ASD phenotypes. Notably, the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway is modulated by systemic and central inflammation, such as primed microglia, which occurs during obesity or maternal overnutrition. Therefore, we propose that a positive energy balance during obesity/maternal overnutrition coordinates a systemic and central inflammatory crosstalk that modulates the dopaminergic neurotransmission in selective brain areas of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway. Here, we will describe how obesity/maternal overnutrition may prime microglia, causing abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmission of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway, postulating a possible immune role in the development of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis A- Trujillo Villarreal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México.,Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México
| | - Marcela Cárdenas-Tueme
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México
| | - Roger Maldonado-Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México.,Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México
| | - Diana Reséndez-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México
| | - Alberto Camacho-Morales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México.,Unidad de Neurometabolismo, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, México
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mendes-Lima T, Kirsten TB, Rodrigues PS, Sampaio ACS, Felício LF, Rocha PRDA, Reis-Silva TM, Bondan EF, Martins MFM, Queiroz-Hazarbassanov N, Bernardi MM. Prenatal LPS induces sickness behaviour and decreases maternal and predatory behaviours after an LPS challenge. Int J Neurosci 2020; 130:804-816. [PMID: 31916878 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1706505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The influence of a challenge dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the behavioural selection between maternal (MB) and predatory behaviours (PB) of female rats prenatally treated with the same endotoxin or saline solution (F1 generation) were studied.Material and methods: Thus, in adult age, these female rats were mated and, at lactation days 5 or 6, the following groups were formed: (1) LPS + LPS group-female rats prenatally treated with LPS and received an LPS challenge dose; (2) S + LPS group-female rats prenatally treated with saline solution and received a challenge LPS dose (3) S + S group-females rats prenatally treated with saline which received a saline injection. MB, PB to cockroaches, exploratory behaviour, periaqueductal grey (PAG) expression of the astrocytic biomarker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and corticosterone and TNF-alpha serum levels were evaluated.Results: Showed that: (1) relative to the S + S group, the LPS + S group showed decreased MB and slightly increased PB, without inducing sickness behaviour; (2) the LPS + LPS group showed decreased MB but few effects on PB; (3) there was increased sickness behaviour associated with increased TNF-alpha serum levels in the LPS + LPS group; (4) a significant increase in GFAP expression was observed in both LPS groups, which was greater in the LPS + LPS group and (5) no differences in the corticosterone of all groups.Conclusions: Prenatal LPS impaired the switch from MB to PB in female rats of the LPS + LPS group by increased sickness behaviour as well as an increase in plasmatic TNF-alpha levels inducing PAG astrogliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Mendes-Lima
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T B Kirsten
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - P S Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A C S Sampaio
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - L F Felício
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP, Brazil
| | - P R D A Rocha
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T M Reis-Silva
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - E F Bondan
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - M F M Martins
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - N Queiroz-Hazarbassanov
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP, Brazil
| | - M M Bernardi
- Graduate Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Graduate Program in Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Parisi DP, Santos SAR, Cabral D, Queiroz-Hazarbassanov N, Flório JC, Bernardi MM, Kirsten TB. Therapeutical doses of ivermectin and its association with stress disrupt motor and social behaviors of juvenile rats and serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. Res Vet Sci 2019; 124:149-157. [PMID: 30901667 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ivermectin is a human and veterinary antiparasitic drug which is one of the most widely used in the world. Studies from our group have revealed several behavioral and neurochemical impairments induced by therapeutic doses of ivermectin in adult rats. However, the effects on juveniles remain unknown. Ivermectin has been prescribed for juvenile humans, pets and farm animals, which still show remarkable development and postnatal maturation and may be more susceptible to drug interventions. Hence, we studied the behavioral and neurochemical effects of two therapeutical doses (0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg) of ivermectin in juvenile rats. As it is underestimated in prescriptions, the stress factor was also studied. Ivermectin 1.0 mg/kg induced hyperlocomotion in juvenile rats. Association of 1.0 mg/kg ivermectin with stress induced hypolocomotion in rats. Ivermectin 1.0 mg/kg whether or not associated with stress exacerbated socialization of rats. Ivermectin did not induce anxiety-like behavior neither affected corticosterone levels of juvenile rats. The motor/exploratory behavioral findings induced by association of ivermectin and stress seem to be triggered after the increase in the striatal serotonergic system activity. Association of ivermectin with stress increased striatal dopamine levels, which increased (excessive) social play behavior. Our results suggest a review of the prescribed dose of ivermectin for juvenile humans and pets. Moreover, the stress factor should be considered for ivermectin medical prescriptions, since it may exacerbate behavioral and neurochemical disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Débora P Parisi
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, São Paulo, SP 04026-002, Brazil
| | - Satiro A R Santos
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, São Paulo, SP 04026-002, Brazil
| | - Danilo Cabral
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, São Paulo, SP 04026-002, Brazil
| | - Nicolle Queiroz-Hazarbassanov
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Jorge C Flório
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Maria M Bernardi
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, São Paulo, SP 04026-002, Brazil
| | - Thiago B Kirsten
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, Rua Dr. Bacelar, 1212, São Paulo, SP 04026-002, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Greene RK, Walsh E, Mosner MG, Dichter GS. A potential mechanistic role for neuroinflammation in reward processing impairments in autism spectrum disorder. Biol Psychol 2019; 142:1-12. [PMID: 30552950 PMCID: PMC6401269 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be conceptualized within a framework of reward processing impairments. The Social Motivation Theory of Autism posits that reduced motivation to interact with people and decreased pleasure derived from social interactions may derail typical social development and contribute to the emergence of core social communication deficits in ASD. Neuroinflammation may disrupt the development of mesolimbic dopaminergic systems that are critical for optimal functioning of social reward processing systems. This neuroinflammation-induced disturbance of mesolimbic dopaminergic functioning has been substantiated using maternal immune activation rodent models whose offspring show aberrant dopaminergic corticostriatal function, as well as behavioral characteristics of ASD model systems. Preclinical findings are in turn supported by clinical evidence of increased mesolimbic neuroinflammatory responses in individuals with ASD. This review summarizes evidence for reward processing deficits and neuroinflammatory impairments in ASD and examines how immune inflammatory dysregulation may impair the development of dopaminergic mesolimbic circuitry in ASD. Finally, future research directions examining neuroinflammatory effects on reward processing in ASD are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Greene
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
| | - Erin Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
| | - Maya G Mosner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
| | - Gabriel S Dichter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kirsten TB, Casarin RC, Bernardi MM, Felicio LF. Pioglitazone abolishes autistic-like behaviors via the IL-6 pathway. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197060. [PMID: 29791472 PMCID: PMC5965820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is characterized by social deficits, communication abnormalities, and repetitive behaviors. The risk factors appear to include genetic and environmental conditions, such as prenatal infections and maternal dietary factors. Previous investigations by our group have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which mimics infections by gram-negative bacteria, induces autistic-like behaviors. No effective treatment yet exists for autism. Therefore, we used our rat model to test a possible treatment for autism. We selected pioglitazone to block or ease the impairments induced by LPS because although this drug was designed as an anti-diabetic drug (it has an insulin effect), it also exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Juvenile offspring were treated daily with pioglitazone, and the main behaviors related to autism, namely, socialization (play behavior) and communication (50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations), were studied. Biomarkers linked to autism and/or pioglitazone were also studied to attempt to understand the mechanisms involved, namely, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, insulin, and leptin. Prenatal LPS exposure induced social deficits and communicational abnormalities in juvenile rat offspring as well as elevated plasma IL-6 levels. Daily postnatal pioglitazone treatment blocked the impairments found in terms of the time spent on social interaction, the number of vocalizations (i.e., autistic-like behaviors) and the elevated plasma IL-6 levels. Thus, pioglitazone appears to be a relevant candidate for the treatment of autism. The present findings may contribute to a better understanding and treatment of autism and associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Berti Kirsten
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Renato C. Casarin
- Graduate Program of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria M. Bernardi
- Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Program of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciano F. Felicio
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Prenatal lipopolysaccharide induces hypothalamic dopaminergic hypoactivity and autistic-like behaviors: Repetitive self-grooming and stereotypies. Behav Brain Res 2017; 331:25-29. [PMID: 28526515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations by our group have shown that prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which mimics infection by gram-negative bacteria, induces social, cognitive, and communication deficits. For a complete screening of autistic-like behaviors, the objective of this study was to evaluate if our rat model also induces restricted and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Thus, we studied the self-grooming microstructure. We also studied the neurochemistry of hypothalamus and frontal cortex, which are brain areas related to autism to better understand central mechanisms involved in our model. Prenatal LPS exposure on gestational day 9.5 increased the head washing episodes (frequency and time), as well as the total self-grooming. However, body grooming, paw/leg licking, tail/genital grooming, and circling behavior/tail chasing did not vary significantly among the groups. Moreover, prenatal LPS induced dopaminergic hypoactivity (HVA metabolite and turnover) in the hypothalamus. Therefore, our rat model induced restricted and repetitive stereotyped behaviors and the other main symptoms of autism experimentally studied in rodent models and also found in patients. The hypothalamic dopaminergic impairments seem to be associated with the autistic-like behaviors.
