Maternal immune activation affects female offspring whisker movements during object exploration in a rat model of neurodevelopmental disorders.

ABSTRACT: Poly I:C rat offspring are used to investigate the effects of in utero exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) and have been suggested as a model of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The behavioural symptoms of this model are diverse and can vary with external factors, including the choice of background strain and husbandry practices. Measuring whisker movements provides quantitative, robust measurements of sensory, motor and cognitive behaviours in rodents. In this study, whisker movements were investigated in 50-day-old male and female offspring of MIA-exposed rat dams and compared to age-matched offspring of control (vehicle) dams. Rat offspring were filmed using high-speed videography in a sequential object exploration task with smooth and textured objects. Poly I:C treat

SUBMITTER: Simanaviciute U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11233915 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature