Maternal immune activation with high molecular weight poly(I:C) in Wistar rats leads to elevated immune cell chemoattractants

Amelia M Brown; Illya Conn; Danny Boerrigter; Cynthia Shannon Weickert; Tertia D Purves-Tyson

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577813

Maternal immune activation with high molecular weight poly(I:C) in Wistar rats leads to elevated immune cell chemoattractants

J Neuroimmunol. 2022 Mar 15:364:577813. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577813. Epub 2022 Jan 14.

Authors

Amelia M Brown¹, Illya Conn², Danny Boerrigter¹, Cynthia Shannon Weickert³, Tertia D Purves-Tyson⁴

Affiliations

¹ Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia.
² Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
³ Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
⁴ Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: t.purves-tyson@neura.edu.au.

PMID: 35093761
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577813

Abstract

Maternal immune activation (MIA) with poly(I:C) is a preclinical paradigm for schizophrenia and autism research. Methodological variations, including poly(I:C) molecular weight, contribute to inconsistencies in behavioural and molecular outcomes. We established in Wistar rats that 4 mg/kg high molecular weight (HMW)-poly(I:C) on GD19 induces maternal sickness, smaller litters and maternal elevations of serum cytokines, including increases in monocyte chemoattractants. In adult offspring, we found that males have higher serum cytokines than females, and MIA did not alter peripheral cytokines in either sex. Our study will contribute to the effective use of the MIA model to elucidate the neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords: Cytokines; High molecular weight (HMW) poly(I:C); Maternal immune activation (MIA); Sex differences; Sickness behaviour; Wistar rat.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytokines / blood
Cytokines / immunology
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Male
Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / immunology*
Neurodevelopmental Disorders / immunology*
Poly I-C / immunology
Poly I-C / toxicity*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology*
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / immunology*
Rats
Rats, Wistar

Substances

Cytokines
Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins
Poly I-C