Collapse
|
11
|
Hypercaloric diet prevents sexual impairment induced by maternal food restriction. Physiol Behav 2017; 173:61-68. [PMID: 28137427 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal undernutrition impairs copulatory behavior and increases the tendency to become obese/overweight, which also reduces sexual behavior. Re-feeding rats prenatally undernourished with a normocaloric diet can restore their physiological conditions and copulatory behavior. Thus, the present study investigated whether a hypercaloric diet that is administered in rats during the juvenile period prevents sexual impairments that are caused by maternal food restriction and the tendency to become overweight/obese. Female rats were prenatally fed a 40% restricted diet from gestational day 2 to 18. The pups received a hypercaloric diet from postnatal day (PND) 23 to PND65 (food restricted hypercaloric [FRH] group) or laboratory chow (food restricted control [FRC] group). Pups from non-food-restricted dams received laboratory chow during the entire experiment (non-food-restricted [NFR] group). During the juvenile period and adulthood, body weight gain was evaluated weekly. The day of balanopreputial separation, sexual behavior, sexual organ weight, hypodermal adiposity, striatal dopamine and serotonin, serum testosterone, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were evaluated. The FRH group exhibited an increase in body weight on PND58 and PND65. The FRC group exhibited an increase in the latency to the first mount and intromission and an increase in serum TNF-α levels but a reduction of dopaminergic activity. The hypercaloric diet reversed all of these effects but increased adiposity. We concluded that the hypercaloric diet administered during the juvenile period attenuated reproductive impairments that were induced by maternal food restriction through increases in the energy expenditure but not the tendency to become overweight/obese.
Collapse
|
12
|
Waterhouse U, Roper VE, Brennan KA, Ellenbroek BA. Nicotine ameliorates schizophrenia-like cognitive deficits induced by maternal LPS exposure: a study in rats. Dis Model Mech 2016; 9:1159-1167. [PMID: 27483346 PMCID: PMC5087828 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.025072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal exposure to infectious agents is a predisposing factor for schizophrenia with associated cognitive deficits in offspring. A high incidence of smoking in these individuals in adulthood might be, at least in part, due to the cognitive-enhancing effects of nicotine. Here, we have used prenatal exposure to maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS, bacterial endotoxin) at different time points as a model for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia to determine whether nicotine reverses any associated impairments. Pregnant rats were treated subcutaneously with LPS (0.5 mg/kg) at one of three neurodevelopmental time periods [gestation days (GD) 10-11, 15-16, 18-19]. Cognitive assessment in male offspring commenced in early adulthood [postnatal day (PND) 60] and included: prepulse inhibition (PPI), latent inhibition (LI) and delayed non-matching to sample (DNMTS). Following PND 100, daily nicotine injections (0.6 mg/kg, subcutaneously) were administered, and animals were re-tested in the same tasks (PND 110). Only maternal LPS exposure early during fetal neurodevelopment (GD 10-11) resulted in deficits in all tests compared to animals that had been prenatally exposed to saline at the same gestational time point. Repeated nicotine treatment led to global (PPI) and selective (LI) improvements in performance. Early but not later prenatal LPS exposure induced consistent deficits in cognitive tests with relevance for schizophrenia. Nicotine reversed the LPS-induced deficits in selective attention (LI) and induced a global enhancement of sensorimotor gating (PPI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uta Waterhouse
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Vic E Roper
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Katharine A Brennan
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Bart A Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Reis-Silva TM, Cohn DW, Sandini TM, Udo MS, Teodorov E, Bernardi MM. Prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure affects sexual dimorphism in different germlines of mice with a depressive phenotype. Life Sci 2016; 149:129-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.02.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
14
|
Lipopolysaccharide exposure during late embryogenesis results in diminished locomotor activity and amphetamine response in females and spatial cognition impairment in males in adult, but not adolescent rat offspring. Behav Brain Res 2016; 299:72-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
15
|
Lipopolysaccharide Exposure Induces Maternal Hypozincemia, and Prenatal Zinc Treatment Prevents Autistic-Like Behaviors and Disturbances in the Striatal Dopaminergic and mTOR Systems of Offspring. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26218250 PMCID: PMC4517817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive inflexibility. The risk factors appear to include genetic and environmental conditions, such as prenatal infections and maternal dietary factors. Previous investigations by our group have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which mimics infection by gram-negative bacteria, induces autistic-like behaviors. To understand the causes of autistic-like behaviors, we evaluated maternal serum metal concentrations, which are involved in intrauterine development and infection/inflammation. We identified reduced maternal levels of zinc, magnesium, selenium and manganese after LPS exposure. Because LPS induced maternal hypozincemia, we treated dams with zinc in an attempt to prevent or ease the impairments in the offspring. We evaluated the social and cognitive autistic-like behaviors and brain tissues of the offspring to identify the central mechanism that triggers the development of autism. Prenatal LPS exposure impaired play behaviors and T-maze spontaneous alternations, i.e., it induced autistic-like behaviors. Prenatal LPS also decreased tyrosine hydroxylase levels and increased the levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the striatum. Thus, striatal dopaminergic impairments may be related to autism. Moreover, excessive signaling through the mTOR pathway has been considered a biomarker of autism, corroborating our rat model of autism. Prenatal zinc treatment prevented these autistic-like behaviors and striatal dopaminergic and mTOR disturbances in the offspring induced by LPS exposure. The present findings revealed a possible relation between maternal hypozincemia during gestation and the onset of autism. Furthermore, prenatal zinc administration appears to have a beneficial effect on the prevention of autism.
Collapse
|
16
|
Ponchio R, Teodorov E, Kirsten T, Coelho C, Oshiro A, Florio J, Bernardi M. Repeated methylphenidate administration during lactation reduces maternal behavior, induces maternal tolerance, and increases anxiety-like behavior in pups in adulthood. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2015; 50:64-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
17
|
Prenatal zinc prevents communication impairments and BDNF disturbance in a rat model of autism induced by prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure. Life Sci 2015; 130:12-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
18
|
Nascimento AF, Alves GJ, Massoco CO, Teodorov E, Felicio LF, Bernardi MM. Lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behavior in lactating rats decreases ultrasonic vocalizations and exacerbates immune system activity in male offspring. Neuroimmunomodulation 2015; 22:213-21. [PMID: 25139475 DOI: 10.1159/000363350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study analyzed the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on maternal behavior during lactation and possible correlations with changes in emotional and immune responses in offspring. METHODS Lactating rats received 100 μg/kg LPS, and the control group received saline solution on lactation day (LD) 3. Maternal general activity and maternal behavior were observed on LD5 (i.e. the day that the peak of fever occurred). In male pups, hematological parameters and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were assessed on LD5. At weaning, an additional dose of LPS (50 µg/kg, i.p.) was administered in male pups, and open-field behavior, oxidative burst and phagocytosis were evaluated. RESULTS A reduction in the time in which dams retrieved the pups was observed, whereas no effects on maternal aggressive behavior were found. On LD5, a reduction of the frequency of USVs was observed in pups, but no signs of inflammation were found. At weaning, an increase in immune system activity was observed, but no differences in open-field behavior were found. CONCLUSION These results indicate that inflammation in lactating mothers disrupted mother/pup interactions and may have produced short- and long-term effects on pup behavior as well as biological pathways that modulate inflammatory responses to bacterial endotoxin challenge in pups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda F Nascimento
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Galvão MC, Chaves-Kirsten GP, Queiroz-Hazarbassanov N, Carvalho VM, Bernardi MM, Kirsten TB. Prenatal zinc reduces stress response in adult rat offspring exposed to lipopolysaccharide during gestation. Life Sci 2015; 120:54-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
20
|
Prenatal lipopolysaccharide disrupts maternal behavior, reduces nest odor preference in pups, and induces anxiety: Studies of F1 and F2 generations. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 738:342-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|